Here's an Interesting Rifle for Discussion

[Rick the Librarian]

The first thing I noticed is that the markings on the barrel do not look like barrel markings I have seen on post-WWI '03 barrels - the lettering (both size and "font") looks different. Also, look at the "rings" on the barrel - much like a High Standard replacement. I smell a rat!

[Chuckindenver]

ok...
this is a turd for sure, Johnnys right, someone did the barrel and reciever, heres my take.
the rifle was heavy buffed and blued at one time, likely semi sporterized, likely not a lownumber, they are pretty hard, and that type of engraving is tough to do on them.
look at the cuttoff, it was buffed so hard you cant see the OFF or ON.
parkerizing is NOT, GI. and likely a home job, very thin and blotchy.
too light in color.
stock has a repair at the rear tang area, that tells me, it has recoil lug issues, and was likely shot with no rear tang bushing, or a loose one.
most stocks with this type of damage were not repaired by the military, and only replaced.
this is not a GI repair. and a bad one at that. i dont really go over and nit pick the parts on the rifle, as its a POS.
if it was a genuine rifle, with original finish, fair stock, ect, his starting price would be great.
as it sits, its worth the some of the parts.
id check the receiver with a file and see if its DHT, or NS. if its NS, it would make a shooter.
NOT with that stock, it will need repaired correctly, before its shot again.
step away from this one..its got issues we cant see for sure.

[Chuckindenver]

oh my gawd, i just went back and looked again.
the last picture shows a gap in the sight base, and receiver, but look at the epoxy that oozed out from the receoil lug repair..nasty nasty nasty..
no matter what kinda bow you put on a turd, its still a turd.

[BEAR]

Each barrel is 12 years apart from the subject barrel. Flaming bomb is different on all three but the subject barrel is quite a bit different.
Oh, I just found this barrel in Brophy's book. Flaming bomb matches the 1942 barrel.
BEAR

[Calif-Steve]

Serial number is quite nice, too nice? All other lettering is beat to death. A low number that has been re-numbered? Possible.

[Jim K]

The serial number has had the first "1" added to make it look like a high number. The SA folks took considerable pride in centering that number when they set up the jig. I don't think the number is pantographed or fake, except for that first "1". FWIW, that was quite common at one time, and that one is pretty well done compared to most.

It looks like the receiver might even have been a salvage job; it was probably heavily rusted or even burned, then sand-blasted or wire brushed and given a dose of modern heavy Parkerizing. It could also have been a "sporterized" gun, heavily buffed and blued, then buffed again to "restore" it. The finish is not only wrong for a 1920-era rifle, it is even wrong for a WWII refinish.

Then we have a poorly fitting stock, probably a repro, with no markings or cartouches, with what looks like a repair behind the bolt. All in all, a rifle to be avoided.

Jim

[Johnny Peppers]

Receiver looks original? The serial number is too low on the receiver, is running down hill, and the 3 looks like the top has been squashed down. Compare the receiver to an original receiver to see the differences.

[Chuckindenver]

also look at Johhnys pic real close. see how the lettering is smooth inside the stamps? a pantegraph will leave small chatter markes,
you can use another form of engraving to get it right, but the rifle in question wasnt done that way.
also , notice how well the sight base fits on the one Johhny has pictured? look at the one in question,,
another side note,,,
Johhnys rifle has no punch mark on the receiver edge, nothing to do with the other rifle, just noticed it.
though its not on my list, id say Johhnys rifle is a NM..

[Phrogpilot]

what is "nearly 100% of original parkerized refinish"???

[Chuckindenver]

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIte...Item=125712481

i wanna know when Winchester rebuilt 1903,s???? same lame engraving on the barrel.