Several questions on my 03

[jarrodeu]

I bought this 03 a couple of years ago because it was cheap and I have a couple of questions I was hoping you experts could help me with.

1. There is a non-matching serial number etched in the top of of the bolt. see picture #2. I think the number is 911217. Was bolt swapping common? Any idea why the etched number?

2 The screws were staked at one time. see picture #5. I don't recall having seen this before. Would this be attributed to anything in particular (like Army, Navy, or Marines?)

3 There is an inlet in the stock below the bolt handle. see picture #4 Any guess as to whether this was a factory thing of done later like in a rebuild facility? Would this have been done on an individual basis or applied to all rifles in the batch?

Thanks for your help,
Jarrod
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[Randy A]

What's the butt plate look like, has it been stipled? Staking the screws on the t/g was kind of a USMC thing but I don't think that was exclusive. From what I can tell your rifle should have been built in 1911, the bolt (all I could see was the "J") was made in late 1910, unless there is another number on the safety lug with the J. And of course the barrel date, all indicate it has been rebuilt, I'd guess around WW1, if it hadn't been pulled from service because of being a SHT low number receiver. Check with Marine A5 Sniper, I think that's close to a run of USMC numbers. Might ask for an SRS check too.

[John Beard]

You have a rifle that was issued to the U.S. Marine Corps. The Marine Corps serialized their rifle bolts. But, the bolts got mixed during overhaul.

The staked screws were likely a USMC alteration. The stock inlet was done during overhaul.

If you e-mail me, I can tell you more about your rifle.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[jarrodeu]

Wow! Since it didn't have a hatcher hole and it looks like WWII rebuild stamps I didn't think it was USMC. Too bad someone sanded the stock, though they did a good job.
The buttplate is checkered see attached photo.
I was going to sell it but now I may have to keep it.
Thanks,
Jarrod
Attachment 35701

[Randy A]

The butt plate is correct for a pre war and post war rifle. The Marines would take a center punch or cape chisel and rough up the butt so it wouldn't slip on the shoulder when firing, I've never seen it done to a checkered plate though. John Beard can probably tell you anything you'll ever want to know about it, send him a PM.