Printable View
What does the correct handguard for a Remington M1903 look like? Is the windage knob cut a slot or a circle? How much of a circle? What about the underside cut out for the forward handguard clip. A 1" cut or just the width of the handguard clip? I have Poyer's book, but I am confused.
Thanks,
Curt
Really depends on production date. Early Rems were like WWI - humped, short sight groove, circular cut. Later ones had less of a hump, but still circular cut and I think a slightly longer sight cut. Then later in production came the straight cut for the knob.
Serial Number is 3146740 and barrel data is "6-42" RLB unboxed cartouche
Poyers' types and variations are very confusing, especially the handguard section. Many seem to be weary of Poyer. So, do your homework. Your rifle is what many commonly refer to as the Remington M1903 Modified. The stock and barrel seem correct. Is the handguard not?
A "slot" indicates a WWII replacement handguard (it usually has a "straight" profile).
I recently ordered Poyer's 3rd Ed. and found it had not improved with age!
The handguard that came with it has a straight cut slot for the windage knob. Is this correct? Anyone else out there with a serial number close to this one?
By "straight cut" do you mean the cut is capsule-shaped? If so, it is a replacement. All Remington M1903 handguards had a "high hump", although not quite as noticeable as the pre-WWI and WWI-era handguard.s
Yes, It is capsule shaped. So the correct handguard would have a circle cut? How much of a circle? What about the underside forward clip cut? Is there a GOOD book out there on the Remington M1903?
Photos
I think this handguard looks good. Handguard for 1903 Springfield Original - eBay (item 220581595701 end time Apr-06-10 17:05:58 PDT)
What do you guys think?
Not a Remington - could be a 1920s or 1930s HG. Would like a better picture of the right profile.
The correct handguard for a Remington M1903 rifle has a concave "high hump" profile with a half-circle shaped windage knob relief cut. The handguard also has a distinct 1" wide relief cut in the barrel channel for the front metal clip.Quote:
Originally Posted by cquickel
All Remington M1903 rifles were fitted with the same handguard style.
Poyer's book is very useful for lining the bottom of a bird cage if you don't mind taping the pages together.
J.B. :wave:
The handguard does indeed look good. But, it's not a Remington handguard.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike D
J.B. :wave:
Do you have a better pic of the "hump" in the handguard?Quote:
Originally Posted by RBruce
This is a picture of one I stole off the old CSP forum
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...85119993-1.jpg
When I'm looking at, or for, Remington 1903 H.G.s, the "extra wide" sighting groove and "circular" Windage Knob cutout is what I key on. The "hump" profile is definately there, but can be subtle. Any narrow sight groove and/or "convex" profile to that area is cause for rejection, my opinion only.
Is the the one inch relief that has been referred to?
Yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by RBruce
That's the one-inch wide relief cut. Usually, the cut if much more pronounced than that. But, nevertheless, that's it.
J.B. :wave:
Here is a Springfield handguard, (two photos on right), and a 1942 Rem handguard, (on left), as viewed from the top and side. There is a slight difference in the profiles and in the sight cut/slot. The profile and sight slot/cut of the Springfield one is slightly rounded or more finished where as the cut of the Remington one has sharper cut corners both on the side and bottom of the cut and the slot is slightly longer. Ray
OK, the relief cut for the front metal clip is present, but the profile doesn't look like the other example above.
Your handguard has a CONVEX profile. A Remington handguard has a CONCAVE profile. Your handguard is not a Remington handguard.Quote:
Originally Posted by RBruce
J.B.
So, what is the explanation for the relief cut at the front clip? Perhaps a replacement?
The relief cut at the front clip was not unique to Remington handguards. Other handguards had the relief cut as well. But, all Remington handguards had the relief cut.Quote:
Originally Posted by RBruce
Hope this helps.
J.B.
The handguard pictured in #15 seems to be less concave than the right most photo in #19. Were there variations of the Remington 1903 handguard? What is the length of the sight cut? --TIA
This post has nothing to do with the Remington Hand Guards used on the production of rifles, but I figured it would add to the information out there.
There are different Remington hand guards, but from what I have been told from the advanced collectors, these were never used on the rifle production. I do not know that based upon my research, as I am not a rifle collector. I am going on their knowledge of the rifles.
About 30 years ago I purchased about 4 thousand hand guards and found a few Remingtons labeled. As I started to research contracts (WWII to 1970's) I kept trying to find my example of the Remington WWII contract for hand guards.
Finally a few months ago I dug up a few that have been buried for years. They are 2 to the pack.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...contract-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ct_label-1.jpg
The Remington Spare Parts contract for Hand Guards was not individual. I suspect it was part of a larger contract for other parts. The hand guards vary in characteristics. All have the notch cut instead of the circular cut. There are slightly different size grooves, different wood, and different sized notches. I am sure a lot of this is just due to different tooling set ups and the fact that we were fighting a war and not trying to please weapons enthusiasts like all of us.
As far as overall hand guards (Remington and other makers) I have somewhere between 9 and 12 different patterns, due to tooling differences.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ract_top-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...t_bottom-1.jpg
As far as the Remingtons compared to others I have, they are a lot better quality. The wood appears stronger, the wood cuts are sharper, and the wood is more consistently straight grain. Unfortunately compared to the other makers, I do not have nearly as many Remingtons.
The photo of the Remington handguard I show is on a minty and correct 03 Remington I have. I also had two other Remingtons in the same condition and the handguards looked basically the same, similar contour and sharp raw cuts as opposed to the more finished look of the Springfield one. Ray
The right-most photo in #19 is a Springfield handguard, not a Remington handguard. The Remington handguard is in the second photo from the left.Quote:
Originally Posted by RBruce
Slight manufacturing variation exists in the Remington handguards, but not much. They're reasonably consistent.
I don't know the length of the sight line clearance cut. I don't identify handguards by that feature. Too much variation.
J.B.
John: Please clear up the slotted cut hand guards from Remington. Were they ever used on rifle production? I have been told no by many collectors.
So I have assumed they were only a replacement contract.
The slotted cut Remington handguards were manufactured on a spare parts contract. I have seen Remington M1903 rifles all the way out to the tail end of production and they don't have the slotted cut handguards. All Remington M1903 rifles I have seen had the same "high hump" concave profile handguard.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Ricca
Thanks for the pictures! I have a wrapped set of Remington handguards like those in my collection, as well as a loose one.
J.B. :wave: