Were Remington or SC stocks ever used on...

[Claven2]

I'm curious if Remington or Smith Corona 03A3 stocks were ever used on M1903 refurbs during arsenal repairs and overhauls?

All the 03A3 stocks I have ever seen were inletted to be interchangeable between the two models, but on a 1903 the A3 cut would stand out like a sore thumb. Is that an issue when rebuilding a rifle today? Does it look terribly FARB, or did it happen in USGI arsenals?

Also, we know M1903's were refurbed in the 1940's and maybe a little beyond and that the USMC retained the SHT receivers in service until the last rifle was replaced with a garand.

What are the odds a USMC receiver re-barelled in 1942 or 1943 could have gotten an A3 stock? I happen to have a nice straight-grip RA A3 stock I can use for expediency's sake.

The bbl's receiver I'm restoring is a 1942 date bbl on a receiver serial 387266. The replacement barrel I have (the original was D&T for some kind of cheesy sporting rifle front sight) is a RA43 bbl.

Thoughts?

And yes, I know not to run hotrod loads in a SHT receiver.

[Claven2]

wow - nobody?

[Allen Humphrey]

I'm really not the guy to answer this but I hate to see a "no response". Perhaps my partial answer will generate some other feedback. I'm not equiped to answer all your questions but I'll toss my 2 cents in the ring.

1. I'd be surprised if a '42 rebuild would have an A3 stock just based on the date of introduction of the A3. Perhaps by mid '43?? I'd expect that the repair facilities were stocked (no pun intended) with M1903 wood.

2. Would an A3 ring cut stand out like a sore thumb? Not in my estimation. It is small and only visible from above. Will a collector notice? yep. Will the other 99.9% of the population? Nope. You mentioned that it was already a sporter rebuild with D&T so even more reason to be ok with the A3 stock in my book.

Hopefully the other folks will correct my mistakes and then answer the rest of your questions. Good luck and have fun with it!

[Claven2]

Hi,

The receiver I presently have is a low serial number springfield with a 1942 barrel on it, it's not drill;eld and tapped on the receiver, but the barrel is D&T for a funky aftermarket FRONT sight. Haven't removed the sight yet to see who made it, but I'm suspecting a USMC Sedgeley as the Army was generally not putting new barrels on low number gun on the 1940's. That's why I'm replacing it with a new in wrap 43 Remington barrel.

I'm pretty sure no low-number spring fields would have been rebuilt post-war (?), but I believe the post-war 1903 refurbs would have gotten A3 stocks if the original stock needed replacing - can anyone confirm?

I might have a line on a non-low number stripped receiver and if I get it, I'll transplant all my parts onto it instead. It will be a mongrel, so no guilt about reblueing and re-parking the parts, new wood, etc. Should turn out to be a nice representative shooter.

[highpower3006]

I can't speak as to whether the 'A3 stock was used on late(er) rebuilds, but recently I did see a low number Springfield with a SA 2-42 barrel on it. It was a complete mixmaster with more than a few Remington parts on it. It also sported an 'A3 stock with NO Remington markings on it and a SA over A cartouche in a box with the bottom line on the box missing. I have seen that stamp on M1 Garands before, so I am assuming it was assembled that way at Springfield. It was in near perfect (98%) condition and looked very much like other arsenal overhauled rifles I have seen.

However, I have been wrong before.

[Mike D]

Claven - If your just building a shooter, might as well use what you have.

Are you putting a 1903 sight base on an A3 barrel?

[Claven2]

Yes, I'm using the A3 S stock because I have it and frankly, you can't really find unissued 1903 stocks anymore in my experience, particularly not in Canada.

My barrel is a 4 groove Remington A3 barrel, but I already have everything to convert it to a 1903 barrel and will do the work myself (yes, I'm a machinist with a lathe and mill).

[Calif-Steve]

The many Greek '03's had every stock in the system on them. I think the '03's shipped to them were overhauled in the US prior to shipment to Greece. So do what you have to do to make it right.

[bob308]

if the replacment stocks were not ment to be used on either a 03 or a3 then they would not have been inletted for either rifle. i have some keystone stocks that are inletted for both.

[Mike D]

I've always wanted to put together, or find, an early war rebuild ('41-42 barrel) with an early Scant stock that is not inletted for the A3. I kind of like those.