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OK, here's a photo of the serial number scribed on the bolt.
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Thank You to Neal Myers For This Useful Post:
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05-12-2009 11:00 AM
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Doesn't appear to be electo-penciled.
Jim
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"Me. All the rest are deados!"
67th Company, 5th Marines 1st Sgt. Daniel "Pop" Hunter's response to 1st Lt. Jonas Platt's query "Who is your Commander"?, Torcy side of Hill 142, Belleau Wood, 8:00 am, 6 Jun 1918.
Semper Fidelis!
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Contributing Member
As to DCM direct sales, they DID take place. During the early 1960s, at the time the DCM was selling M1903A3s through the NRA. I went with my mentor at the time to the U.S.
Army terminal, Bayonne, NJ. He was a NRA life member, and they allowed him to go through a pile (I mean in a pile) of '03A3s, pick one out, fill out a form and take it home. No charge for packing and handling, as there was none. Cash and carry. I became a member, went through the NRA, got an invoice, sent my money to the arsenal, got shipment from Letterkenny Depot. $14.50 plus REA collect. Still have it. Lost the box.
Last edited by Tom in N.J.; 05-12-2009 at 01:27 PM.
Reason: Spell check!
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Here's an example, box included
go to the photobucket link to see the box and after clean up pics
1903a3 BEFORE pictures by Selmalinapilchard - Photobucket
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Hey Neal,
Thanks for the photo. The serialized bolt is a puzzle to me. The first four numbers apear to have been applied later than the last three and by a different hand? Have no clue.
LB
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Hey Chuck,
Can you tell us what arc engraving is? Is that what the USMC used to serialize bolts as opposed to the electro-pencil? Never looked at my serialized bolt with a loupe, might have to take a look.
Lancebear
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OK, this the closest my camera will get to the serial number. But, looking at it with a 10x jewelers loupe, I can see the dots within the numbers. So, that makes me think it was done with a vibrating engraver.
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Hey Neal,
Thanks for the additional photo. Do the numbers on your bolt feel raised to the touch?
Looked up arc engraving, it involves a battery or electrical hook up and a fine tipped point...guessing that it is a little like welding without adding metal, just moving it. The numbers on my bolt are neatly done. They feel raised to the touch and under a 16X loupe they look like a very fine welding bead. I could be wrong
The bolt would have been done in probably 1940 or 1941, that's when my rifle was put together by the USMC.
Lancebear
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