New to me 1903, April 42 barrel and receiver.

http://s61.photobucket.com/user/boba...3%20April%2042

It's mostly Remington (if not all) but the wood does not match. Bore is bright and clean. Buttplate is smooth, is that correct? Mostly parkerized with a few blue parts. Barrel is April of 42 "flaming bomb". I think it's all there, but you tell me! It was a bit of a spur of the moment buy, but at $300 I figured it was a reasonable risk. Comments are appreciated....good or bad!

I also found the RA-P stamp location interesting. Is that normal?

Anything I should do to it or or keep it as is?

Thanks in advance,
Bob

$300 bucks? Hell of a deal in my book. I'd make that deal all day, and personally I would leave it the way it is.

I was starting to think that I bought a problem gun or missed something since there were no comments. I am still new to 03's, but have really enjoyed learning about them.

Thanks for your comments,

Best Regards,
Bob

I like it!
Leave it as it is.

Finally got out and shot it today. Shoots great, my 1st 03 that I fired. Very comfortable and reasonably accurate with Greek CMP ammo. I now understand why this rifle is loved by so many!
Bob

A bargain to say the least. Nice rifle and yes the butt plate is correct but the stock is a later A3 stock as I think you implied saying it didn't match. You did very well, congrats.

Kurt

Look along the right side of the rifle, starting at the upper band - look for "R" stamps on the upper band, lower band (above the "U") rear sight, and trigger guard. How many Rs do you see and on what parts?

Great buy. That is the Remington M1903 (modified). Your's, according to the "Remington Society of America web site, was manufactured in early Aug. 1942. According to Brophy's book, about 350,000 of these 03's were manufactured before switching to the 03-A3. The RA-P stamping you mentioned indicates the rifle passed through Raritan Arsenal for inspection and overhaul if necessary.

I've looked over the rifle for all the markings I could find, including the bolt. The entire gun seems to be Remington, however I've not pulled it out of the stock. If there are marks that are hidden by the stock please let me know and I'll pull the stock off to inspect.
Thanks,
Bob

There were Rs in the places I mentioned in my post on the right side of the rifle?

R stamps on front sight, upper band, lower band, a P on the trigger guard but I can't find the R on the rear sight, but there may be an "I" under the rear sight when you lift it up, but it could be a nick in the metal. On the sight portion that moves for elevation there is an X and possiblyan O or 6 on the bottom side of it. Where would the R be on the rear sight? I also noticed E, Q, N and 2 sorta randomly placed on the front stock flat area that is in front of the upper barrel band. I'll note that they are randomly placed meaning that they are not in order or stamped from the same angle.
Bolt has an R on the bottom. Has a large P in a circle on the stock, as well as the squares/triangles/circle marks on the bottom of the stock like I've seen on many others.
Any info is appreciated, I am very interested to learn more about the 03's.
Thanks in advance,
Bob
BTW- There are two R's under the bolt. One on the bolt handle and one on another part near the bolt that might be referred to as the bolt sleeve.

Here's a picture of the rear sight. The picture is a little dark, but there is an R on the rear sight leaf and the moveable base, right below; there should also be an R on the windage knob and sometimes on the sight binding screw (small knob).

There should be an R on the right side of the trigger guard on the rear part of the "bow" near the wood line.

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

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...standard-2.jpg

The trigger guard does have the R, I thought it was a P. There are no R's on the rear sight anywhere and both knobs are blank. The side of the rear sight where the R is in you picture shows machining marks, the one on mine is very smooth. It could have been buffed off at some point, but examining the part I doubt it.
Bob

More than likely Springfield Armory or WWII replacement parts, then. Obviously not original. Often the R is missing from the sight bindi9ng screw, but not the other parts.

Good to know, I assumed that it wasn't a matching rifle as it appears refinished to me and has the Raritan stamp. I have a nice 03a3 that is nearly new and all original, I'll use this one as my shooter!
Regards,
Bob