WW2 rebuild?

[Ridolpho]

Hey guys- I'm not an expert on 1903's by any measure but I added this one to my small US collection few months ago. Impulse buy at "show" based largely on the C stock and excellent High Standard barrel. To sum up- pitted and re-finished 1918 receiver; stock has no markings other than circle-P proof and associated examiner? marks and G.A. Woody Springfield cartouche; barrel dated 2-44; many replacement parts including Brown and Sharp 03A3 bolt body. My question is- the barrel date is consistent with the GAW stamp but did Springfield bring in barrels from outside sources for their rebuilds? I do seem to see similar examiners? marks on sight base and around the P on the butt but have seen no references to such marks. One final question (since I bought this as a range gun) is the serial kosher- the "1" seems a bit off. Thanks for any insights into this thing.

Ridolpho

Information

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[Rick the Librarian]

The B&S isn't a "1903A3" bolt body - it was used on M1903 rebuilds, like yours. G.A. Woody was the commander of Springfield Armory in 1943-44, so that would "fit", but I'm not sure about the High Standard barrel being used at Springfield.

The serial number is correct - if the rifle had an 88,000 range serial number, the numbers and letters would be serifed and not "block".

[RCS]

I have seen the SA GAW rebuild stamp on M1 rifle Winchester stocks and variations of the M1903 stock. Have never seen a carbine but it might be possible ? photo shows a Winchester M1 stock

[browningautorifle]

I'd have bought it too, Calgary show was it? Love the look of the type "C" stock...

[Ridolpho]

No, BAR, it was a small show that occurs twice a year at the Thorncliffe Community Center here in Calgary. And yes, the stock caught my eye. Unfortunately it looks worse the closer you get to it- has seen some hard use and there is a small patch along the barrel channel which is shown in one of the photos. But the parts that matter are sound and there's about 6-7 lbs up-pressure on the forend tip. Now that Rick has allayed my fears about the serial number I'll be getting it to the range soon. Regards.

Ridolpho

[browningautorifle]

Yes, it has some marks. Doesn't matter, it's with you now. That's the kind of stock I'd love to do an oil removal and see what happens. Top could be stained to match the bottom and it would look great. It looks fine now though.

[Rick the Librarian]

Here's a picture of my 78180 rifle - you can see the obvious difference in the "script":

[browningautorifle]

The real early ones look like artwork.

[Ridolpho]

At the risk of flogging a dead horse I've taken a few more photos. There is a "P" just below the muzzle (but on the side of the barrel) and a "flaming bomb" just ahead of the sight base. Also a couple of additional shots of the "glyphs" on the right side of the sight base. There appears, also, to be a "1" in a circle on the boss above the extractor cutout. I can't find any reference to stampings like these either in books or forums. Anyone know if they have any meaning (or are even real!)? As to the possibility of a HS barrel being installed at Springfield, there are threads on the CMP forum where one individual appears to have evidence that HS did provide barrels to SA but no evidence that they used them is presented. Would there not have been clear markings on the metal to indicate a barrel installed at SA? And wouldn't they (SA) have drilled a "Hatcher hole" in a '44 rebuild which is absent on this rifle?

About the only thing definite about this rifle is that the HS barrel is in excellent shape. A few minutes spent cleaning had it shining like a mirror from one end to the other. Other than the minor pitting on the right side it appears to be in fair shape. I'd be happier if it were an arsenal rebuild as opposed to a later put-together by Bubba.

Ridolpho