You said in the original post it was 4/42 - a 10/42 barrel is still a little outside the manufacture range, but may be original.
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Sure glad **I** never made that mistake. Now, excuse me while I seek cover before the lightning bolt strikes! :madsmile:
---------- Post added at 09:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:25 AM ----------
The handguard appears to be a later replacement. Does the lower band and trigger guard have an "R" stamp? By that point of production, most Remington M1903s had stamped parts.
Remington milled lower bands have an R stamp somewhere above the U.
is that an '03 Stock, or an A3 S Stock? Werent earlier '42 M1903 (modified) rifles mounted on an RA S stock with no finger grooves and no handguard band inlet? If so, tht may not be a replacement stock at all, but an original 1903 (modified) stock boned when serviced at an arsenal. In any case, it looks like a very nice stock!
You mentioned a 4-42 barrel in the OP.
The stock is a replacement from a later M1903A3. There were no RA stamps on M1903 stocks and you can see the "notches" for the M1903A3 retaining clip.
Nice rifle!
I'm not any where as knowledgeable as you fine folks. But I feel very lucky to have found this rifle in it's current condition. The gentleman I purchased it from was very gracious and a pleasure to deal with. I now have two of his 03's and love their great looking condition and enjoy firing them,
Semper Fidelis! Nice transition 03 to 03A3 Rifle!