New to me 1.4K 1903

Picked this up on another forum. I’ve had a soft spot for pre war C stocks lately and this one is no exception. Bore looks great, however I have no gauges on hand. Will just have to take it out and see how it shoots. Drawing numbers on stock look more crisp in person, I’m not sure why the camera had a hard time picking them up.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...CfbXNawl-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...HXXmJnil-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...yyDT4PLl-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...cyhd8HJl-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...QxMzlebl-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...Jg69zwfl-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...eL6b0sEl-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...2DGCsLEl-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...b736AHYl-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...LH9ECskl-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...gfawBEJl-1.jpg

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Originally Posted by RERT1

Drawing numbers on stock look more crisp in person, I’m not sure why the camera had a hard time picking them up.

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Two reasons, use a decent camera, even if it's a cheap one and not the phone. Your camera will have a macro setting that needs close and will do the job. I mean CLOSE. Then too, your background is important. A bland color rug or bath towel is better than an out door scene...because of the colors.

Now...nice rifle, and I share your desire for a nice original "C" stock. Exactly the rifle I'd like to have. I think they look far better than early or late. Shows they were built when there was time. Nice rifle. Keep us up on this one?

Looks very nice, a range report is the next thing on the agenda.

Yours should shoot well. I bought mine many years ago, also in the 1.47 million serial range and with a SA 9-35 dated barrel. Excellent rifles for shooting and for the collectionAttachment 90449Attachment 90450

Not in the SRS records, but looks like a NM. If not a NM, it is probably an even rarer original M903A1.

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Originally Posted by m1903rifle

Not in the SRS records, but looks like a NM. If not a NM, it is probably an even rarer original M903A1.

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Is there any way to tell for sure?

Thanks
E

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Originally Posted by RERT1

Is there any way to tell for sure?

Thanks
E

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NM rifles will have a polished NS bolt with the rifles serial number etched on it as well as a star gage mark on the muzzle ( looks like a circle with "legs" radiating outward ). Other characteristics include polished rails and follower. Most all NM '03s will have a DAL stock cartouche. They also have heavy checkered buttplate ( yours has a finely checkered buttplate )

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Originally Posted by m1903rifle

NM rifles will have a polished NS bolt with the rifles serial number etched on it as well as a star gage mark on the muzzle ( looks like a circle with "legs" radiating outward ). Other characteristics include polished rails and follower. Most all NM '03s will have a DAL stock cartouche. They also have heavy checkered buttplate ( yours has a finely checkered buttplate )

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I meant identifying it as an original A1. I figured it wasn’t a NM. :)

No way for sure that I know of. But, it sure looks like one.

Left side of stock, a faint rectangular boxed cartouche is barely present with what looks like “AA P” not sure if there’s anything in the space between the AA and P. Can’t seem to find a cartouche that matches this?

Appears to be a Greek return based on the finish loss.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RERT1

Left side of stock, a faint rectangular boxed cartouche is barely present with what looks like “AA P” not sure if there’s anything in the space between the AA and P. Can’t seem to find a cartouche that matches this?

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Augusta Arsenal...... inspected by someone whose last name stated with a P.

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Originally Posted by m1903rifle

Augusta Arsenal...... inspected by someone whose last name stated with a P.

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Thanks. I am somewhat surprised there is no P proof on the pistol grip, or any other markings for that matter other than the S and O in the mag cutoff relief. Stock does not seem to have been sanded.