Springfield 1903 Floor Plate

[Chipperman]

Hey, I got a 1903 today. Receiver and barrel date to 1930. Scant stock with no markings except a few small stamps forward of the floor plate. The floor plate itself has a crossed key stamp on it. That's not original, is it? Any ideas where it came from? Thanks
http://rs5.pbsrc.com/albums/y164/Chipperman/IMG_3516_1.jpg?w=280&h=210&fit=crop

 

[highpower3006]

The only thing I could come up with is the "Crossed Keys of Heaven" which is a Papal symbol.


Other than that, I got nothin.

 

[Chris_B]

There was a battle of Cross Keys in Virginia, in 1862

Descendant of one of the participants once owned the rifle? Who knows.

Crossed key and sword is an old US Quartermaster's symbol.

 

[Chipperman]

Thanks for the replies.

I have been looking around, and found a similar crossed keys symbol is the insignia for the British 2nd Infantry Division.
Is the floor plate from a P17 the same dimension as the one for a 1903?
Maybe somebody had a P17 with that symbol commemorating the 2nd Division and it got switched with one for a 1903. I'm grasping at straws here..

 

[shuvelrider]

Maybe the Brit connection is that it was a Lend-Lease rifle during the second world war for their home guard.