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This SA 1903 was purchased at Golden State sometime ago (cost $39.95) serial number 1,479546 without the Hatcher hole and barrel dated SA 9-35. At some point, the NS bolt was replaced with another NS bolt for a better headspace, bore is still nice but has had a number of rounds fired.Attachment 23523Attachment 23524Attachment 23525
This rifle pops up on Vi Shooters list. Shows it was observed at the CMP in 1/06. Greek return rifle? Who says it came out of Golden State Arms?
Steve, check the number again, s/n 1479546 was purchased from Golden State Arms in 1958 or 1959 - will try and find some paperwork
I checked Vi Shooters list my rifle serial number 1,479546 was post on CSP (Culvers ) 0n 1-06 not CMP
also this rifle was purchased in 1958 for $39.95 from Golden State it is not anyway related to the Greek CMP 1903 rifles
Oh, I get it! You posted it on Juster in 1/06!! Ok, nice find. How did it ever get through WWII in such good shape? No Hatcher Hole, I would think this was about the timeframe that they first started drilling the hole. Is the stock a Type C stock? $39.95 in 1958, I worked in a fruit cannery in 1962 for $1.45 per hour. After taxes, I took home about $40.00 for a week's work. So, $39.95 really wasn't that cheap.
I cant tell if its a shadow or the woods grain, is that a GG stock? :confused:
It's a grasping groove stock. How about some pictures of the "overall" rifle? I bought my first M1903, a Remington M1903 in 1967 for $39.95 - that was prety much the going rate in the 1960s. I was working as a student janitor at my high school - $1.25/hr..
I too would like to see your stock. I rescued SA #1374814, barrel dated 7-33, from bubba about 25 years ago. All I remember about the original butchered stock is that it had finger grooves in it. I wish something like this site had been around back then. :)
john
Attachment 23573Attachment 23569Attachment 23571Attachment 23570Attachment 23572stock is SA SPG, receiver is without the Hatcher hole and barrel is dated SA 9-35
So many guys bought these cheap in the 1960's and immediately cut them up. Good for you to hang on to it in orginal condition. Nice keeper.
Steve, This 1903 got saved because I started buying the Lend Lease M1 rifles which were also alot of fun to shoot. You could buy the 30-06 WRA at 200 rds for $7.00 but recoil was very stiff in the 1903. There was alot of nice M2 ball in clips that was available with late dates for the M1. Great Lakes Naval Base sold the 1903A3 barreled actions for $10 ea after the recruits broke the stocks. Sometimes 1903 barrels were also available for $2 each, nice bores too - they never shot them. Just got one of those $2 Great Lakes barrels to take photos of the barrel wrench marks.
I was in high school (1963) when my Dad got his DCM 03-A3. I saved lawn mowing money and ordered a $4.00 "C" stock mail order. I put it on the 03-A3 and was happy. Then the American Rilfeman published an article on converting a "C" stock into nice sporter style stock with a carved checkpiece. My dad saw that article and began hounding me daily to cut that stock and convert it. I tried to tell him no but it didn't work. Finally I said OK, mind you this conversion was for an advanced woodworker. My Dad owned a rusty saw and used it to butcher that stock. MY Dad didn't know anything about fine woodworking. He totally destroyed the stock and I was embarrassed to have shooters see my sporter 03-A3. I finally put the original wood back on the rifle and my Dad forgot about the whole matter. I really don't know what the American Rifleman folks were thing by publishing that article. It was a very advanced and difficult word working project that probably destroyed tons of nice "C" stocks. Oh well, such is life.
Those $10 1903A3 barreled actions from Great Lakes were an excellent buy, most of the time you had to cut one inch off the muzzle because they marched in the rain. The Bishop sporter stock was around $10 too and the "five dollar" rear sight and Willams ramp front sight completed the project from the gunsmith.
What cost $39.95 in 1959 would cost $295.41 in 2010.
From an inflation calculator site.
The Inflation Calculator