My 1903 project

[rockyriver]

Hello all. Probably a common theme, but I was recently bestowed this rusty old rifle, which sadly had been sitting in the corner of a tin shed for who knows how long. I have been trying to learn about it before I start trying to clean it up. I am new to the M1903 and it's variants, and learning as I go, so please bear with me.















I KNOW!!


From what I gather, what I have here (and please correct me) is a Remington 1903 that has been sporterized (and neglected for years).

Short term goal is to stop the rust and clean her up as best I can (does that look realistic to you?). The plan was to use a fiber wheel to get the worst of it, naval jelly, etc. But that probably makes some of you cringe, so feel free to set me straight. A local gunshop offered to "bead blast" it (?). Once the rust is under control, I expect it will need to be re-blued? Parkerized?

The long term goal is to completely un-sporterize it and bring it back to as close to original, firing condition. To do that, it looks like I will need to obtain (at least) the following parts:

1. Stock ("S" stock? "C"? What would be correct?)
2. Bolt (I have been told that any 1903 bolt will slip right in... true or false? Where do I find one?)
3. Rear sight (I'm not sure what is on there now... looks to me like a sporterized peep sight but there appears to be a location for a ramp rear sight in front of the receiver?)


Thought about posting in the restorer's corner but I thought there would be some Springfield specific stuff to be answered here first.

Thanks for any input!

Information

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[Salt Flat]

You will get a lot of varied opinions on this but I think less aggressive rust removal is better. Soak in penetrating oil, then carefully 000 steel wool. Stay away from wire wheels or abrasive wheels! Up near the muzzle may take a little more penetration time. A toothbrush size hand wire brush might do it. the goal is to leave as much of the original finish as possible and leaving the markings completely intact. Soak the bore in penetrating oil and use a bronze cleaning brush to scrub it out. Judging by the outside the bore might be your biggest problem. Or you could have all the metal parts reparkerized in which case the bead blasting would be part of the process. The costs for the parts and parkerizing will add up fast and unless the bore is very good, you will have to decide whether it is viable. Add to your list a front sight blade, stock bands, sling swivels, screws for same and a handguard. The peep sight screw holes will need to be plugged. Looks like fun! Salt Flat

[Col. Colt]

On some of the gun boards you will find articles on reverse electrolysis, which can remove rust without the damage of abraisive methods. I would at least look into that before I touched the rust with the more common methods. The results can be amazing.
One German Mauser reciever looked worse than your M1903, and it came out of the plastic trough with no rust and quite a bit of blue showing! Read carefully, and study, but the method involves a Walmart plastic tub, a wall "wart" (phone charger, low voltage DC current) hooked to two pieces of rebar in a simple solution, with another wire to the piece being derusted. 4-8 hrs later, a clean part and a tub full of rusty water! Make sure you research it carefully, but just scraping off the rust will leave ugliness! CC

[Calif-Steve]

Actually, I would ship it off to Chuckindenver and get his superior park job. Not too expensive, either. Where is the bolt?

[Chuckindenver]

if you plan on having it refinished....STOP....dont remove the rust , clean the bore, and let whoever you send it to deal with the rust...your only making more work for whoever you send it off to.
wire wheels, sandpaper, navel jelly all make restoring the metal correctly a bear...i wouldnt even oil it if you want it done right..
many people thinking they were doing the right thing by oiling up a rifle or greasing it before sending it to me, made a job that should have just been a snap...into a train wreck.

[former0302]

chunkindenver is the man!

[Oscarflytyer]

Chuck

You happen to be a guru with rust in a bore? Picked up a JC Light Brazilian 7mm Mauser. Last 1-2" of the bore are a sewer pipe. Currently have it soaking in Kroil. Hope to be able to loosen the rust, and scrub it out with a bronze brush. Just looking to make a decent shooter out of it - 4" or so at 100 yds with irons and my old eyes...

Other option I was looking at was counter-boring the muzzle.

Your thoughts/advice/options, etc? Thanx

[Calif-Steve]

DuPage Trading and the CMP both have nice 03A3 wood. Get chuckindenver involved. Good luck.

[rugersworld]

Listen to Chuckindenver