1955 Marine Sales 03

[Augie]

Hi,this is my first post here, I used to post a little on the CSP and recognize some of the old names from there.
I have been looking for a decent 03 shooter for several years but have not found one that appealed to me for what I wanted to pay, untill today.
Was waiting in line this morning at a local gun show when I spoted a 03 with a sale sign, had a unbelievible C stock on it. I knew the seller and have picked up a couple nice rifle's over the years from him. Looked closer and the rifle looked too good, not a single ding in the stock, perfect parkerizing, Milsco leather sling, rifle looked new as rebuilt, Sedgely 2/44 USMC barrel that gauges brand new.
Decided to buy it as a shooter as the price was very resonable, took it home and was still very suspicious that it may be a humped up 03, but I did not really care as just intended to shoot it.
Was going to wipe it down and while wiping it I opened the buttplate trapdoor and looked inside, saw a rolled up paper in it, could not get it out without damaging it because of lip on door, took buttplate off and got paper out, when I unrolled it I could not believe what I was looking at. It was the original sales receipt from 1955.
At this point I think I may have lucked into an original as rebuilt after WW2 Marine 03 with a very nice C stock. Only marks on the stock are circle proof P on grip,upsidedown K in magazine cutoff and what looks like an inventory # on stock heel D1836-4.
I am not an 03 expert by any means so really looking forward to the experts opinion. I also posted over on Surplus Rifle, hope thats ok.
Augie

Information

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[irishsteve]

Really nice find.The paper work was a big score,I"d have bought it too,its dated my birthday!

[Prince Humperdink]

WOW, what a beautiful Rifle, and SCORE on the paperwork!

[Jim Tarleton]

Great find. A real treasure in my book.

Jim

[John Beard]

The stock is a recently-manufactured reproduction and the markings are fake. The rest of the rifle appears authentic, although the barrel may be a later armorer or gunsmith-installed replacement.

Thanks for the pictures! Other than the replacement stock, you have a real prize!

J.B.

[Calif-Steve]

JB:
A 2-44 USMC barrel. Were the Marines rebarrelling '03 in mid-44? Seems they might been involved with the Garand. I always thought the late Sedgley barrels were US Army contract. Also is this supposed to be a Keystone "C" stock '03 (not 03-A3) stock?

[Jeff L]

Nice rifle!

-Jeff L

[John Beard]

JB:
A 2-44 USMC barrel. Were the Marines rebarrelling '03 in mid-44? Seems they might been involved with the Garand. I always thought the late Sedgley barrels were US Army contract. Also is this supposed to be a Keystone "C" stock '03 (not 03-A3) stock?

The Marines were indeed re-barreling in mid-44. But, for reasons unknown, they were using almost none of their real late Sedgley barrels. They were using High Standard barrels instead. But, not many of those.

Sedgley USMC barrel contract deliveries ended in 2-44. Sedgley then immediately assumed barrel deliveries on an Army Ordnance contract that carried through 2-45. Sedgley Army contract barrels are marked differently (they have an Ordnance bomb and no "USMC" marking) and have a bright metallic finish.

The stock on the subject rifle is a recently-made Boyd's reproduction. It is not a Keystone stock. The markings, including the "K" in the cutoff recess, are fake.

J.B.

[Augie]

Thanks for the input so far. John, no surprise on the stock, felt it just did not look right.
I took the rifle apart and I am now questioning the barrel also, there is a small S and small P stamp close to the chamber end, no signs of any welding that I can see. However there is a small area about 4" down from the muzzle where it lookks to my untrained eye that the barrel may have been bent and straightened. The external spiral machining marks at that point look stretched or cloudy. A cleaning rod with patch goes thru evenly with no change in drag at that point and a visual look in the bore does not show any darkness or odd area at that point so am not sure. No signs of heat being applied anywhere.
Brings us back to the receipt, I am adding the scan of the unaltered receipt in case that helps shed any light on this.
Thanks

[Calif-Steve]

Dealers always say paperwork is easier to fake then the rifle. As the rifle does have issues, I suspect the paperwork, as well. Get the stock off the rifle. Take a real hard look at the bottom of the receiver. Any discoloration? Possible Drill Rifle? The cut-off does look OK to, by the way. You may want to telephone the CMP Monday to find out if that serial number is in their sales data base. Good luck.