Help identify M1903

[zartoon]

Greetings,

Can you experts out there help me identify this rifle?
Here are the details:
Springfield 1903
Serial# 1293950
Receiver is marked Springfield Armory Model 1903.
Barrel reads SA 7-42
Behind the trigger, there are 2 circles stamped, each with a P inside, Under those, there is a stamped letter A
The magazine cut-off has an R stamped on it
behind the magazine cut off looks like an armory criss/cross canons, and to the right of that, there are lines, but I cant make out what they are. I cant see any letters.
The bottom plate has an R stamped on it.
in front of the plate, on the stock, there are some markings: A triangle, a smaller triangle (could also be an A), A horseshoe looking thing and a C all in al square pattern.
the stock has repairs on the top hand guard, and a plug on the left side of the butt stock center. there are the numbers on the left side of the buttstock : 8120
the bayonet receiver lug part has an R stamped on it
the bolt has an electro-penciled 0209 on the top root of the bolt, and the claw retainer has an R stamped on it.
The barrel is super clean, with perfect rifling, but the bolt fits VERY loose.
The stock has pins.

Information

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[Rick the Librarian]

1. Your rifle's receiver started out as a forging or "blank" made at Rock Island Arsenal. It was sent to Springfield Armory and finished as a Springfield receiver.

2) The barrel is a replacement (Springfield, 1942)

3) The stock sounds like it was originally made for a Remington M1903 or 03A3. The pins (instead of bolts) date the stock to late 1942 or early 1943. The two "circled Ps) are firing proof marks. One may have been original to the rifle the stock was fitted, and the other was from an overhaul. The triangles, circles, etc. with numbers are subinspection stamps from the original manufacture process of the rifle the stock was originally fitted.

4) Almost any R-marked parts are WWII replacements made by Remington. If, by "bottom plate", you mean floorplate, it MAY have been made at Springfield (SA had a subinspector who used an R stamp - confusing, ain't it?? )

5) The numbers on the side of the buttstock and those etched on the bot handle, may indicate the rifle was original brought back from Greece for sale by the CMP. As they don't match the serial number, the original stock and bolt may have been exchanged at the CMP before sale.

6) Repairs to handguards are another probable indication as to Greek origins.

[zartoon]

Thank you for the reply.
a couple of questions. I believe this to be a CMP rifle as well.
Are all CMP rifles sold (at least the 1903s) OK to shoot?
The handguard has these repairs in 3 slots. almost looks like someone cut slits in the handguard for cooling. Is that the reason for the repairs?

So basically, this rifle is not "correct". Its a mish-mash of parts. Is this what is refereed to on the boards are a franken-rifle?

[Mohawk]

Nah. It's a 70 year old rifle that has seen alot in it's life. We could only be so lucky to have been as many places as that rifle...100% correct rifles have never seen combat, and do not have the character of a battle hardened Vet. Rifle. How much did You give or are You going to give for it? a 1903 in the LA area is a rare animal indeed....

[Rick the Librarian]

I would agree that it is a mixmaster, as I said above. I would leave it in it's present state, as making it "correct" would be expensive and hard to do.

[Emri]

Is this what is refereed to on the boards are a franken-rifle?

No. It is what is refered to as a "mixmaster". The assembled parts are suitable for function but are of different manufacturers.

A "franken-rifle" is is one assembled from parts that were designed for other models of rifle. An example would be a M1903 with a M1917 bolt, barrel band, swivels, etc. installed on it.