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The history of low numbered Springfield failures was published by Ordnance General Julian S. Hatcher in “Hatcher’s Notebook”, 3rd edition, Harrisburg,Pa. 1966. Hatcher was responsible for the investigation of each case of a blown-up Springfield receiver and on page 446-47 lists every case by maker, Springfield and Rock Island arsenals. In total there were 68 cases of receiver failure from 1917 to 1929, 33 of them made by Springfield, 24 by Rock Island, 11 unidentified. By both arsenals together more than a million, 1085507 “low numbered” receivers were made. So of these receivers 1 in 15963 failed in service. Some of these failures were influenced by other reasons too: Firing 8x57 IS German service loads, probably steel core, barrel obstructions, and the then habit of putting heavy grease on bullet and often case neck to avoid “nickel fouling” in target practice.
Of course the US ordnance department investigated the possibility of salvaging the “low number “ receivers by re-heat treating. Result (page 222): “ The tests bring out quite clearly the fact that uniform results cannot be obtained by re-heat treating old receivers which vary widely in chemical composition.”
The 1928 US Army solution (page 223): “Our ammunition is getting worse and accidents may be somewhat more frequent. On the other hand, some of these early rifles have been in use for many years and undoubtedly some of them have worn out several barrels. I do not think the occasion merits the withdrawal of the rifles of low numbers in the hands of troops until the rifle is otherwise unserviceable. On the other hand, I do not think we are justified in issuing such rifles from our establishments. I recommend that we instruct our Ordnance establishments to no longer issue rifles with these questionable receivers, that such rifles be set aside and considered as a war reserve and the question of the ultimate replacement of the receivers be deferred. When rifles are turned in from the troops for repair the receivers having these low numbers should be scrapped.” (Chief of Field Service, Brigadier General Samuel Hof)
IMHO many of these “low numbered” saw active service through WW2 and beyond.

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