My new Frankengun

[sakorick]

This 1923 03 started out life as a National Match and went through quite a bit of alterations during it's life. When I got it the stock was a Rock Island and the HG was a post WWII job. It had been parkerized, firing pin knob altered, Lyman receiver sight added and front sight upgraded. I had a real nice scant stock and handguard I had picked up at a flea marked about 15 years ago and it had been sitting in my shop in the barn. So I installed the new old stock(had to cut out he wood for the Lyman) and refinished it. Since I got old and my eyes went bad shooting a standard 03 was near impossible, however, now with the peep and little plastic knob on the front sight, I'm ready to rock and roll! The muzzle gauges at exactly 1 so she has a lot of life in her.

Information

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[sakorick]

Well, I tried to shoot it but the aperture was too small. So I ordered a .095 from apertures and more.....$13. I may try to shoot it in the AM when it isn't so hot...if I do I'll remove the aperture and shoot it through the big hole! I had to apply Kroil to the windage and elevation screws and now they work great. I'm a little confused with the elevation graduations......is there a manual on the Lyman 48?

[Cosine26]

Your firing pin and safety are probably original to the rifle. You have the headless cocking piece and the reversed safety common to your vintage NM rifle. I believe that the 2042 number may be the star gauge number. I do believe that the 1923 barrels had the star gauge mark on the muzzle but John Beard can validate this.
FWIW

[sakorick]

Your firing pin and safety are probably original to the rifle. You have the headless cocking piece and the reversed safety common to your vintage NM rifle. I believe that the 2042 number may be the star gauge number. I do not believe that the 1923 barrels had the star gauge on the muzzle but John Beard can validate this.
FWIW

Yes, it's the Star Gauge number. They all had a letter and 1 to 4 numbers. This one has the Letter A (inspector) and his serial number 4024. JB verified it's a NM but we both can't figure out the missing star cartouche on the muzzle. He said the inspector probably just forgot to punch it. Or perhaps this was one of the last ones without the star....who knows. I did not know about the reverse safety and headless cocking piece.....thank you. This is the "newest" NM I own.

[Cosine26]

The headless cocking piece was first produced in 1921 and became standard in on the 1924 NM rifles. In 1930 the headless cocking piece was discontinued as standard on the NM rifle, but was available until the supply was exhausted. In 1936 the Headless cocking piece was disallowed on the "service rifle" for the National Matches. I believe that the reversed safety came in to being in 1921 at the suggestion of K.K.V. Casey, one of the more famous rifle shots of the 1920's. Incidentally he died from an ingrown toe nail which became infected. I believe that the reversed safety which was introduced on the 1921 NM rifles and was never disallowed.
I see that your rifle has the Lyman 48S sight instead of the Lyman 48C. The 48S was common on the NRA Sporting type while the NM usually had the 48C.
FWIW.

[sakorick]

The headless cocking piece was first produced in 1921 and became standard in on the 1924 NM rifles. In 1930 the headless cocking piece was discontinued as standard on the NM rifle, but was available until the supply was exhausted. In 1936 the Headless cocking piece was disallowed on the "service rifle" for the National Matches. I believe that the reversed safety came in to being in 1921 at the suggestion of K.K.V. Casey, one of the more famous rifle shots of the 1920's. Incidentally he died from an ingrown toe nail which became infected. I believe that the reversed safety which was introduced on the 1921 NM rifles and was never disallowed.
I see that your rifle has the Lyman 48S sight instead of the Lyman 48C. The 48S was common on the NRA Sporting type while the NM usually had the 48C.
FWIW.

Well, it's a Frankengun and nothing surprises me as back in the day, people just had to tinker with things. I live in NC Missouri and I almost never have seen any milsurp that hasn't had a hacksawed barrel in Linn County It's just a pity I can't shoot it at Camp Perry......ptooey!!

[Cosine26]

Yes but it is a very nice Frankengun.

[Mike D]

Nice rifle. I like those early SA scant stocks. The later ones, milled for the A3, don't look right on an '03, to me.

Mike

[sakorick]

I plan on rubbing in a coat of RLO every other day until the stock keeps from drinking....It sure was dry.

[Cosine26]

If you could find a good "S" stock you could take it back to it's original configuration. It will never again be an NM M1903, but it will be representative of the type, as the "S" stock was used until 1929. As I understand it you cannot shoot it in vintage matches. With the reversed safety it will not be bad to shoot. When I started match shooting I was using a M1903 with an "S" stock and quite often came away with a bloody nose after being hit by the safety. I was a "stock crawler" as was K.K.V. Casey. I believe that "S" stocks are easier to find than are "C" stocks. I do know how the remainder of the p[arts stack up but the bolt, receiver, and barrel appear to be original.
FWIW