Winchester "sporter" '03

Haven't even thought about this rifle in a while, but several years ago I "rescued" a nice Springfield manufactured '03 in a slick sporter style stock.
Not too fancy wood, but outstanding inletting, all capped off with an old Winchester buttplate. The metal hasn't been modified in any way, though which seems more than a little odd, considering the effort expended on the woodwork.

I got mostly 'cuz I was afraid that someone would ditch the stock and return it to military configuration, but I still don't really know what this might be.

The "Whelen" thread reminded me about it. So...:dunno:

Post pictures of the rifle. It won't take long to get an honest opinion.

Jim

Probably this weekend. No digital camera or PC at the house. Time to impose on some friends again!

with the ultra rare WWII German SA marked extended magazine that Gen Custer coulda used to fight off those pesky boogers @ the Llitle Big Horn. Think what a combo he coulda had to sell then with the same guarranties.

just an old man's musings.

da gimp

OFC, Mo. Chapter

Photos:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00165-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00166-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00167-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00169-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00171-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00168-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00177-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00176-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00170-1.jpg

May be in different order now.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00173-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00175-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00174-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00172-1.jpg








Whoever built the stock did a lovely job, except the cutoff seems to have popped off a bit of wood at some time before I ended up with it. 7 3/4 lb!

It definitely had been in a military stock long enough to get a bit of fore end bedding wear on the under side of the barrel, and it had a front sight hood removed. :cheers:

Is that a SHT or DHT reciever. It looks like a straight handle bolt. But either way, it looks good. Put a correct stock back on, and find a sportered mix-master for the other stock.. FWIW.

The S/N falls in a lot that was sent to Winchester, some of which were fitted w/ A5 scopes (not this one apparently).

OK, S/N is 63096x, if that helps any.

You have a very interesting rifle and PLEASE do not restore this back to military. I would like to know a little more about your rifle and ask your permission to share your pictures as well.

Michael Petrov mjpetrov@acsalaska.net
907-522-4628

That is a VERY nice rifle!:beerchug:
I would leave it alone. Someone did a great job & it is a testament
to what was done after WWI to make an 03 a beautifull
hunting rifle. You are fortunate!:)
Tom

Found it at the just opened Cabela's in Harrisburg, PA some years ago on the floor w/ all the other tired old used rifles! Road trips are great, but get expensive fast!

In response to Mr. Petrov's inquiries, got looking at the rifle again.

Fore end tip material is not wood, some very dark material with tiny, tiny black dots and no grain structure.

No markings under the buttplate. The buttplate itself is the same as the ones on the WWI '97 shotguns 'round about here.

All the inletting appears to be done w/ hand tools, but is done w/ to very high degree of craftmanship. There are features inletted that really aren't required. For example, there's a raised area just behind the foward action screw where a lightening cut is located on the floorplate.

There is a small chance that Winchester might have built your rifle but so far I have found nothing. Winchester experimented with using the 1903 Springfield action for a commercial rifle. The only one I know they produced was the "Sniper" model in 1922. When I was visiting the Winchester museum at Cody many years ago there was a large display case with early Winchester experimental rifles and if I remember correctly some were on the 1903 action. I have been unable to find my pictures from that trip but I am still looking. Outside of that I have no idea but a very nice rifle.

IMO you should have the missing piece of wood professionally replaced.

Prior to 1916 Marlin also made 1903 sporter stocks for Newton who sold a stock and Newton barrel so folks with a 1903 Springfield could have a "Newton" rifle.

No repairs for now! But if it gets done I won't skimp.

I'm in no rush, I really never expected to figure out the whole story, so all this is bonus! Always exciting to learn more.

i suspect a 1903, in a M54 stock, nice rifle, leave her be, and enjoy.

Definitely not a Winchester model 54 stock! That'd be a neat trick, though.

can be, and has been done, my long past mentor used to fit 03,s into 54 stocks all the time.
he also used to refit M70 stocks for the 03 as well, that took a bit more work, but sure looked great.

Won't say that it can't be done, but there are several "clues" that disqualify the stock as having been modded from a Winchester model 54 (or 70).

1) The spacing between the two outer action screws are:
M54- 8 1/4"
'03- 7 3/4"
M70- 7 3/8"

2) The recoil lug is further forward on the M54 and 70 than the '03 and rather larger to boot! No empty spaces on the pictured stock's inletting.

3) The action rails surrounding the magazine body are much deeper on the Winchesters. Again, this would leave an empty void not found on this stock.

4) The floorplate on the M54 extends further forward than an '03 (due to the screw spacing). This would leave an inletted area forward of the '03's trigger guard no longer covered.

:cheers:

it is s nice rifle, however, having a grip cap and buttplate doesnt make it made by Winchester..:} however, it is possible, call Cody and find out.

Hey, y'all.

I got to reorganizing photobucket albums and broke a lot of links (making work on vacation-stupid!). This is the only photo post thread on the '03 forum that I know about so it got tackled first. Let me know if I missed any if you run across broken links in the future.

Thanks!