Remington M1903 1942 Mfg.

I bought this Remington M1903 at what I considered a parts gun price; thinking I'd break it up for parts. After disassembly and light cleaning I'm beginning to think it is worth replacing the missing magazine parts, and keeping it complete. The serial # is 3225014 which indicates manufacture in September 1942, the barrel is marked RA 8 42. The C stock has a cartouche that reads SA SPG in a box. The butt plate is a bit strange, it looks to me like some prior owner stippled a flat smooth butt plate with random punch marks and perhaps I should consider replacing that part as well. I think that the August 42 dated barrel is probably original but am wondering if the Springfield Armory is or not. I'd appreciate any opinions or advice.Attachment 101317Attachment 101318Attachment 101319Attachment 101320Attachment 101321

Those delicious "C" stocks, wish I had that one...

Butt plate is kind of interesting and may belong to the rifle specifically. I would leave it for a while until you find out if that's the case.

Interesting rifle, the barrel date matches receiver date so likely original.
Stock is a desirable pre war C stock not original.
Stippled butt plate is a Marine trait modification . Other Marine mods can be found here Pre War/WWII USMC M1903s | USMCWeaponry.com
Be aware your rifle is too late for the mods listed above. My guess would be your Remington was re-stocked later by a armory or civilian. Pics are too dark to tell much else.
Regardless, it's a perfect shooting combo if the barrel gauges well.

I'm guessing a parts assembly, maybe purchased from CMP as a barreled receiver and finished for the most part. I'd just keep it and shoot it.

What magazine parts are you missing?

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Originally Posted by CaptMandrake

What magazine parts are you missing?

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Just about all the internal parts: follower, floor plate catch, floor plate catch spring, floor plate catch pin, floor plate, and the magazine spring.

Those parts are not hard to find, think it's a keeper....:thup:

I have a similar Remington '03. Serial number 3209629 with an RA 2-42 barrel. It's stocked in a wartime Keystone mfg. C stock but doesn't sport any inspector's cartouche or firing proofs on the stock. It makes one wonder why the original woodwork was changed when the rifle metal is near new and never rebuilt.

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Originally Posted by CaptMandrake

Those parts are not hard to find, think it's a keeper....:thup:

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I had kind of reached that conclusion. I'll be looking for original parts to replace the floor plate and the follower since those parts should probably be "R" marked. I could buy everything from Gun Parts Corp for about $50 and still be in the bargain price range. I have another 1910 03 with a 1909 dated SA barrel that I think was rebuilt at RIA after WWI so when I finish this one I'll take them both to the range and see which is more accurate and then decide if I keep one or both.

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Originally Posted by Brian Dick

I have a similar Remington '03. Serial number 3209629 with an RA 2-42 barrel. It's stocked in a wartime Keystone mfg. C stock but doesn't sport any inspector's cartouche or firing proofs on the stock. It makes one wonder why the original woodwork was changed when the rifle metal is near new and never rebuilt.

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Just curious if your gun has any evidence of USMC usage since there seems to be some that the Corps acquired at least some early Remington 03s and it would make sense that they'd have been refurbished at USMC repair depots after the war.

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Originally Posted by CaptMandrake

Those parts are not hard to find, think it's a keeper....:thup:

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I have cleaned her up a bit more and I think it is clearly worth chasing down the parts; Gun Parts Corp has them all for a little over $50 total. I think I'll try to find an original Remington marked floor plate and follower first as the rest of the parts are probably unmarked. Attached are pictures after a little cleaning. The 11 at the top of the butt I'm guessing is a rack number but I am wondering what the numbers on the bottom are?

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Originally Posted by iron sights

I am wondering what the numbers on the bottom are?

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Looks like a drawing number. I'm not as good at that stuff as some fellow forum members...but I'd wager it's a pretty uncommon marking!

The one I have still has it's original finish. The only thing that's been changed is the stock. I don't think it has USMC lineage. How would one tell?

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Originally Posted by Brian Dick

How would one tell?

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I think Cplstevenorton here has numbers...maybe worth a PM unless he sees this... https://www.milsurps.com/member.php?u=5968

I do believe that stock and buttplate are Marine. The barreled receiver I don't think so. The only M1903's the Marines received during WWII, were used and acquired off the Navy in 1942.

Starting in Feb 1943, the Marines Corps realized they had a surplus of M1903's and started to give not only rifles, but all their parts and pieces to the anyone who had basically a need.

So a lot went to the Navy and Army. I think that stock was once Marine and given to the Navy or Army and was put on that barreled action. Or it was swapped out in the civilian world. Either are possible.

I would personally like to have that stock if you would sell it. I PM'd you. I would pay a decent price for it, or I would give you a nice fingergroove and cash for it. I have a Marine rifle I would like to restore.

iron sights glad to see you're keeping it it's a great looking rifle. Think your right on the "R" stamp on just the follower and floor plate but getting the needed parts, to get it up and running, then look for the "R" marked parts sounds like a plan. Happy hunting

The D1836 is the C stock drawing number while the other numbers may be the rifle serial number it was issued on not sure. Hard to see in the pic if there are 7 numbers

Careful on R-marked floorplates. There was a sub-inspector at SA who also used an "R". :)

Those numbers along with the SA/SPG indicates that the stock came off a late M1903A1 Springfield National Match rifle. The number preceded by the C is the drawing number for the stock and the other number is the serial number of the NM rifle which originally came in the stock.