1903 rebuild

[Smokeeaterpilot]

Andrew, in 1936 EVERYTHING in much of the World was segregated - not just high schools......and I don't think the ROTC - or their rifles - was to blame for that. I am pretty sure those same high schools today use different language, too. But I don't think politics and ancient wrongs is the the proper direction for this thread to take.

Imagine, for a moment, a time in our parents time when our beloved rifles were Part of everyday life - even in high school. Here in Alaska we still have high schools with rifle ranges - but then we are not very PC, either.

As Cooper said "The Past is Another Country, they do things differently there."

History is not always pretty, but the triumph of right over wrong is an ongoing process - there are and were decent people in every age and at all times in history - or we would never have made any progress. Our system has flaws, but slavery was abolished here - and paid for with 600,000 lives - not so in Africa and elsewhere in the world, even today. Man is a failed creature, but for his cultivated moral sense - which seems to be in decline lately. But hope springs eternal, and God is not mocked. Virtue is eventually rewarded - and evil doers will get theirs, in life or in the end.

My point was - and is - that this rifle is tremendously interesting for being ISSUED TO A US HIGH SCHOOL - by the US government. And the students and staff of that time were trustworthy enough to do that. Respectfully, CC

CC,

My apologies, sometimes with written responses versus verbal/In-Person, a lot can easily be taken out of context as the majority of communication is non-verbal.

That being said, my response had nothing to do with pointing at anything about the segregation or the role of rifles in ROTC. And I don't disagree with your points but I think mine may have not been typed correctly.

I was merely expanding on the citation, that the actual paperwork denotes the inventory of arms for African American Washington DC schools and that the title of the paperwork used (although common for the time) is not considered "PC" today, is probably why Frank Mallory omitted that portion when he published his SRS list containing these numbers.

Just pointing out that the actual paperwork typically has interesting details that may be omitted from the citation.

If that makes sense.

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[weekend_warrior]

Attachment 95477OK, not sure where that came from but good information to know. Quick question on the stock, it would be an "S" stock with two stock screws correct? got a stock S type but the only markings I see on it are RI on the muzzle end and BN 125th on the butt stock, no other marking found.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Looks like a fun project.
Trying to get my 1903 in shape before November 11 2018 . Not sure I am going to make it.

[weekend_warrior]

I think the stock may be correct, but I' am not seeing any other markings, it looks like the stock may of bee refinished at one point. Do you think it would worthwhile to strip the stock and look for more markings and what would you use to strip it?
I'll have to look for those books, I've got Rock Island Rifle Model 1903 by C.S. Ferris and have been studying The Model 1903 Springfield Rifle and its Variations by Joe Poyer, I do plan on shooting my rifle so I will look for the book by E.C. Crossman.

[Col. Colt]

Be careful - stripping wood pretty much destroys originality and "character" the way many people see it. You might try an old "Night Shot" video camera to see if any of the markings are visible - infared light I think shows up faint markings in wood (read this somewhere).

You have the makings of a GREAT project - and a rifle that can be placed in it's home in the historical world, long ago. And who knows what else it has seen! I think it will be worthy of whatever effort you put into it.

Before changing ANYTHING, just because a book says it is not "correct" do your research - and keep all the parts - future knowledge may show it was original despite "conventional wisdom"! CC

[weekend_warrior]

Well kind of ran into a little snag, It seems they inletted the "S" stocks for the 1905 sight bases and mines not inletted. So I' am going to have to find another stock, Dang well lesson learned Research, Research, Research.