New to me 1903A4

[emmagee1917]

Boy , how did I miss the screw ? I agree the triggerguard would be close , but it was the only thing that I could see that it might have been. I'd leave it be , but just keep an eye out for a large bow if it happens along.
Chris

[WarPig1976]

Nice to see an unsanded stock, nice and "blocky" as opposed to rounded. I learned something....

[Jsheds]

Don't feel bad about missing the screw, I've been fondling this gun for a week and didn't even notice there was a hex head screw on the scope mount that didn't match the one on the other side. I'll have to check with some of the parts guys at the next show to see if there are any available.

It's difficult to tell from the pictures, but the wear on the magazine box matches the wear on the stock. I suspect this has seen some time as a hunting rifle with a lot of time being carried at the balance point, that's what the stock and magazine wear looks like to me. The sling appears to be a civilian version as it has iron hardware rather than brass.

I will likely leave the trigger guard alone, it 'looks right' - the wear matches the stock, and it has been on the rifle for a long time. I did notice a chip out of the stock which looks like what often happens when the magazine is removed, but I think I'll just let it be.

Jim - this rifle was at the table that hangs out into the doorway opening between the old and new sections of the hall. He had it on a floor rack standing at the end of the table, almost missed it! I didn't see the reproduction in the smaller hall, just this one and the other two in the large hall.

Can someone point me to literature or discussion on the scope variations? I've found a lot of reading on-line about the different aspects of the rifle itself, but little discussion of the scope and variations, I wasn't aware there were differences other than the commercial scopes used early on and the M73B1 military version.

Thanks for all of your comments. This board and others are fantastic resource for the collector.
Jim

[JGaynor]

Jim - this rifle was at the table that hangs out into the doorway opening between the old and new sections of the hall. He had it on a floor rack standing at the end of the table, almost missed it! I didn't see the reproduction in the smaller hall, just this one and the other two in the large hall.

Can someone point me to literature or discussion on the scope variations? I've found a lot of reading on-line about the different aspects of the rifle itself, but little discussion of the scope and variations, I wasn't aware there were differences other than the commercial scopes used early on and the M73B1 military version.

Thanks for all of your comments. This board and others are fantastic resource for the collector.
Jim

Jim, ok that explains it. my friends and i blew through the new wing pretty fast. It had a lot of empty tables (another show nearby apparently) and the one that were there were mainly full of nazi crap. so i didn't pay much attention to what was near the door but i am glad you got it.

Regarding the scopes:
i have some information on the scopes that i will forward to you off line. I need to update a portion of it. so give a little time.

Regards,
Jim

[Chuckindenver]

careful on the screw, only one windage screw will work with early Redfield rings, modern scope rings have a different cut, if you use anything but the correct one, it will ruin that ring.
watch for the old screw being broken off inside the base, they were staked in place,,and usually hard, so that they couldnt be removed.

[Neal Myers]

The name of the mount is "Redfield Jr". It's the same basic mount that was sold commercially for many years, so finding a blue screw shouldn't be that difficult or expensive.

Never remove the mount from the rifle. Note that the mounting screws are staked. Plus, the shims under the front of the mount are important & you really don't want to mess with them.

Neal

[Jsheds]

It looks like the windage screw should be phosphate, rather than blue. Is that correct?
Jim

[Neal Myers]

An arsenal rebuild could certainly have parkerized screws. I would think case color or blue screws would be "most correct" on an original A4.

[Chuckindenver]

original screw should be color case hardened, as well as the screws in the rings.
you wouldnt believe how many A4s iv seen with the rings destroyed from using the wrong screws.
these are a diameter and depth all there own. they fit in the cut of the ring perfectly, just as yours is pictured..

[Jsheds]

I removed the hex head screw and all is well. The threads look fine and it is the correct screw (for the redfield mount) with undercut head to clamp the rings on, just not correct for this rifle.
Jim