Sa 1903 mark 1

[DaveN]

The gun shop was real busy as usual, but I was able to look at it in more depth. This is a arsenal rebuild to restore it to 1903 configuration as was suggested. The stock does have a circle p where it is on the Garands I have. And there is a dip where the cut out in the receiver is and all the wood seems to match though the front hand guard has strange what looks like wood inlays( about 4-5 ) running on top and perpendicular to the line of fire?? I wish I had taken a picture of it but it was crazy there and I was concerned with the cut out and snapped a shot of that with my phone. The bore looked great and muzzle gauged a 2 and it had an SA 5-20 stamped near the front sight. Probably not going to buy it at least not for that price but sure have had fun learning about it. Thanks to all and any more info is still appreciated.

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[Kirk]

. . . the front hand guard has strange what looks like wood inlays( about 4-5 ) running on top and perpendicular to the line of fire??

If the "inlays" are about .1" thick & 1.5" long, they are probably "biscuit" repairs made by the Greeks. The repairs were made to cracked hand guards to keep them serviceable. Your rifle is likely a M1903 that was sold through the CMP which had been leant to the Greeks back in the late 40s or early 50s. Is there a partial s/n (4 digits) etched on the root of the bolt handle? A "B" stamped on the floor plate? These are also signs of Greek service.