03 Greek Return CMP Rifles

[Jake Holman]

I've seen and had one CMP Greek return Remington 1903. It had a B stamped on the trigger guard and it was pinned shut with a brass pin. That was a Greek modification. What else did the Greeks do to the Lend Lease 03's and 03A3's? Did they refinish any. It seems that some of the ones I've seen are reparked with some different hues of green, grey and black. Does anyone know what exactly they did? Complete rebuild? Re park, re stock? I have an 03A3 stock that came from Greece and it was a mint straight stock with cross bolts and void of all markings. It did not have the front band hole drilled. It also needed some sanding in the barrel channel as it was too tight, and the front band would not go on. Not a big job, that's just how it came. I've seen numbers stamped on the butt of some of the returns, was that a Greek pratice? None of these rifles have import marks because they are return lend lease through the CMP.
So what is the real give way that they are Lend Lease returns? Is there any way to tell other than the CMP paper work or the B stamping? How will we be able to ID them from US rebuilds in the future when the paper work is lost and they have changed hands more that once? Does it matter? What's your opinion? I've pondered on this question for some time.

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[Rick the Librarian]

They were not technically Lend-Lease - L/L ended with the finish of the European War in 1945. They were part of the military aid program started by the U.S. to aid Turkey and Greece in 1946.

In addition to the pinned trigger guard, Greek M1903s and M1903A3s often show a dark "hot blued"-type finish, the serial number of the rifle etched on the flat part of the top of the bolt handle and the last four digits of the s/n stamped on the butt of the stock. I've seen Greek M1903s with none, some or all of these characteristics.

[Jake Holman]

So the green or grey park is not a Greek refinish?
Then your saying they did have a rebuilding program?
I figured that's where the stock came from. Did we supply
stocks and parts also as part of Military aid?
And finaly Rick, was this all free to Greece?
I know the Korean Garands and M1 carbines were sold to Korea,
so it wasen't a lend lease, or military aid program.
Or Am I just all wet here?

[Phil McGrath]

So the green or grey park is not a Greek refinish? Nope, thats ours.
Then your saying they did have a rebuilding program? No, theres was a refinnishing program.
I figured that's where the stock came from. Did we supply
stocks and parts also as part of Military aid? Yes, we did.
And finaly Rick, was this all free to Greece? Yes, our tax doller at work.
I know the Korean Garands and M1 carbines were sold to Korea,
so it wasen't a lend lease, or military aid program. Korea did both, they paid for some, and some were loaded too them under MAP.
Or Am I just all wet here? No, just behind the ears.

does this help?