Briman
I think you are right they were 1917's
Mike

this is a site i foudn on the bolt of the rock island 1903's http://members.fortunecity.com/oldvalkyry/page4.html
it does not list my bolt..i thik this bolt may have been added later on after it was found out that the original one was bad...the markings on the bolt that is in my gun is wg1

bobgifford,
Per " Hatcher's Notebook " on May 11 1918 the Rock Island Arsenal starting with reciever # 287,507 changed the heat treatment on all actions. On August 1. 1918 they started making actions of nickel steel with action # 319,921. Prior to 11 May 1918 actions were made of carbon manganese steel.
Due to several accidents which resulted in actions blowing up a special board convened. The board found that all actions made with the old heat treatment were to be recalled and destroyed.
The action on your rifle, according to this board, is unsafe to use. The book has several pictures showing actions that had blown up. I don't think its worth the risk of hurting yourself to use it. Sorry. I hope that this is of some help.

because all the rock island 1903s were recalled (obviously there are some left), do you think that it would incease its value as a collectors item?

If its not in its original or at least rearsenaled military stock, without the receiver being drilled and tapped by a civillian owner then it would have some collector value.
I think that there are enough low serial # 03's out there to make the shootable high # 03's more valuable to own. That may not be true, but it is my opinion. If it still has the original barrel, you could get an 03 stock to fit it and have a nice wall hanger though.

sounds pretty interesting to me

A mans gotta believe in something I believe Ill go HUNTING