How to I.D. a M1903 drill rifle receiver

[jkv45]

What should I look for to I.D. a M1903 receiver as a former drill rifle?

What will I.D. a A4 as a Gibbs, or other, rifle?

Thanks.

[browningautorifle]

How to I.D. a M1903 drill rifle receiver

Evidence of spot welds for one...

[RCS]

check the rear receiver area around the cut-off and barrel to receiver weld

[jkv45]

Gotcha - thanks.

[ssgross]

the rifles Gibbs recovered were fitted with new production barrels marked "GA" at the muzzle with some sort of crown logo, and m-yy below. That's from my memory. I sold mine when I built my own. It shot just OK. plenty fun enough to plink with, but nothing to write home about. The chamber on mine looked like it was cut with a spoon, and off-center at that. I've heard it was hit or miss with those.

[browningautorifle]

The chamber on mine looked like it was cut with a spoon, and off-center at that. I've heard it was hit or miss with those.

Sounds like weld was removed roughly.

[Redleg]

There are some slick jobs out there.

I have several.

One early rem 03A3, is so good that I cannot tell, except for the mag cutoff slot's roof, is slightly "off".. not ground perfectly, correctly, horizontal, where a weld obviously was. Usually that receiver area has a light discoloration where the new park did not take well..........but this one is almost perfect...builder might have left that area as a "tell".
Fix was too easy..??

No other tell tales.............beautiful stock, new BBl, date matches, shoots well.

[browningautorifle]

Usually that receiver area has a light discoloration where the new park did not take well

Yes, seemed to have something to do with solution strength or metallurgy.

[ssgross]

I just saw a 1903a3 drill rifle in a local shop the other day. This one had a hole drilled up through the front action screw all the way up into the bolt log recess. Likely the front action screw soldered in place or worse. Magazine cutoff of course welded up, and a plug in the chamber. I hadn't seen one drilled up through the action screw before.

[browningautorifle]

This one had a hole drilled up through the front action screw all the way up into the bolt log recess. Likely the front action screw soldered in place or worse.

I've never seen that...