Help to identify source of stock damage

[louthepou]

Hi everyone,

First post in this section, never touched a M1903 before these past few days - so I hope you will forgive my complete lack of knowledge about this great rifle!

I was asked to repair some damages on the stock of a 1903. Chips and minor cracks, mostly. But upon disassembly, looking at the area where the middle band retaining spring goes into the stock, I saw this:



Maybe difficult to see on the pics but there's some wood lifted and cracked. I am afraid that this can come in contact with the barrel and I am assuming this wouldn't be good.

I am wondering what I should do. If I repair this spot, I think the same damage could likely reoccur; there seem to be either not enough wood over the pin (or the pin hole was drilled to high with respect to the barrel channel...), or, maybe the pin isn't long enough? If the pin was longer, it could find more support - right now, it barely reaches past the middle of the barrel channel? Anyone has that metal part and could help me compare with the one I have? The pin measures 7/8th of an inch, and it could easily be longer and still not protrude on the other side of the stock.

Any tip or advice? Thanks...

Lou

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[Chuckindenver]

all that pin does is hold a band.
if you grease the pin, then repair the hold with epoxy, and push the pin in and let sit, the epoxy shouldnt stick to the greased pin. and you will have nice hole.

[John Beard]

Hi everyone,

First post in this section, never touched a M1903 before these past few days - so I hope you will forgive my complete lack of knowledge about this great rifle!

I was asked to repair some damages on the stock of a 1903. Chips and minor cracks, mostly. But upon disassembly, looking at the area where the middle band retaining spring goes into the stock, I saw this:

Maybe difficult to see on the pics but there's some wood lifted and cracked. I am afraid that this can come in contact with the barrel and I am assuming this wouldn't be good.

I am wondering what I should do. If I repair this spot, I think the same damage could likely reoccur; there seem to be either not enough wood over the pin (or the pin hole was drilled to high with respect to the barrel channel...), or, maybe the pin isn't long enough? If the pin was longer, it could find more support - right now, it barely reaches past the middle of the barrel channel? Anyone has that metal part and could help me compare with the one I have? The pin measures 7/8th of an inch, and it could easily be longer and still not protrude on the other side of the stock.

Any tip or advice? Thanks...

Lou

Season's Greetings!

What you have found is not the least bit unusual. The lower band retaining spring pin quite commonly breaks out into the barrel channel of the stock. I note in the case of your stock, however, that someone has gouged out a small piece of wood on one side that was touching the pin. But, that didn't hurt a thing.

Unless the stock has been seriously altered or is badly warped, the barrel should not touch the pin. And I see NO evidence that the barrel has touched the pin. If the barrel touches the pin, it will wear a bright spot on it. And I see no bright spot.

You can re-assemble the rifle with no concern about the pin or missing wood chip. No repair is necessary.

Hope this helps. Happy New Year!

J.B.

[louthepou]

Thanks guys, much appreciated!

There are other more "regular" chips and cracks, which will deserve attention, but I'm glad this one isn't critical. I looked on the barrel and indeed there is not the slightest sign of contact.

Thanks, and cheers!

Lou

[Chuckindenver]

the most common reason??? someone pushed the spring out with a punch, it walked outside the hole, and thats the end result..