Rock Island 1903 ID Help Needed

[DiamondJim]

Hello , this is my first post and I hope I have this in the right spot, please forgive me if it is not, this looks like a great sight with many knowledgeable people. At any rate, this is my first 1903 and I am not sure what I have:
Serial # 367xxx, barrel and action is chrome or nickel, stock appears to be original modified into a sporter. Barrel has teeth marks, looks to have been installed with a pipe wrench. Barrel has a faint W, L, and 94. Has an adjustable peep sight mounter on the rear of the receiver near the bolt handle, the sight is marked Redfield and Pat Pending.
Thanks Jim

Information

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[Rick the Librarian]

The receiver dates to about late 1918 - the rest sounds like commercial or aftermarket parts. M1903 barrel dates were located just aft of the front sight on the top of the barrel.

Welcome to the forum!

[DiamondJim]

Thanks Rick!
I found the barrel info, viewed from above with rifle pointed away it has SA, then something that looks like a flaming bomb, and then 7-20, and below that an "A". I also found this site: SPRINGFIELD ARMORY US MODEL 1903 RIFLE SERIAL NUMBER RANGES which states that beginning with number 319,921 RIA used Nickel Steel (I guess that is what I have instead of chrome?) and the total made were 346,000 ? I am confused because mine is definitely number 367,XXX. Thanks Jim

---------- Post added at 02:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:03 PM ----------

Thanks Steve!
I am curious as to what makes you think this is a USMC rifle, is it the serial number? Thanks Jim

[Calif-Steve]

Likely a USMC rifle. Chrome plated with a Redfield sight destroys any collector value. It can be reverse plated but not worth the cost and effort. You have a nice hunting rifle and good luck with it.

[Calif-Steve]

The vise marks on the barrel are common USMC. The receiver is either Nickel Steel or Double Heat Treated. The chrome plating is from Drill Team service. Keep it as is.

[Rick the Librarian]

The date of manufacture table you link us to is very inaccurate - suggest you depend on this one, instead.

http://www.vishooter.net/m1903.html

[DiamondJim]

Hi Rick,
Thanks for the link!
There is another 367,XXX rifle listed on that site that has the same teeth marks on the barrel, ...hmmm?
It looks like this RIA receiver was made in 1918 and the SA barrel was made in 1920, I wonder who pieced these 2 together parts together and chrome plated them, did SA/RIA/Military use odd parts to piece together rifles?
Thanks Jim

[Rick the Librarian]

The barrel is a replacement. The original rifle could have been sent to Springfield (or another major arsenal) in the early 1920s for overhaul, or the barrel could have been removed from a scrapped receiver and "recycled". Yes, the ordnance department used all parts. I often see very early parts on relatively late M1903s. "Parts is parts" was their motto!