A CMP Greek 1903

[Dollar Bill]

Hopefully, this link will take you to the pics of my rifle. I purchased it from a guy who had bought it in 2001. When I got it, the cosmoline was so thick, you really couldn't tell much about the rifle. I disassembled it and used your tips from an earlier thread to get the cosmo out and cleaned the stock, applied 10 coats of thinned BLO and 5 coats of JPW over a month. The parts look correct to me, with the exception of the 1944 barrel, but I'm no expert. Pictures by Dollar_Bill_2009 - Photobucket

Information

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[Kirk]

The HS barrel was added during a rebuild. It may very well be new and, if so, you should be pleased. The HS barrels have a reputation for excellent accuracy. Since the rifle was in cosmoline when you got it, the first owner most likely did not shot it. The CMP let some "short chambered" barrels out a few years ago. See if a varity of GI & commercial factory rounds chamber. If they chamber, fire & extract easily, you should be OK. If the bolt shows any resistence to closing, you may need to have the chamber "finish reamed" to bring it to correct size. Alternately, you can use headspace gauges; a bolt will not close on the Go Gauge in a short chambered barrel.

[Dollar Bill]

I shot 5 rounds of 150gn handloads that duplicate M2 Ball and it shoots fine. I'm very happy with the rifle. It appears as you stated, Kirk, that the barrel is basically unfired. Rifling is sharp chamber to muzzle with no measureable muzzle wear. I've been wondering about the stock markings. There's a K on top of the wrist and various marks on the bottom. No cartouche. Would this stock have been replaced at some point?

[drshame]

"K" Keystone Stock?

It probably started off life as a regular 1903, receiver made in what year?

When it was re-barreled, arsenal redone, it was probably dropped into a "C" stock to become a retrofitted 1903A1.

My 1918 835,XXX Greek "C" stock has a 1943 Springfield Barrel. I restocked it with a Springfield NOS "C" stock I found several years ago.

It's smooth as butter, has a smooth buttplate and serrated trigger...and I tracked one about 3 numbers off to a Marine Unit in the Pacific in WW-II so I believe it may have seen plenty of action.
It's also got a small "M" stamped at the top of the barrel crown.. no idea what it means.

[Dollar Bill]

The reciever was made in 1919, I believe. S/N: 1138422.

[togor]

I notice it has an A3 bolt. You might want to pick up an 03 style bolt sleeve if you want to have the middle position (safe, bolt unlocked) on the safety. The middle position may have been superfluous to an infantryman, but as a civilian recreational shooter I find it has value.

[Donzi]

Where could one find (online) an 03 style sleeve? TIA.
Donzi

[ismith]

Bill,
Beautiful rifle! I was in Bco 7/101 from January 2003- January 2005.
Irl

[Chief]

Bill,
The various marks on the wrist, and bottom of the pistol grip are most probably Greek in origin. The large B stamped on the magazine floorplate indicates that the latch has been pinned to make it inoperable by the Greeks. Does your floorplate unlatch? Very nice rifle. I wish mine had as good a finish as yours.
regards,
Chief

[Dollar Bill]

Bill,
The large B stamped on the magazine floorplate indicates that the latch has been pinned to make it inoperable by the Greeks. Chief

We have a saying "You can make it idiot proof, but making it GI proof is another story". Knowing very little beyond what the disassembly guide and Ordnance manual tells me, I clamped the trigger guard assy in a wood vice, with a small piece of wood strategically placed to hold the floorplate release in the depressed position, I then proceded to drive the "Why the hell is this floorplate so tight" part off with an aluminum drift. A couple whacks with the brass hammer and it came off. Re-assembly went fairly easily. Later, after looking at the floorplate from my other 03, that's being rebarreled, I noticed that one assy had a cross pin and the other didn't. I was going to ask the question on this forum about the difference. Guess there's no need to now.
Thanks, Chief. The finish is a result of lots of reading here on the forum, with a good dose of caution and beginners luck.