Anyone recognize this barrel stamp?

[AustinWiseguy]

I have this M1903 rifle. Serial number and Feb 1918 barrel date appear to be consistent. The rifle is in unusually clean condition for its age, the only modification looks to be the Remington bolt, but stock stamp and etching on the bolt match the last 4 of the SN, Greek return, usual markings incl floor plate. My question is the barrel stamp that's located on the underside of the barrel. It appears possibly to be the symbol "Pi" but I'm not sure.

Question: Does anyone monitoring this forum have a Greek-return with this symbol? Or anyone recognize or know what this might be? Also, there appears to be a "K" in the stock at the magazine cut-off, if anyone recognizes that as well?

Thanks in advance for any help or information.

Attachment 107226Attachment 107227Attachment 107228Attachment 107229Attachment 107230Attachment 107231

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[RCS]

Back around 2007, my friend called me from a Georgia gun show, he said he found a SA 1903 from 1918 with a stock marked TENN, rifle was sold from the CMP, asked if he should buy it for me. I said ok.

My SA is serial number 825055 with Hatcher hole and SA 3-18 dated barrel and the "Greek barrel stamp" under the barrel like yours. It is a Greek stamp. Both your rifle and mine both fall into the US Navy/USMC serial ranges. My stock is marked W.E.S. and BA JS plus TENNAttachment 107232Attachment 107233

[Gil Boyd]

They certainly knew how to stamp numbers in a military fashion and always the same format. Thats what you call a professional workforce.

[AustinWiseguy]

Attachment 107234

My SA is serial number 825055 with Hatcher hole and SA 3-18 dated barrel and the "Greek barrel stamp" under the barrel like yours. It is a Greek stamp. Both your rifle and mine both fall into the US Navy/USMC serial ranges. My stock is marked W.E.S. and BA JS plus TENNAttachment 107232Attachment 107233

Thanks so much RCS. That pretty much confirms it then. It's the greek PI. I was looking at the meaning of the lower "pi" and apparently its loose definition has something to do with pressure so this is beginning to make some sense. Re your US Navy reference, I did an SRS check on mine and no direct hit but SN is close to hits for US Army Training Center and USS Independence.

Another thing I suspect is Greek is the underside of the stock, I have a pair of opposing "T"s. Anything similar on yours? Could your's be part of USS Tennessee ship's arsenal? That's another topic I need to start reading up on.

[AustinWiseguy]

Supplemental note to this thread for anyone interested in US Navy early 20th century manual: 1918 Landing Force Manual. Interesting read with regards to the Navy looking to remove USMC from ships, aligning with Army for landing party tactics and guidance, training and efficiencies. Note after 1930, USMC began to take over as primary land-based forces as USN ship's personnel became more specialized with ship-board duties. Sailors as Infantry in the US Navy

[AFJon]

Since it apparently came from the CMP you could reach out to John Beard on the CMP forum. He may have notes on the rifle as he prepares the 1903 and 1903A3s for sale.

[RCS]

I have some USMC marked shovel covers with the navy ship stamp, these were used by the landing parties. These date from WW1 period on to WW2Attachment 107235Attachment 107236Attachment 107237

[John Beard]

The hollow "T" marking underneath your rifle's barrel appeared on virtually all CMP Greek rifles. The origin and meaning of the marking is unknown. Presumably, the marking originated with the Greeks, but that has not been confirmed. The "K" in your stock's cutoff recess is a common Springfield Armory subinspection mark and should not be confused with a similary "K" stamped in the cutoff recess of stocks made by Keystone during WWII.

Stay safe!

J.B.

[AustinWiseguy]

John, re the “K” sub-inspection mark: does this mark commonly appear on most/all M1903 rifle stocks or on the older WWI rifles? I ask only to ascertain if the stock has most likely been replaced or most likely original to the rifle.

Thanks so much for your input.

[John Beard]

John, re the “K” sub-inspection mark: does this mark commonly appear on most/all M1903 rifle stocks or on the older WWI rifles? I ask only to ascertain if the stock has most likely been replaced or most likely original to the rifle.

Thanks so much for your input.

All Springfield Armory stocks have a subinspection mark in the cutoff recess. The letters vary widely, depending on who the stocker was and when he worked. Your rifle has been overhauled, refinished, and re-assembled from mixed parts. Your rifle's stock is a correct stock for your rifle, but is not likely original to it.

Stay safe!

J.B.