USMC Re-Arsenal (Alleged!) Pics: Take Two

[Lancebear]

Hey Rick,

I have two scants on rifles. Both Springfield and real fine. What other manufacturers made scants? Remington and SC perhaps?

Death to bad guys,

LB

[Rick the Librarian]

Springfield, Keystone and (I think?) American Bowling and Billiard?

[John Beard]

Now you know that my Corps wouldn't use those uglya$$ scant stocks on their fine 1903 Springfields.

To be honest, I have always had the impression that the Corps did not use scant stocks, but I am not certain where I got that thought. Are you saying the Corps did indeed utilize the scant stock? I thought the scant to be a product of mid to late WWII, after the Corps switched to the M1.

Jim

The USMC did indeed utilize scant stocks. Lots of them! Most of the ones I've seen were inletted for the '03-A3 barrel guard ring and were made by a contractor during late WWII. And, of course, the stocks have neither an inspection stamp nor a proof mark because the USMC didn't mark their rifles during WWII.

J.B.

[xs hedspace]

I just got a RI 03 that has the USMC Sedgley barrel(6-41 date), S/N on bolt, but the stock is straight grip, no grooves, and no inspectors marks. Has Hatcher hole, extra hole in bottom of bolt. 312xxx ser#. Gun show dealer with table full of 03s claimed I had a spare parts gun, but I suspect he wanted it cheap. Any body help on this?? Stock looks like it has been there a long time-cosmo around the metal parts, but minty surface wise.

[John Beard]

I just got a RI 03 that has the USMC Sedgley barrel(6-41 date), S/N on bolt, but the stock is straight grip, no grooves, and no inspectors marks. Has Hatcher hole, extra hole in bottom of bolt. 312xxx ser#. Gun show dealer with table full of 03s claimed I had a spare parts gun, but I suspect he wanted it cheap. Any body help on this?? Stock looks like it has been there a long time-cosmo around the metal parts, but minty surface wise.

Your description matches that of a WWII USMC-issue service rifle. Congratulations!

J.B.

p.s.,

I would be grateful if you would e-mail me the complete serial number for my data base. Thanks!

[xs hedspace]

Sorry, senior moment---S/N is 321xxx, and the buttplate is smooth, except for a checkered trap. Stock has maybe 3 slight dings in it, but the front sight band looks like somebody had a hard time taking off the sight cover!

[JGaynor]

Springfield, Keystone and (I think?) American Bowling and Billiard?

and I believe Milton Bradley.

regards,

Jim