Pawn shop 03A4

[Pvt.Joker]

fix the stock. bolt, weld the hole thats started, find a base, rings and scope...your in bus. all A4,s are notched under the bolt....

I got a Lyman Alaskan scope and rings coming from eBay, a Redfield base (in the red box) coming off Gunbroker, and am watching a bolt auction there too. The stock; well, you can see the pictures I posted. I don't think there's any "fixing" the original one at this point, but do I keep the modified original or do I get one of the repro C stocks (either the CMP or the SARCO ones) ?

[Aragorn243]

Those marks on the stock look like what an un-padded vise would leave.

[JGaynor]

Thanks for the extra details and pics.

Regards,
Jim

[Pvt.Joker]

Those marks on the stock look like what an un-padded vise would leave.

You know, I think you might be right! Hadn't even occurred to me. Wonder if they'll steam out? Eh; the stock may need to be replaced anyway, if I ever want to shoot it in competition, since it was bedded. I'll take it back apart and get a few more photos...

---------- Post added at 06:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:21 PM ----------

Thanks for the extra details and pics.

Regards,
Jim

You're welcome, Jim. Does it look like the original A4 stock to you? (Or what's left of it, anyway) If so, would it be better to keep it and try to steam out the indentions, or to replace it with an aftermarket one?

[Pvt.Joker]

OK; here's some more photos of the inside of the stock and the bedding job:







And one where you can see where he opened up the trigger area for the Timney trigger that was on it when I got it...



Also, here's some more of the barrel and receiver markings:

[JGaynor]

[QUOTE
You're welcome, Jim. Does it look like the original A4 stock to you? (Or what's left of it, anyway) If so, would it be better to keep it and try to steam out the indentions, or to replace it with an aftermarket one?[/QUOTE]

Pvt, Joker, it looks like a scant stock. So while it MIGHT have been an A4 stock your March rifle is too early for an original scant. They started appearing on rifles in the fall of 43. So at best it was a replacement. On top of that all the work that's been done to it will be difficult and time consuming to undo.

If it was me i would check to see if Sarco still has the reproduction "C" stocks they had this time last year. I handled a couple in their store and they looked very nice. Reports on the net seemed favorable as well. They might have had some with the bolt handle notch. Its worth checking.

Regards,
Jim

[Pvt.Joker]

OK, SARCO is out of them and said they don't plan on getting any more of the C stocks. Guess I can try Numrich? Any ideas where I might find one of the correct WWII Redfield scope bases?

[JGaynor]

A GI scope base will be another tough one. The best bet IMO is a WTB ad in this forum, CULVERS and Gunboards forum. A few years back there were some loose spare floating arournd. They Redfield Jr. bases that had been packed or supplied by Lyman during the Korean War. Parkerized but not marked "REDFIELD". Some one may be hanging onto one and just may decide its time to turn it into cash.
Two things are working against you i am afraid.
1. Several years back the govy released a number of A4's w/o bases (the so called Grade B's). A number of these have been restored by now.
2. The vintage sniper matches have also increased the demand.

But good luck.
Too bad about the Sarco stocks. The ones I looked at were pretty nice.

Regards,
Jim

[Harlan (Deceased)]

If it's any use (maybe not) I came across an ebay auction with an A4 stock for sale. It didn't get to his reserve with a $271 bid so he probably still has it, but have no idea how much he wants for it.

M1903A4 REMINGTON KEYSTONE SNIPER C STOCK 1903A4 A4 | eBay

[JGaynor]

If it's any use (maybe not) I came across an ebay auction with an A4 stock for sale. It didn't get to his reserve with a $271 bid so he probably still has it, but have no idea how much he wants for it.

M1903A4 REMINGTON KEYSTONE SNIPER C STOCK 1903A4 A4 | eBay

Nice looking piece of wood but the markings are a bit dubious. The "RA" as used on the stock stands for "Remington Arms". The faint "SPG" cartouche may be obscuring an appropriate "FJA" mark - hard to say w/o a better pics. Also I believe Mr.. Gibbs did his inspections at Springfield prior to WW2. Does anyone know if he was called back for re-inspection work during or after the war?

Probably be a good idea to insist on a no questions asked 3-day inspection period. Given the prices on his other items i suspect he was looking for close to a grand on the stock.

Regards,
Jim