Is this a real USMC used 1903?

[jarrodeu]

Question for John Beard and others. I just bought this 1908 Rock Island 1903 with a 9-41 USMC Segley barrel. I was wondering if you guys would know if it was likely used by the USMC. The only things that I can see that would say so are the Hatcher hole and the barrel but you guys are the experts. The "cartouches" are very faint but there is a circle P and what looks like RLB but the spacing of the letters looks too far apart to me. There are also some letters on the stock tip. I assume the markings on the butt door are the maker, when was this buttplate used?
Floorplate is remington
Bolt is remington

Thanks for your help,
Jarrod

Information

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[musketshooter]

Not likely. It sounds like a bubba rebuild.

[Kirk]

The "vise" mark on the barrel looks like those on USMC barreled actions. Is there just the one mark or are there others? Does the bolt have a large gas relief hole cut to line up with the Hatcher Hole? Can you see a S/N etched on the top of the bolt body? On the butt plate, the letters stamped in the trap looks like B S A. If so, I've not seen that before. Is the butt plate smooth or stippled? Is there a punch mark in front of the s/n? Can you give us at least a partial s/n? The finish on the metal looks worn. Does undisturbed finish on metal under the wood have a greenish or olive tint?

The strip of material at the tip of the fore arm is not GI at all.

[John Beard]

There's a very good chance that your rifle was issued to the USMC. But the characteristics you've shown and described are not overwhelming.

The stock is a Remington M1903 stock and the inspection stamp is indeed "R L B".

The marking on the buttplate cap is the forging die identification number. I don't know what period your buttplate dates from, but I'd guess WWI.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[jarrodeu]

Thanks for your help guys!
Is there a SN hit for this SN? I've added some more pictures, #12 shows the SN
The rear sight says E G which I assume is the manufacturer. Does anyone know when this was used?

The "vise" mark on the barrel looks like those on USMC barreled actions. Is there just the one mark or are there others? Does the bolt have a large gas relief hole cut to line up with the Hatcher Hole? Can you see a S/N etched on the top of the bolt body? On the butt plate, the letters stamped in the trap looks like B S A. If so, I've not seen that before. Is the butt plate smooth or stippled? Is there a punch mark in front of the s/n? Can you give us at least a partial s/n? The finish on the metal looks worn. Does undisturbed finish on metal under the wood have a greenish or olive tint?
The strip of material at the tip of the fore arm is not GI at all.

The bolt looks like a standard remington bolt, no SN and the gas hole matches the standard remington size holes. It lines up fairly well but is smaller than the hole in the receiver.
Plain smooth buttplate.
No punch mark
To me the finish looks like a standard WWII refinish

Thanks,
Jarrod

[Mike D]

No luck on the serial #, but it was close (82752).

[John Beard]

Congratulations!

You do indeed have a USMC rifle. The serial number is in my data base. And I have some limited history on your rifle.

J.B.