Stock Markings

[Road Rat]

My 1903-A3 stock only has one mark!! Normal??

No indications of refinish.

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[John Beard]

I am not aware of any M'03-A3 stocks exhibiting only an encircled "P" proof mark. Does the stock exhibit any markings on the bottom in front of the front trigger guard screw? Please advise.

J.B.

[Road Rat]

My 1903-A3 stock only has one mark!! Normal??

Does the stock exhibit any markings on the bottom in front of the front trigger guard screw? Please advise.

I posted that it was the only marking on the stock. Just for warm&fuzzies I went completely over the stock one more time. The ONLY mark on it is the Circle P. There is no sign that the stock has been refinished.

[John Beard]

Exhibiting only an encircled "P" proof mark is not normal.

J.B.

[Road Rat]

Thank you. That was my guess as just about every military stock I see photos of has all sorts of stamps, initials, etc. This is one of the early Smith-Corona manufactured rifles of 1943............ guess I will just keep seeking answers. Again, thanks.

[rcathey]

Occam’s razor would most likely tell you all you need to know.

Any marks that should be there, but are not, have simply been sanded off by someone in the 76 years since this rolled off the line.

[Road Rat]

Thanks. I was just coming back to make that statement. It does not appear to have been refinished; but, as "most" inspector stamps are a little light I'm guessing all the other markings were sanded off except for the Proof Mark. It would have been nice to have the history!!

[rcathey]

I’d have to defer to you since you’ve seen the entire rifle, but from the one picture given I would have said it was refinished.
The wood looks way too smooth and the pores are even filled in — that doesn’t look original.

But again, I’m going off just the one small snapshot.

[togor]

I have a pinned stock that came on a CMP Greek return that has only a P in the usual location. Stock came with dings from use and the gun was a mixmaster with an A3 rear band and trigger guard and Greek serialized bolt.