Just picked up a Remington M1903 Springfield

[jbayless]

Hi folks,

I just bought a CMP Remington M1903 from a person who purchased it from CMP in 2008. I'm trying to figure out what I can about the history of the rifle.

Here are a few details:

US
Remington
Model 1903
3141xxx

Barrel has RA above flaming bomb and "6 42"

Finish is very good and is a really dark parkerize ... very black/dark gray and very flat. Even the sights are completely parkerized. In very bright light the finish still looks a bit greenish. The only piece that is a different color is the rear part of the bolt (just in front of the cocking knob). That is a more typical dark gray green. This is how it arrived from CMP.

That grayish green part on the bolt has an R stamped on it. The bolt itself has only one mark I can find, under the bolt handle ... a tiny J.

Milled rear sling swivel with no marking I could see. Stamped front sling swivel with a U on the band. Bayonet lug has an H. Stacking swivel is milled.

Sight base has an R on the right side. No markings I could find on the actual sight.

Pressure relief hole on the left side, extends into the bolt.

Stock

The stock is an S type with grasping grooves. DAL boxed (faint) above trigger; 3GM-K strongly stamped a bit to the right of the DAL. "S" under the magazine cutoff toggle. Tiny "81" right behind the trigger guard and one large circled P behind that. From what I can tell on the web, this is a Springfield stock.

Any information would be appreciated!

Thanks,
John

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.

[Rick the Librarian]

1. Receiver dates to July, 1942; barrel (if marked with an RA) is ptobably original

2. Stock is a replacement - DAL was Daniel A. Leary and stock probably dates to WWI-era. 3GM-K is a WWII rebuild or inspection stamp of unknown origins.

3. Bolt is Remington, but would need a picture to tell if correct/original. The bolt sleeve may be a replacement

4. "Stamped sling swivel" if it has a U is actually milled. The U stands for up; the "horns" of the U were supposed to be pointed towards the muzzle. If no R stamp above U, the part is a replacement.

5. The rear sight base is a Remington; if no other R markings on the right side of the rear sight (leaf, windage knob, etc.) it is also a replacement.

[jbayless]

Thanks! I'll try to post some pics in a day or two.

[ABPOS]

Looking forward to pics!

[jbayless]

Here's a Photobucket gallery:

[Rick the Librarian]

The stock is a Mark I (notice the "notch" on the left side). The rifle appears to be refinished, as well, with a number of replacement parts.

[jbayless]

Thanks! So I guess that finish is not the original dark parkerize. Wish I knew where it had been. I have the CMP COA for it, so I know it came from them in 2008. Maybe a Greek return...

[Rick the Librarian]

Doesn't appear to have any of the Greek features. May have been among the first VFW/AL rifles sold about that time.

[jbayless]

I noticed it has tiny flakes of red paint on it near the sights, like something on it was painted red at one point. I could only see them in my close-up photo. I'll ask my friend if he cleaned off any markings.

[Rick the Librarian]

If you are so-moved, you would have little trouble trading the stock for a correct Remington one - Mark Is with correct inspection stamps aren't that common. You might even make a few bucks on such a trade.