Remington 1903 stock markings

The presumably replacement 'pistol grip' style stock on a Remington 1903 serial # 306xxxx rifle I am purchasing has a "V" style stamp marking along with the circle "P" marking behind the trigger guard, and what appears to be a "45" and a "G" and "F" (that last stamping is not entirely clear) in front of the trigger guard.

What do those stamps (other than the circle "P" stamp) mean?

The RA stamped barrel carries an "12 41" barrel date stamp.

My understanding is that a Remington 1903 would only have been issued with a straight grip, not a proper 'pistol grip'. Is that correct?

Many thanks
Mike

Yes, the C-stock would have been a replacement on the early Remington M1903.

I purchased an 03-A3 a few years back with the C-stock. It had the K-stamp inside the cutoff recess (Keystone maker). It was also marked with a Circle-P firing proof, and different letters and marks fore and aft of the trigger guard.

I posted on CMP forums, wondering why a replacement stock would have the firing proof, and John Beard identified the stock markings as being consistent with an overhaul at the Remington Armory, versus the other well known rebuild facilities. Perhaps your numbers and letters were applied by different inspectors than for mine.


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...5QRLP8Nl-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...AyksNVUl-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...be1rTCol-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...MfisPrRl-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...INgYQSNl-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...4Z9L79tl-1.jpg

Hi Martin08

Thanks for the quick reply.

All the stamps are nice and crisp. There is a “K” stamp (well part of one) in the safety recess.

I wondered f the “45” stamp in front of the trigger guard was a date stamp for when it was restocked?

Regards
Mike

I thought I would add a couple of pictures of the markings that I was referring to on the Remington 1903 stock.

Regards
Mike

That is a really nice looking M1903 in a quality Keystone C-stock.

I don't know when it would have been restocked, but it was done right. Appears to be a Remington Arsenal overhaul. Congrats.

Hi Martin08

Thanks for the comments. Once I receive the rifle I'll be interested to have a close look at the markings on the parts, and I'll post some more pictures.

Regards
Mike

What a gorgeous rifle. Most 1903s in NZ are pretty poked. If you can get any history on the rifle whether it was imported recently that would be interesting.

Hi Roy.
I’m still in the process of purchasing it, and all I have seen are photos and the vendors description.

I too am interested in it’s history, so I shall post what I find out, along with more photos and details of the markings/stamps.

Regards
Mike

I have a further question regarding my 1903 Remington.

Would this rifle (barrel date 12-41, and serial # production date around March 1942) have been originally issued with a straight pistol grip stock or a 'scant' grip stock? (It now wears a full pistol grip stock.)

Did Remington ever fit the 'scant' stocks to these rifles? I read that the 'scant' stocks were used in part of 1941 and 1942 on Springfield rifles, but I am not certain if they were used on Remington made rifles.

Many thanks
Mike

Straight Stock.

Other than on a small amount of M1903A4s, Scant Stocks were only put on rifles at refurb facilities.

for sure a replacement stock, markings were most likely added after it was sold as surplus. notice the early high hump hand guard as well, still a really nice rifle.

Hi FernLeaf and ChuckinDenver

Thanks for the replies. At least I know not to bother purchasing the NOS 'scant' stock I found.

Other than how 'clean' the replacement stock and the markings are, are there any other things to look for in dating when the stock was replaced and the rifle refurbished (if it was indeed refurbished)? I could not find a reference for all the different stock markings in front of the magazine housing, so that does leave some questions remaining to be answered.

It will be interesting to see what markings are present on the metal work when I get a chance to take it apart for a decent inspection. Hopefully they will all be Remington marked.

Regards
Mike

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KiwiMike

Thanks for the replies. At least I know not to bother purchasing the NOS 'scant' stock I found.

Other than how 'clean' the replacement stock and the markings are, are there any other things to look for in dating when the stock was replaced and the rifle refurbished (if it was indeed refurbished)? I could not find a reference for all the different stock markings in front of the magazine housing, so that does leave some questions remaining to be answered.

It will be interesting to see what markings are present on the metal work when I get a chance to take it apart for a decent inspection. Hopefully they will all be Remington marked.

---

Being honest here - most (but by no means all) M1903s available to us here in the Peoples Democratic Republic of NZ have been put together from parts by collectors/shooters in this country, so maybe try not to think too much about the rifles history..... it mightn't have much in its current guise.

Show us a lot of good close up photos once you have it.

If you end up needing some 'R' marked parts, there's a gentleman in Invercargill who has them all and will be happy to supply you the right parts.