New Remington 1903 (picture heavy)

Last winter I got this Remington 1903 at an on-line estate sale. The description advised that the gun was "covered in grease" and boy they weren't kidding.
We finally had a hot spell out here with multiple consecutive days over 100 degrees and I took the opportunity to use my "solar cosmo remover".

What I found under all that grease was a pleasant find: full C stock, HS barrel gauging a bit less than "1" on the CMP muzzle gauge, bolt wouldn't close on a field gauge, and metal finish in great shape.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...19030011-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...19030021-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...19030031-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...19030061-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...19030171-1.jpg

A few oddities--bolt with numbers ep'd on the handle
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...19030161-1.jpg

Partial serial number stamped on the buttstock
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...19030041-1.jpg

few odd cartouches on the stock
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...19030101-1.jpghttps://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...19030051-1.jpghttps://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...19030081-1.jpg

Appears to be a Greek return. With that C stock and sweet barrel, I'll bet it'll do 'ya right at the range! Nice rifle, thanks for sharing!

What you have is one of the Greek "returns" sold by the CMP. The numbers on the bolt were the last 4 digits of the SN - ike as on the stock. Of course, many bolts were mixed up. They were spaked in cosmolins - the stock will need to be sweated some more or you will find the fore-end gets a slippery feel to it when shooting more than a few rounds thru it. I don't remember what CMP orginally sold them for

Hey Calfed,

Have read that those HS barrels are really fine. Yea, Greek return. Nice WWII C stock. It looks like the handguard was replaced, and it is one of the Booher made ones, least attractive one I think. Wouldn't feel guilty about changing it out with a Remington guard with a smoother profile and matching the stock color. Bill Ricca might still have some NOS ones left. Not expensive and would improve the looks of your rifle.

Lancebear

Thanks for the feed back, guys.

I'll try to get to the range and provide a range report.

Wow, what a fine 03! Congrats Steve!

All the best

Ulrich

A very nice looking rifle & undoubtedly a Greek return sold by the CMP. I can't tell from the picture, but is there a B stamped on the floor plate? The Greeks pinned the floor plates closed with a brass pin (easy to remove) & stamped a B on the floor plate. If it is not there, some one swapped it.

Also, not closing on a Field gauge does not guarantee correct headspace; I have seen a small number of HS rebarreled 1903s with insufficient head space; the bolt would not close on a Go gauge. The barrels were short chambered & needed to be finish reamed. If the bolt closes easily on factory round, you should be OK. If you have to force it closed, have a competent gunsmith finish ream it. The upside is that you have a brand new barrel!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gunner

Wow, what a fine 03! Congrats Steve!

All the best

Ulrich

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Thanks, Ulrich! always glad to hear from you.

---------- Post added at 12:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:38 PM ----------

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kirk

A very nice looking rifle & undoubtedly a Greek return sold by the CMP. I can't tell from the picture, but is there a B stamped on the floor plate? The Greeks pinned the floor plates closed with a brass pin (easy to remove) & stamped a B on the floor plate. If it is not there, some one swapped it.

Also, not closing on a Field gauge does not guarantee correct headspace; I have seen a small number of HS rebarreled 1903s with insufficient head space; the bolt would not close on a Go gauge. The barrels were short chambered & needed to be finish reamed. If the bolt closes easily on factory round, you should be OK. If you have to force it closed, have a competent gunsmith finish ream it. The upside is that you have a brand new barrel!

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Thanks, Kirk.

I could not find a "B" on the floor plate. However, neither could I get the floor plate off when I was cleaning out the cosmo. Would the brass pin be visible from the top of the magazine looking in?

Hi Steve,

thank you! I was very busy the last time and hope to get more time to being around here again!

All the best

Ulrich

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Calfed

I could not find a "B" on the floor plate. However, neither could I get the floor plate off when I was cleaning out the cosmo. Would the brass pin be visible from the top of the magazine looking in?

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No, you have to take the trigger guard out of the stock. The pins were horizontal near the floorplate latch area. If it has one, you will see it from the side. Floorplate could also be "stuck" to the TG with dried grease.

HTH,

Emri