Austrian sporterized M1903?

[Michael Petrov]

About every rifle I ever used had a short LOP. I bought a leather-Velcro slip on pad that I put an extra inch of material in the bottom and carry it in my shooting kit. Does no damage to the stock and it works just fine. There are many different ones out there here is a link to see what they look like.

Medium Deluxe Leather Slip-On Gun Recoil Pad

[Calif-Steve]

Take a very hard look on the top of the bolt handle also/and at the bottom where the handle joins the bolt. Anything? Check the safety lug as well. Be very careful about whittling on a valuable rifle. Good luck. You need a high-end appraisal. Look around for high-end auctions. You might be surprised.

[2aimtrue]

About every rifle I ever used had a short LOP. I bought a leather-Velcro slip on pad that I put an extra inch of material in the bottom and carry it in my shooting kit. Does no damage to the stock and it works just fine. There are many different ones out there here is a link to see what they look like.

Medium Deluxe Leather Slip-On Gun Recoil Pad

I had already pretty much decided to go this route. Thanks for the link, Mr. Petrov.

[2aimtrue]

Take a very hard look on the top of the bolt handle also/and at the bottom where the handle joins the bolt. Anything? Check the safety lug as well. Be very careful about whittling on a valuable rifle. Good luck. You need a high-end appraisal. Look around for high-end auctions. You might be surprised.

Honestly, I have looked the bolt over carefully with a loupe. There are no stampings anywhere. There is what appears to be a small punch mark on the bottom of the bolt handle, but that's all.
The "whittling" would be on a hand guard, only, and just as an exercise.
If I may, what is your estimation of a range of value? I have been advised by another collector that the value is probably around $1K, tops.

[Calif-Steve]

In a high-end auction, more then 1K for sure. Nice rifle, for sure.

[2aimtrue]

Anyone else here have any insight into the bolt situation? I'm curious as to whether it could be the original bolt.

[Calif-Steve]

Have you looked at the bolts on Vi Shooter's site? Very good.

[2aimtrue]

Have you looked at the bolts on Vi Shooter's site? Very good.

Thanks Calif-Steve for all your help with this. I have looked at the Vi Shooters site. The only thing I can glean from their information is that the bolt has the correct FP (SA 1929-40). That puts in the right time frame, at least, and indicates that it is a later, double-heat-treated (right?), bolt and probably the original. I think I can assume that it is the correct bolt for the rifle, anyway.

[Calif-Steve]

I note the bolt handle is NOT swept back. You may well have an early low-number bolt. Not dangerous or unsafe. These bolts were a key inspection point by Army personnel. You look closely at the bolt for signs of cracking around the locking lugs. The early bolts are very smooth and run slick in the receiver.

[2aimtrue]

I note the bolt handle is NOT swept back. You may well have an early low-number bolt. Not dangerous or unsafe. These bolts were a key inspection point by Army personnel. You look closely at the bolt for signs of cracking around the locking lugs. The early bolts are very smooth and run slick in the receiver.

The bolt does seem slick and does run smoothly but I have nothing for comparison. However, the cocking piece/firing pin is identical to the pic at Vi Shooters for the 1929-40 era. And the CMP site says that some later bolts were made with straight handles but not easily identified, as I noted earlier.