Hi Everyone - managed to find me a 1903 A3 and after purchasing it I was hoping I could ask some people with a lot more knowledge if they could tell me more about this particular example.
I know the stock is a C Type, and the barrel has the flaming bomb marking and the '43 designation but unlike some other rifles I have seen I can't see the month designation on the barrel, any thoughts about this?
Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I wonder if the month designation is there but is much lighter stamped and you just haven't noticed it. Sometimes these markings show up when you take a digital picture when they weren't noticed with the naked eye. If you could take another picture, please, of the muzzle, similar to the 5th one from the left, but taken from the other side of the barrel and then post it, it may be helpful.
Ok, thanks. I can post a picture later tonight. Can you tell me anything about the stock? I thought it was kind of odd that it was lacking some of the more common markings that I've seen.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flying10uk
The rifle may have been commercially refinished. I'd agree with Flying10 - look carefully for the month, maybe with a magnifying glass.
Warzone, Your action doesn't appear to be seated all the way into the stock. I suspect the action screws are loose or the triggerguard/magazine is misaligned and/or hung up and not seated into the receiver.
Salt Flat
I took a second look when I got home and in the right light I can make out number 2. Very faint but glad I looked at it more closely this time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick the Librarian
---------- Post added at 05:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:08 PM ----------
Thanks Salt Flat. I'll make sure to take a look when I disassemble the rifle this weekend.Quote:
Originally Posted by Salt Flat
Here is a picture of the markings on the stock. Other then these and the P and V markings near the trigger guard, I don't see much else.
The trigger guard is from a Smith-Corona M1903A3 - the stock markings I haven't seen before.
What a nice looking rifle, about flat new. I'd agree that perhaps it's been recently done as they just don't often appear quite that new after 70 years. I'd love to find one myself...
Upon further research, the serial number on the receiver indicates it was made in Feb 1943. With the barrel also being made in Feb 1943, does that mean this rifle was most likely not arsenal refinished? I think that from what I've read that if they were refinished, then they usually had the barrels replaced as well.
Still not sure about the stock, maybe I'll see something when I take it apart this weekend.
That was what we eluded to already. I've done lots of them and they look that good after.Quote:
Originally Posted by WarrZone
Nice looking rifle, I bet it was refurbish more recently. the stock has to be a reproduction IMO.
Owen
Is anyone able to tell us more about the stock style, please, that is fitted to this rifle? I don't believe that it is the final version of the C type stock, is it?
Rifle recently re-parkerized. Stock is a Boyd's type C stock and is newly made. Someone has remade this rifle.
Here is my Springfield 1903A3 which is U.K. deactivated. Although I think that it is probably a rebuild/parts gun I do believe that the stock is original new old stock. However, the gun came with a reproduction top hand-guard which I replaced with a nos item. I was led to believe that this was the final version of C type stock before production ceased but I am open to correction on this.
The stock is not a C stock - it is called a "Scant". In WWII, the U.S. had large quantities of "straight" stock blanks. While the Type C (full pistol grip - see picture) was standard, the stock blanks were not "deep" enough to allow for a full pistol grip. To the "semi"-pistol grip stock was developed to make use of these stocks.
The original stock would have been a "straight" stock (see other picture). Remington was allowed to use straight stocks in M1903/M1903A3 production (One reason for the M1903s they produced being called "Modified".)
Type C stock:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...standard-2.jpg
"Straight" stock:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...standard-3.jpg
All M1903A3 rifles left the factory with a straight stock, as shown on a M1903 in RTL's second photo. Remington M1903A4s were at first issued with a "C" type stock furnished by Springfield Armory and modified for the bolt relief by Remington. The majority of M1903A4s had "scant' stocks (with a pistol grip) furnished by contractors, and modified by Remington. Smith-Carona M1903A3s all had sub-contractor furnished straight stocks.
In regards to the OP's rifle it has clearly been refinished and sits in what looks like a reproduction C stock as mentioned previously.
Is a "Straight" stock and a "Scant" stock the same thing then or is there a slight difference between the two stocks? Thanks for the information chaps. There doesn't seem to be many Springfield 1903s around on this side of the pond.
There is a great deal of difference.... the "scant" has part of a pistol grip while the straight stock is without any part of a pistol grip, i.e. it is straight on the bottom. The difference is very easy to see if they are pictured side by side. See here for pictures of the various types:
http://www.vishooter.net/m1903/1903_stockpic.jpg
I think the price is a question. What did this rifle cost?
The lack of markings on the stock, the rather square profile, coupled with the action seated rather high, might possibly indicate a Keystone replacement has been fitted at some point and might require additional bedding work for a snug fit. Is there a K in the safety slot of the woodwork, they can be very faint?
The stock is marked with RIA near the bolt handle and two Ps on the underside of the stock near the rear of the trigger guard. When I had the rifle stripped down the stock had the look of being new "old stock" and not something that had been made recently.
Two different threads going on here. The question of price was directed to WarZone.
Sorry, my stock comments were made about Warzones "C" stock, I think we are getting this thread a bit mixed up guys!Quote:
Originally Posted by Flying10uk
But that's a nice A3 you have there Flying10, had it long mate?
Sorry I'm getting our wires crossed. I've had it a couple of years or so and it's what I call a double deac because it was, before being imported into the U.K., a U.S. de-milled drill rifle. In other words the U.S. version of a deac and, obviously, it had quite a few differences to the U.K. deac spec.. The importer then had to modify/make changes to bring it into spec and make it legal to the U.K. deac spec. I don't believe that the action/barrel has had much use or it doesn't appear to have and in-fact it almost looks hardly used at all. However, I do think that it has been built up into a complete gun in fairly recent years but using mainly original parts and probably a complete receiver/bolt/barrel assembly from storage.
I didn't have a great deal of choice as there doesn't seem to be many available for sale over here in the U.K..