This rifle was purchased in 1962 for $34.95, rifle was not used since that time. Note the marks on the barrel in front of the rear sight base and the Hatcher hole. This is the bolt that came with the rifle too.
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This rifle was purchased in 1962 for $34.95, rifle was not used since that time. Note the marks on the barrel in front of the rear sight base and the Hatcher hole. This is the bolt that came with the rifle too.
Looks like a nice one. Do you know any history of the rifle? The stippled buttplate and the Hatcher hole may indicate USMC rifle. The USMC on the barrel is not necessarily USMC. It also looks alike an oversized sight cover also used by the USMC. Could you please post another of the sight cover? I'm sure others will chime in.
-Jeff L
rifle may be a USMC, barrel however wasnt installed by the military,
they didnt use a pipe wrench.
The front sight cover is normal issue with a circled s stamp, it is not the USMC front sight cover. Nor are there any USMC sights on this rifle. This
rifle was purchased in Chicago at Klein's Sporting Goods (1962). There were about 50 or 60 rifles all 1903 or 1903A1's which were on sale at $34.95 ea.
Only two rifles in this group had USMC stamped Sedgely 1941 barrels and both were purchased.
I have a LN M1903 with the same marks on the 1942 Sedgely barrel. I have been told by others that the barrel marks indicate USMC build and usage. Mine came from the CMP with a C stock , the Hatcher hole ,and a NS RIA bolt.
Pipe wrench bites from a US Depot/Arsenal? Oh my. BF bolt, interesting rifle. Could well be USMC. This one warrants study.
Stippled Buttplate gives it high provenance to be Marine Corps. Question is, is the story real ...?
When SA s/n 1,031,506 was purchased, there was another rifle purchased at the same time: SA 1,279,085 also with Hatcher hole and with a Sedgely USMC barrel only dated 9-42, also with the jaw marks. This rifle has a NS bolt and with a pre war C stock with WM marked near the cut-off recess. The cut-off recess is also marked F over 0 and the stock has the D-1836 drawing number.
The buttplate has the heavy checkering (NM) not stippled.
There were only two rifles at Kleins, among all the 1903's, that had the Sedgely USMC marked barrels and both were purchased that day
i would bet, that what ever sorce Kliens got the rifles from, did the barrel replacements.
not, the Marines, or any US military depot.
I received a SA-52 rebuilt M1 barreled Receiver from the CMP,and it also has pipe wrench "Bites" on the barrel :confused:
I purchased a low number Springfield from CMP a while back. It has "Hatcher" hole, barrel marked USMC 8-41 and then the S in a circle. The barrel also had curious marks that Lynn Meredith told me were caused by a barrel vise peculilar to the Marine Corps. I asked John Beard about it and he confirmed what Lynn said and that it was a Marine Corps rifle.
I bought a RIA 1903 from the CMP with several USMC characteristics, among them wrench marks on the barrel.
The marks on my barrel are not cut-in like a pipe wrench. They appear pressed in. They are also too far apart to be pipe wrench.
The Marines did indeed mount barrels with a 3-jaw vise that left those marks. Dead on indicator of a true Marine rifle with barrel replacement in the 1941-42 range. They were in a hurry, and took a few shortcuts in rebuilding the rifles.
That rifle shows every indication of being a true Marine Corps rifle and I would bet the farm on it's Marine Corps provenance. Ditto for the second rifle.
Nice rifles, Bob. I wish I owned them.
Jim
Hey RCS,
Does your stock have any markings besides maybe an "S" in the cut off recess? If the stock has no markings then your rifle has four USMC characteristics (Grasping groove stock devoid of markings is one).
Sedgely 9-41 barrel, dinked flat buttplate, Hatcher hole and if unmarked stock = four USMC points.
The Marines had lots of WWI period and earlier rifles in their inventory during the time when they assembled their WWII '03's. The presence of old parts on a suspected Marine '03 is not a Marine rifle characteristic (Such as your late 1918 receiver?, stock, striker and rear sight assembly) but to me it adds a bit.
Your bolt code is from late 1940 to early 1941 and barrel 9-41 (The time frame when the USMC was assembling their rifles). I'd say you have a decent case for having a Marine '03 if the marks on the barrel pass muster with professor J.B. Congrats...please let us know if the stock is unmarked.
Would strip the rifle down and scrub the metal with a nylon brush and Hoppe's. Wipe it down and apply Break-Free with a shaving brush. Looks like you have some rust and crud. Maybe wipe the wood with lemon oil, nothing else...cept shoot it. How's the bore? Nice rifle.
Death to tyrants,
Lancebear
The stock is without any sign of a P firing proof or a cartouche, behind the rear trigger guard is a small number 56 (not a rack number) and in the cut-off recess is a small o stamp.
sometime ago I sent this s/n to Frank Mallory and received a letter back stating that the serial number was among other known USMC rifles and there was a good chance that this was also a USMC rifle - but still no "hit".
The bore is like new and the rifle is not rusted - old cosmolene
thats what i love about this forum....learn something every day..
Hey RCS,
Thanks. If it looks like a duck. Think Jim T's vise info clinches it. Ya' got a USMC. Hit would be nice and a serialized bolt but...I think you have a strong case for a USMC. Four characteristics is very good. Mine is not a hit either but like your rifle falls in with good company on the hit list. Love those old GG stocks on a Marine rifle. Congrats. Hope professor J.B. gets time to comment. I learn something new whenever he catches one of my screw ups.
Ya' got some good input from the guys. Find another one:)
Think there are a few Marine rifle owners here and on our other favorite haunt. Wish we could see and discuss them all. Bolt info is courtesy of J.B. on Vishooter's site. Wonder about the "O" in the recess. Maybe an RIA mark, anybody?
Lancebear
There are a number of SA stocks with the 0 stamp in the recess such as: CCV no-bolt stock, DAL stocks and SA SPG stocks
RCS-
I want to see the rifle attached to that CCV stock. Can ya'?
PD
ok, gotta be honest...having a problem buying the wrench mark thing as being USMC.
iv seen waaaaay to many bubba jobs done with a pipe wrench to make this one sit well.
my barrel vise is GI issue, and likely a field use model. and its never ever left a mark on anyones rifle.
my vice is likely 1918 to 1930 vintage.
My Uncle, now deceased, was a mechanic and avid hunter and did 19 and 6 in the Navy. He told me years ago they used to change barrels aboard ships in the Pacific in WWII. I didn't bother to ask what sort of vise they used. The larger aircraft carriers could do all sorts of mechaical work and changing a barrel would have been quite easy.
Chuck,Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckindenver
They are not pipe wrench marks, they are Navy 3-jaw pipe vise marks, and there should be six distinct longitudinal evenly spaced lines about one to two inches in front of the RSFB:madsmile:. The Navy may have assisted in the work, but they were Marine rifles and quite commonly encountered.:beerchug:
Jim:cool:
Ok, I'm looking into buying a Remington 1903. Barrel is marked USMC, 2-44. After reading about the bent barrel thing I'm worried about it. I'm going to go to my dealers and look down the bore to see if it has any rings in it. I've been wanting a 1903 for a long time and don't want my lust for one blind me to a Junker. I have to ask, what is a Hatcher Hole? Do you think it's a legit 1903, it also worries me that there are no cartouches on the stock. Thanks for your help
A 2-44 would likely not be a true USMC rifle. Very common post WWII surplus barrel. Very different story for a 1941 dated barrel. Now, understand lots of Remington M1903's ended up in the Navy. So do take a very close look at this one. Try to drop a .32acp case down the barrel from the chamber. It should easily fall out, if it gets hung up mid way down the bore be worried. Smooth buttplate? Finally price, how much ? Good luck.
I am going to stop and take pictures of it tonight and give it a better lookover. I'll see if I can get a .32 acp case to drop down the bore. How would one know if it's a U.S Navy one?Their asking $700.00
I would just LOVE to see you put a .336 OD 32acp case down a .300 land ID bore with nothing short of a hydraulic ram .
Chris
Ouch, doing this off of my memory. Forget the .32acp trick. Try this instead, look down the bore from the breech. Do you see a shadow half way down the bore? If so, try a clean rod with a cotton swab. Is there resistance half way down? I honestly do not know of any way to tell a US Navy '03. I recall 8-9 years back at Camp Perry. CMP was selling '03 receivers. All out of Crane, all with Hatcher Hole. I got a 900,000 receiver, I suspect it was US Navy, but no way to prove it. Get some photos. Also, $700.00 is high end for a common '03. Gotta be special.
Ok, stopped by my dealers for closer look today. It is a Remington s/n 3065009. It has the Hatcher Hole, bolt is not marked with s/n,only mark on the stock is a "K" at the end under muzzle. I shined a light in the barrel,it looks like a ring but not 100% sure as I have never really seen one. I just had a "leave it pass" feeling as didn't seem right.