Remington 1903 Stock ??'s

I have a 1903 Remington Stock. Not 03-A3. I recall a topic (perhaps the old Culver Forum?) about the holes drilled in the Butt of 1903 stocks.
Obviously one was necessary for the Oiler Kit directly in line with the Buttplate Trap.
My stock has two (2) holes. Is the 2nd hole a "Lightening Hole" and does the presence of Two (2) holes help to date the stock? :confused: Please refresh my memory.

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Originally Posted by Mike Haas

I have a 1903 Remington Stock. Not 03-A3. I recall a topic (perhaps the old Culver Forum?) about the holes drilled in the Butt of 1903 stocks.
Obviously one was necessary for the Oiler Kit directly in line with the Buttplate Trap.
My stock has two (2) holes. Is the 2nd hole a "Lightening Hole" and does the presence of Two (2) holes help to date the stock? :confused: Please refresh my memory.

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The buttplate is IMO, original to the stock. The Trap Door is marked "R' as well as is the buttplate itself. Perhaps this info will help to "date" the stock.

small legg on the hole is for a spare parts kit.the leg was to clear the extra firing pin.{cocking rod}

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Originally Posted by chuckindenver

small legg on the hole is for a spare parts kit.the leg was to clear the extra firing pin.{cocking rod}

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Chuck - So the smaller hole in the buttstock is for a spare parts kit? - Which means that if a soldier needed those parts he would have to remove the buttplate to access them?

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Originally Posted by Mike Haas

I have a 1903 Remington Stock. Not 03-A3. I recall a topic (perhaps the old Culver Forum?) about the holes drilled in the Butt of 1903 stocks.
Obviously one was necessary for the Oiler Kit directly in line with the Buttplate Trap.
My stock has two (2) holes. Is the 2nd hole a "Lightening Hole" and does the presence of Two (2) holes help to date the stock? :confused: Please refresh my memory.

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(1) The second hole is indeed a lightening hole. It serves no purpose except to reduce the stock weight and help maintain rifle balance. The hole is normally empty except that it may occasionally have some grease residue in it.

(2) The presence of two (2) holes does indeed help to date the stock, but only within about a year of manufacture.

You will note that the top hole has a notch in the bottom. The notch is for a non-existent spare parts kit. The notch helps date the stock to early manufacture, much moreso than the presence of a lower lightening hole.

Hope this helps.

J.B. :wave:

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Originally Posted by Mike Haas

The buttplate is IMO, original to the stock. The Trap Door is marked "R' as well as is the buttplate itself. Perhaps this info will help to "date" the stock.

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The buttplate, if original to the stock, dates the stock to 1941-42 manufacture.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

p.s.,

Please e-mail if you would like to more closely pinpoint the date of your stock's manufacture.

it was said that 1 out of 20 rifles had a spart parts set,
maybe in pre WW2,,but doubtful they were installed during that time.
you can find a spare parts container now and then on Fleabay..or on a gunshow table.

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Originally Posted by John Beard

The buttplate, if original to the stock, dates the stock to 1941-42 manufacture.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

p.s.,

Please e-mail if you would like to more closely pinpoint the date of your stock's manufacture.

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JB - email sent