New User Intro and the low number M1903 SA I am looking at

Hello

I am an avid trap and skeet shooter and also love milsurps. I appreciate the history and think it's important to understand it and never forget.

Thank you for the great resources here, very useful information. I have an opportunity to acquire a 1903 and Krag. I will make another post about the Krag in that forum. Right now I am really frustrated that my digital camera is acting up, I even read the sticky about posting pics!

When I get my camera working, or buy a new one I will add pics. In the meantime I wanted to introduce myself and say thanks for the great info. I am a novice 1903 guy but here is what I learned so far from this site and CMP:

Springfield Armory M1903 SN: 614547 (Low numbered single heat treated not recommended to fire by CMP. Made During 1915)

Bolt has "D 1" stamped on bottom of safety lug which from the charts I have seen dates it to 1912-13. It is a strait handle bolt with a "7" stamped under the shoulder of bolt handle.

Stock cartouche is there but very faint. Has (P) behind trigger guard.

Barrel has SA above the flaming bomb and 9-15 under it. (Does 9-15 mean September 1915?)

Between the receiver and chamber on either side it looks like it may have been repaired I will take a cell phone pic to post this, it's really my biggest concern.

My conclusion so far is this looks complete and original. Issued and rebuilt by the armorer. It has a loose lock on the bolt and as far as I am concerned this rifle should never be shot. I rather have a shooter and I don’t want to get into a debate about shooting a low number 1903 but would rather have one without the obvious issues. My main concern is if it is real and collectable. I know its going to take pictures. So I’ll get working on that ;)

Thanks again for all the information posted here, great work, great info, and greatly appreciated.


Dyno

PS here comes the pics:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...7/m19031-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...7/m19032-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...7/m19033-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...7/m19034-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...7/m19035-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...7/m19036-1.jpg

Nice early looking stock, but I think the handguard is a recent replacement. Maybe the windage screw as well.

What bothers me is that I think I see stock re-enforcing pins and given the lack of inspection stamps and how crisp the edges of the finger groove are, I'd be concerned it could be an older repro (?)

nice looking rifle, looks to be a put together by someone other then then military, finishes dont match, and the stock and handguard are suspect.

Look carefully on the sides of the stock - is that stock pins I see? The handguard is definitely a WWII replacement. The barrel is probably original to the receiver.

Rick has it! 03-A3 wood for sure. 1915 stock would be real money. This is for sale? At what price? Barrel doesn't seem to match the receiver, dates correct but finish seems off. Something not right here.

I admit the grasping grooves are better quality than the "average "reproduction", but the pinned stock is not correct. All GG stocks (except VERY early ones had stock bolt and NEVER stock pins. If you haven't bought this, I would hold off, unless the price is VERY cheap.

not an A3 stock...no handguard ring cut out...

The gun is for sale. It is a friend of mine who acquired a collection. He is asking 1400.00 and there is no way I can offer that. I don't want to offend him so I will just pass on it and tell him everything I learned about it. Too bad. I really am looking for a correct 1903 to add to my collection. Can someone point me to some good pictures of correct 1903 both low and high numbers? I can find a bunch but you never really know what you are looking at. I would love to do a stare and compare. Also if there other pictures or better pictures I could take to help more please let me know.

Hopefully the Krag he has will be better. I have that gun with me as well and will post in the Krag forum later.

Thanks for all the replies and help.

Rick they are definitely pins.

Is there a small ordnance "flaming grenade" on the foretip of the stock?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rick the Librarian

foretip of the stock

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I assume the foretip is this area?

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...7/m19037-1.jpg

the very end of the stock...looking down at the muzzle..1400 is waaaay to much...closer to 350.00 400.00 tops

No cut-out for 03-A3 handguard ring, indeed. Odd stock for sure. The real 03 stocks had the "cigar" finger grooves and this one looks like a M1917 finger grooves. I would not pay anything for it as there are far too many questions.

Yes there is a " flaming grenade" on the fore tip. It is well defined. I would be happy to pay 400.00 for it even 500.00 but I am sure he paid more then that and may feel ripped off by the person he bought it from so I hate to even make the offer unless he asks what my best price would be.

then likely its been glassed and the ring cut filled.

Did not the Remington pin stock predate the intro of the A3 by a tad ? I know I have an early A3 and a slightly later '03 , both with pin stocks . I know they are both correct , but I don't recall if the '03 has a A3 notch . Figure it does because it post-dates my A3 . But did they use the pins before the A3 ?
Chris

Say what? This is a real 03A3 stock? Way too many questions for me. Pass on it.

Pinned stocks were first on on late Remington M1903s in the fall of 1942.

I believe the stock in the picture lacks the 03A3 handguard ring "slots" - a Remington M1903.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chuckindenver

not an A3 stock...no handguard ring cut out..

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Sorry for novice question. But can you show me this cut out that is missing?


Thanks,
Dyno

On several searches I foud this on another forum:

"Rick the librarian will always steer you right. the guy knows his stuff.
the 03 a3 uses a ring to hold the rear end of the handgurard on. with the o3 , the rear sight base did this. you need a stock the at has been cut to clear the handguard ring."

The base stock should have cut outs where a metal band would hold down the rear of the hand guard.

"Between the receiver and chamber on either side it looks like it may have been repaired I will take a cell phone pic to post this, it's really my biggest concern."[/I][/I]

Ya that would be my biggest concern too. I've never heard of what you described except for de-milled M-1 Garands that were welded back together and sold as original. I don't suppose anyone knows of de-milled 03's do they? I'd have gunsmith examine it even though you don't intend to shoot it. Something like a weld on the receiver would definately effect value.