Pawn shop 03A4

[Pvt.Joker]

Hi. I picked this up at a pawn shop recently, and am looking at deciding whether it's cost effective to try to restore it or not. Bubba got a hold of it first, sad to say, and he did a number on it. From what I can tell, he bedded the stock, sanded it and opened the trigger area for a Timney trigger that was installed in it (since replaced), changed the bolt body but appears to have left the original bolt guts intact, swapped out the butt plate for a Winchester shotgun recoil pad (since replaced with an SC butt plate until I can get a good Remington one), and swapped out the original scope and base for a "nice" BSA scope and split mounts.

On the positive side, it IS a fairly early serial number- 3410587- and is a real 03A4 receiver. The barrel date is odd; it has a 12-42 Remington barrel on it that has the original park over the sight area, and the "P" underneath but I haven't found the punch prick on the bottom yet. It seems kind of early, but then again who knows? All the bands are marked "R" and it hasn't been parked as a rebuild. It will never be an "all-original" rifle again, but I would like to figure out what I need to at least make it a correct one, either "as-issued" or perhaps as an early Vietnam issued rifle would be. One thing was interesting; the magazine body has the name "Charles E. Holmes" and the date "6-65" on it. I don't know if that is when Bubba "improved" it, or if this might have been someone who carried it in Vietnam and perhaps then brought it home, and later "fixed up his old gun from the war". The pawn shop owner said that an older gentleman brought it in, but I have no way of knowing for sure who the person was in 1965 whose name went on it.

Here's some pictures:

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Allen Humphrey]

Wow. Cool find! Once you make the updates, Bubba's work will go largely unseen, except for the most informed people. It appears he may have attacked the receiver under the bolt handle too. Who cares, I would have bought it too! Hopefully you will find some info on the name as well.

[Chubby308]

Congratulations on a good find.
The prick punch mark on the barrel is in the center of the ordnance bomb.
If you are looking for the one on the receiver, I believe it is on the right side
of the receiver ring under the serial number. It looks like it may be there.
Hard to tell from the pics.
Enjoy,
Chubby 308

[Mike D]

Well, you definitely have a project on your hands! Would it be cost effective? Probably, in the long run. But you've got a LONG way to go!

Then theres the fact that the receiver has what looks like a hole that Bubba started to drill. It will be covered by the base, but to me it is now "tainted". I believe the area under the bolt is original to A4's.

The barrel date just doesn't match. Don't know of an A4 with a '42 date, but I could be wrong. No punch mark underneath, either. By the looks of the pitting, I'd say it's been refinished.

You've got an original receiver with an extra "hole" and a few "usable" parts for a full restoration. You need -

A4 barrel with correct date
Early type scope, probably a 330C with electropenciling
A4 C-stock
A4 bolt
Scope base and rings

Bought seperately, those few items will be about $3,000. My rough estimate.

Not trying to discourage you. For the right price, I would have bought the gun, too.

On my budget, I would add scope, base, rings, and call it done.

[Pvt.Joker]

OK; so I picked up a Lyman Alaskan with what looks like the right rings for $325. I'm watching an 03A4 bolt auction on GB, and have a bid on a commercial base for it that is not original, but would get the scope attached to the rifle until I can find an original one for it. It may not be perfect at that point, but from a distance it would "do" as a decent-looking shooter and I'm still not in it TOO deep. I got the rifle initially for a Stainless Ruger 10/22 with two mags and a wood stock, and $175 cash from the pawn shop.

[Mike D]

Sounds like you got a great deal! I agree with putting on a "period" scope. Keep us up to date on its progression.

[emmagee1917]

Just make sure the Redfield base is old stock in the boxes and not the new Chinese bubble packed junk ones.
Chris

[JGaynor]

FWIW the punch mark that's of interest on A4 barrels is not the one in the center of the Ordnance bomb.
Also most of the rifles in this s/n range have MARCH 43 barrels.

Pvt Joker are there any remnants of any stock markings? left side behind trigger; in the cut off notch; forward of magazine or on the grip or wrist?

Regards,
Jim

[Chuckindenver]

fix the stock. bolt, weld the hole thats started, find a base, rings and scope...your in bus. all A4,s are notched under the bolt....

[Pvt.Joker]

FWIW the punch mark that's of interest on A4 barrels is not the one in the center of the Ordnance bomb.
Also most of the rifles in this s/n range have MARCH 43 barrels.

Pvt Joker are there any remnants of any stock markings? left side behind trigger; in the cut off notch; forward of magazine or on the grip or wrist?

Regards,
Jim

Here's what I could find left on it. It almost looks like someone, at some time, had tried to checker it and then sanded that off. But the marks that are left are these:







And here's one of the bolt cutout: