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The slings with a date and a 3-letter inspector's initial are military issue. Absence of these markings indicates a probable commercial sling.

J.B.

It just occurred to me that the extraneous milling mark may have been intended to remove the appearance of a scant forging. Scant receiver forgings are rare, but they do exist. I found one on a...

I have not seen anything like that before. And I have no idea how that happened or what was intended. But I can say that nothing went to waste. So it's entirely possible, but unlikely, that the...

I am unable to comment on the authenticity of a star-marked barrel sans star-gauge record number. I do not recall having seen one. But I concur that the workers were human and errors/oversights...

I am unable to comment on the authenticity of your star-marked barrel sans star gauge record number. I can, however, point out that January, 1922, was the beginning of a new series of star gauge...

Try Bill Bentz. Perhaps he may ship to the UK. His email address is dcm450shtr@gmail.com.

Good Luck! And Happy New Year!

J.B.

Nice! Thanks for sharing! And Merry Christmas!

J.B.

I normally use a large jeweler's screwdriver to lift the plunger and get the lever back into position. As a matter of note, Springfield Armory made a special hand tool for reinstalling the safety...

The inspection stamp has a 1913 date that has been boogered up to look like 1915. One can only speculate who or how it got boogered up. The inspection stamp and serial number match. Your rifle's...

While I suppose it's possible, it's very highly unlikely authentic. According to my extensive data bases, the last pre-WWI stamps were dated 1913 and the earliest WWI stamps were dated 1917. Rock...

The stock is a Keystone field replacement and the inspection marks and proof stamp are fake.

J.B.

The hole in the spacer should be big enough for the bushing to pass through. The purpose of the rear tang spacer you made is to set the upward pressure of the stock fore end tip against the bottom...

As I recall, the scope base shims started out flat when new.

J.B.

First of all, the serial number you posted is not an M'03-A4 serial number. The inspection stamps in your rifle's stock appear to be fake. I can assure you that the CMP does not apply fake...

The Vi Shooter website has been removed with the passing of the original owner. Fortunately, the website was archived. Here's a link to the archived website.
...

I'm having difficulty picturing where the bolt is hanging up. Can you post a picture or describe in detail where the bolt is hanging up when you try to extract it?

J.B.

Nice! And authentic they are. Thanks for sharing!

J.B.

Wrong. All later production M'03-A4's, including rifles in your rifle's serial range, were factory-fitted with Keystone scant stocks. The markings are authentic and correct for your rifle.

J.B.

The arsenal-overhaul inspection stamp is likely elsewhere on the stock. Raritan Arsenal was a major overhaul facility. The large-bow trigger guard is an arsenal-overhaul replacement. The bolt also...

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing!

J.B.

The rifle has been arsenal-overhauled, refinished, and re-assembled from mixed parts. And that is not the least bit unusual. Many of the rifles sold by the DCM had been arsenal-overhauled. The...

I am deeply saddened to report the passing of a very dear friend and associate, C.S. "Nick" Ferris. Nick was the foremost authority on the Rock Island M1903 rifle and the U.S. Model 1917 Enfield...

The stock is not a Rock Island stock and the inspection stamp, I am confident, is not ELV. The stock is an SA stock from the pre-1907 period. The boxed "A.A.J." is an overhaul inspection stamp from...

The rifle is a re-barreled, re-stocked parts queen fitted with an incorrect M1903 milled upper band. The rifle is worth the $900 asking price, but that's all. The seller's balk worked in your...

You committed a criminal act of theft if you bought that rifle for $900. :surrender:

J.B.