Unusual .22 cal 1922 full stock with '03 barrel sight

[Hugh]

Photos! I wasn't sure what you guys would want to see - this is a selection. If there are other views let me know as I took others, too. I look forward to hearing what you guys have to say....and, my apologies for being too slow of mind to figure the photos out (my photo files were too big). Thanks!
Hugh

[Cosine26]

Hi Hugh
I had thought that by this time Herschel, the resident M1922 series expert, would have replied to some of your questions; however, since he has not, I shall make a stab at it. You have a US Model of 1922 M1 (one of the later versions by the serial number and the annotation) which has been converted to the M2 configuration by changing the bolt and the Magazine(?). It has been installed in an early M1903 stock. Since you indicate that the barrel is dated 3-32, I would tend to believe that the barrel is/was original. If the magazine is stamped "M2" than it is for the M2 version. Evidently someone has turned down the barrel to accommodate the M1903 Fixed Rear Sight Base and installed it. It appears to me that the upper band is from a M1917.
Such a conversion was proposed in an early AMERICAN RIFLEMAN, (CIRCA LATE 1930) , to allow a competitive shooter to practice indoors with a rifle that approximated his service rifle. During winter time the shooter could shoot indoor gallery for practice and be ready for the big bore season when it arrived. The original article suggested using a type C stock to simulate the 1929 and later NM M1903. Perhaps the original owner of this rifle had a 1928 or earlier NM M1903 which would have come equipped with type type S tock and he wanted to simulate this.
This is of course conjecture, but I do not believe that it left the armory in this condition.
Hope this helps.

[Hugh]

Cosine26 -
This is wonderful! I can't thank you enough. All that you say makes sense. I'll have to get back into Brophy and Campbell to try to understand more about the stock and get clear in my head the differences between the various 1922 models. The magazine is M2 - but, may not have been original to the rifle, of course. Using the rifle for winter gallery practice makes a lot of sense. And, the '03 rear sight numerals are not regulated for the .22 LR cartridge so the shooter would just adjust it to whatever distance he had available. I'll see if I can find that specific article in National Rifleman, too.
This is a great help and I appreciate your effort on my behalf very much.
Hugh

[Cosine26]

I shall try to locate the article and give you the date. I believe it was in 1937 or 1938. If you find a late model Lyman 48 c or S, you can mount it on your rifle and not have to cut the stock.
Glad I could help

[Hugh]

It would be great to find that date of that article as I'd like to track down a copy. It's tempting to put a Lyman receiver sight on it - however, I have a "normal" M2 which is a great shooter. This one I think I'll keep as-is. Heck,....maybe I'll shoot it indoors in the off-season! I really appreciate your help.

[Cosine26]

Hugh,
The article is in the4 August 1932 Rifleman magazine.

[Hugh]

I don't know how you found that. I hunted for it but couldn't locate it. However, now that I have the date I'll get it for sure. You've made my day. Thank you once again, Sir.
Hugh

[Cosine26]

Hi Hugh,
The article appears in the August 1932 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN and is titled, “My National Match .22” by Charles O. Bower. What interests me is that he did not have to turn the barrel down to install the FRSB. He indicated that it came within 3/8 ths of an inch of the receiver and he was able to use a wooden block to drive it home, and further indicated that he did not have to open the stock barrel channel. He did have to modify the stock in the magazine area to accommodate the magazine. I agree with you-I would keep it as is-a unique modification of an M2 .22
I have a pretty good memory , I guess!
Is the bolt numbered to the action?

[Herschel]

1922 Series .22 rifles in 1903 or 1903A3 stocks show up fairly often. I have owned 2 or 3 of them. Most recent one was in a replacement C stock for a 1903A4. In my years of collecting I have tried without success to find any reliable information that these conversions to 1903 or 1903A3 configuration were done at a govt arsenal. It is my opinion, based only on observation of these and comments from some gunsmiths that they converted the rifles, that these were all aftermarket (not done by a govt arsenal or SA) projects. Most of the 1922 and 1922M1 receivers converted to M2 configuration will have the A or B stamped after the serial number. Not all of them have the A or B. I don't know the reason for the lack of the A or B stamp. I have found that the 1922 Series rifles in the .30 cal stocks attract a lot of interest at gun shows but are not of interest to serious collectors.

[Hugh]

Hershel and Cosine26-
Thank you VERY much for so much useful and fascinating info. I found a copy of the Augst 1932 Rifleman on ebay; ordered it. The bolt btw, is not numbered. Being as the conversion was aftermarket there would be no way to determine when that was done. However, is there a way to determine - even roughly - when the original rifle was built? The serial number is 10498 and the barrel is dated 3-32. Thanks again for all your help. Your efforts have made my new rifle even more interesting than I would have thought. Thanks!
Hugh