Remington 03/C stock and wood questions

Yesterday evening my son came home with a really decent looking Remington M1903 rifle! Nothing to be ashamed of at all...:madsmile:...I was rather jealous

My son's new rifle has a 4-42 dated barrel which seems appropriate with the receiver serial #....all the little and big parts with markings are 'R' marked and at least to me seems like an original assembly excepting the stock which is a C stock. Not sure about the butt-plate either.

I read up on the 'red star' Remington M1903 rifles and Remington M1903 rifles in general to get an idea of what they are and should look like...what stock/handguard it should wear etc.

Son's butt-plate is a milled checkered trapdoor equipped plate that we couldn't see any markings on. Is that style butt-plate appropriate for a Remington M1903?

The C-stock on this rifle has like zero/no markings....is an A3 cut stock....looks like it'c been on the rifle for a long time......there might be vague remnants of a circle P on the pistol-grip curve(not certain of that)….nothing on the tip...nothing in the cut-off notch....nothing visible as far as ordinance wheel or inspection stamps. I had thoughts that the C-stock might be a newer repro stock....but changed my mind to think that it's probably the real deal and some previous owner put the pistol grip stock on it. The stock and handguard do appear sanded/refinished.

How do you tell a real US issue C type stock from a reproduction?

Thanx from HT & son

Seasons' Greetings!

Answers are as follows:

(1) No.

(2) I am not aware of a conclusive method for identifying a U.S. issue Type C stock from a reproduction. Usually, examining the inletting around and installation of the stock reinforcing crossbolts will distinguish an issue stock from a reproduction. In addition, an issue stock will have a lightening hole in the butt and a reproduction may not.

Good Luck! And Happy New Year!

J.B.

Thanks J.B.
I thought it odd that Remington stamps an 'R' on about every little part....but not on a really nice milled butt-plate!

Son's C stock had a un-healthy crack at the wrist....plus cracks extending front and rear of left/front stock cross bolt. The inletting of the action looked odd too(compared to a A3 S stock I have). I de-greased the stock and got a bunch of grunge off it. Glued the cracks. Then you can see a big K in the cut-off notch. Faint but there....very faint circle P on the grip. I asked on another forum and the boy's stock is a Keystone made item.

My best guess about son's new Remington M1903 is that somebody got hands on a really nice late model Remington 03 and fitted it to a used C stock and 03 handguard. The stock has been re-bedded in the action area to include filling the A3 handguard band area.

Seasons' Greetings!

Remington milled buttplates are also marked with an "R". The "R" is on the back side against the stock. The buttplate cap is also marked with an "R" and is visible when opening the cap.

And you are correct. A "K" identifies your stock as a Keystone stock, a WWII spare stock contractor.

Happy New Year!

J.B.