Greek return Remington 1903

Hey all. Here is my new Remington 1903. I bought this at a gun show a few months back for $350 because the previous owner had reassembled the bolt wrong and the safety wouldn't engage. It was in consignment for $400 but I talked the seller down. After tinkering with it for about an hour I realized the back of the bolt wasn't screwed in all of the way and after I fixed that the safety functioned perfectly. The stock had no markings other than a serial number stamped into the butt stock. The barrel is a 44 dated barrel and has a CAI import stamp on it. Hope you all like my 1903 as much as I do.

I do like it. I'd change the M1 sling for a newer 1907 sling because they just make the looks I think. Got a cartridge belt or blade yet? Are they in the picture? Then you'll need the 5 round clips too of course...to fill the belt. A 1905 bayonet would look better than a cut down or M1 blade too...

I've been looking for a bayonet and clips for a while now and have come up empty. The sad part is about a month before I bought this there were a ton of bayonets for this rifle around my local shows but ever since I bought this I haven't found one (go figure huh?). I think I did ok on the purchase price of the rifle but I never knew CAI imported 1903s from Greece. I have shot this rifle and it really shoots great. As to the sling wouldn't the tan M1 sling be more appropriate for it? The receiver was made in 42 so would it have had the 1907 sling or this tan M1? The is my first shooter 1903 that I've ever had. The only other one in the family is a 1903A4 that one of my great uncles used in the war and snuck home in pieces after. He hunted with it for years and now it is a great display piece. The rifle is with his son in Montana and is hanging over the fireplace with my great uncle's medals and a picture of him when he served in the Aleutians during the war.

Good luck finding an original tan sling. Most seem to agree that the leather was mostly in use until the near end of WW2.

Nice rifle and very good price! Just curious - any markings on the stock?

The sling that's on it is a tan M1 sling but I'm not sure if it's original or not. It does have initials on it from whoever had the rifle before me though so I think that's a cool feature. If I find an original 1907 sling I'll get it and put it on my rifle for sure. Rick there are no markings other than a four digit number on the butt stock. Could this have been a replacement stock we sent over to Greece and they added the number? The stock doesn't look refinished to me as all of the other 1903 stocks I've seen are this kind of red and the numbers are still visible.

If you decide to use this on the range, and I can't imagine not, then a new manufacture sling might be the way to go. An older collector's sling won't stand up to the use any more. Maybe one for show and one for use...? We have Richard Turner here among us and he can provide you with an outstanding replica...see the ad banners.

I have been using this on the range and so far the sling that's on it is holding up pretty well. I love the way this rifle shoots but I'm not used to the sight hood as none of my rifles have one. I'll have to look at Mr. Turner's ad here and if I don't find a good replica I just might get in touch with him.

That pattern of sling will hold up fine no matter how old. It's the 1907 leather slings I refer to. Turner presents a product that is 100% of the original. Have a look at his website and he explains. There's a thread here to that effect also...

If the last four digits on the stock match the serial number, the stock was there when the Greeks used it; if the numbers don't matched, it probably was replaced at CMP before it was sold.

Mine doesn't match so I guess cmp put it into another stock. Also my bolt doesn't match either but it is all Remington stamped so I guess cmp did that as well. As to the barrel I have no real idea why it has a CAI import on it if the rifle came from cmp. Could a previous owner have changed the barrel out?

Could be ... I forgot about that aspect. Obviously, no CMP M1903s came from Century Arms.

If it has Century import marks the rifle did not come through CMP, and probably is not a Greek return. If the stock number does not match, it is more likely that the stock was at some point replaced in this country with one from a CMP Greek rifle.

M

Nice rifle and it should shoot well for you, your M1 sling is on backwards. It should be attached/turned around from the way you have it pictured. The spring clip goes on the rear sling swivel. While the M1 sling is not 100% correct for New 03 rifles they were used as replacements.

The more correct sling would be the 1907 sling, the USGI length was 48-50in, people are bigger than there were in the last generation. Depending on your size I suggest using a 56in sling and Turners are very well made with correct frogs.

A word of caution with 1907 slings, make sure if your going too use one that you use it with the correct 1903 front sling swivel. The 03a3 front sling swivel is a thinner stamping, and not the thicker round wire used on the 03's, the leather 1907 sling can/will break down faster if used with the flat 03a3 type. Cotton M1 slings don't really care what front swivel is used.

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Originally Posted by Phil McGrath

The more correct sling would be the 1907 sling

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Guess you don't really read the whole thing before posting...?

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Guess you don't really read the whole thing before posting...?

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Well, I did x2 and still missed it? Can you kick me in the balls just a little harder that my clear up vision, ahhhhh thanks buddy your the best. I guess I will go crawl back too my hole.

Sorry, go find yourself another hole, I'm in that one and there's no more room. Don't know how many times I didn't read a post right or complete and made a fool of myself, Ray

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Originally Posted by rayg

Sorry, go find yourself another hole, I'm in that one and there's no more room. Don't know how many times I didn't read a post right or complete and made a fool of myself, Ray

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That hole better be large enough for the rest of us - misread a post MANY times! :D

so
not sure why your saying Greek, CMP and CAI in the same mix...but
based on what your saying...
a 1944 barrel would be a 1903A3 barrel modified to fit the 1903. unless its marked HS as well.
i dont see anything in your pics, that jumps out and says Greek return...does it have X stamped on the stock? B stamped on the floor plate? biscut cut stock or handguard repairs? deap searial numbers stamped into the butt area of the stock matching or not?? bolt serialed on the handle to match the rifle? most iv seen numbers matched even if the parts wernt original
just wondering why you think its a Greek return...