I bought the rifle for $1100 dollars. It has a beautiful stock and very fine rifling.
The stock does not appear to have a shiny finish to it. Were there M1903s that had this matte finish on mine? This rifle also was manufactured by Remington.
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I bought the rifle for $1100 dollars. It has a beautiful stock and very fine rifling.
The stock does not appear to have a shiny finish to it. Were there M1903s that had this matte finish on mine? This rifle also was manufactured by Remington.
Looks like a nice rifle, but the stock may be a post-war replacement that someone added. If it was added by a US arsenal it would likely have stamps to indicate that. Does it have any stamps on the left side near the back of the receiver, on the bottom in front of the magazine, or on the bottom near the 'pistol grip' area? The stocks aren't supposed to be shiny. The finish, even if done outside of the arsenal looks just as it should! Congrats on a nice rifle! It's getting harder and harder to find nice examples these days.
Sure looks pretty, the stock, being a 'scant' stock will not be original to the rifle, they were always replacemants or it could be a new surplus stock or even a newly made stock, though i'm not sure if anyone is making new 'scant' stocks. does it have any cartouches or service markings? when the rifle was newly issued it would have had a satin linseed or tung oil finish, 70+ years of handling, oiling and rubbing down have given alot of rifles a very polished look.
Thank you!
Actually the stock does in fact have markings under it. For example on the grip, it has a square with a "p". The other marking is on the left side of the firearm and says "LSAA". What i was surprised was that there was no serial number on the stock. is that normal for a scant stock M1903?
---------- Post added at 10:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:45 AM ----------
No, the stock is definitely original because it has a "p" marking along with an "LSAA" marking. but judging from the pictures i sent, do you think the finish on the stock would look like that after these stocks were made?
The P proof in a square is a post WW2 stamp, the other stamp LSSA is a rebuild stamp
I'd say the stock is in very original condition from after he rifle was re-stocked at the arsenal. It doesnt look like it has seen much use or extra oil, however rifle stocks do need oiling every so often in order to prevent them warping or splitting in changes of temperature and moisture.
Could you post some close up pics of the markings?
Regarding the stock markings (L SAA), I believe the "L" is the inspector mark and the "SAA" is San Antonio Arsenal. The proof mark in a square box indicates proof firing after rebuild. Rifles proof fired following original build will be found with the proof P enclosed within a circle. Serial numbers were not stamped on stocks of service rifles, either during original build or by rebuild facilities.
The stock is not original. No Scant was. The LSAA is a late San Antonio Arsenal stamp, indicating an overhaul at some point. I'd guess you paid about $300-400 too much.
This could be a DCM gun. Way over-priced.
When would you estimate the stock was made then? And what does the "P" mark mean?
The stock probably dates somewhere in the 1943-44 period; The "P" indicates that the rifle successfully was [p]roof-fired before it was accepted by the Army after being rebuilt. The "square" box indicates San Antonio Arsenal.
Based on the articles (which included line drawings) by Charles Redfield as published in Billy Pyle's "The Garand Stand Report" (published quarterly) the P in the square box is post WW2.
I have noticed both a serif P in the square box and a non serif P in a square box which are from different arsenals