Air Service Rifle

[1903Collector]

I am about to start an Air Service Rifle project and I need advice. Ive got quite a few '03s the select from. Im handy at wood and metal work. I was told that e BAR magazine can be used for such a project, so I got one. Ive got books by Hatcher, Brophy, Harrison, Poyer, and Reisch.

So, where do I start?

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[Flying10uk]

So, where do I start?

Google?

[Promo]

Why don't you buy one of the air service magazines that are anyway available and use it and focus on the stock and rear sight modification?

[Salt Flat]

I would collect as many photos of an Air Service as possible. Then make an accurate sketch of the stock with dimensions for barrel band location and nose size etc. I modified a bubba cut down 03a3 stock and cut finger grooves on the mill.

[Salt Flat]

Here is the stock made from a cutdown 03a3 stock--

You might want to use a stock with the proper cross bolts for a more accurate replica.
I'll point that out before someone else does. The barrel band will have to be welded and machined.

[butlersrangers]

Nice job of adding the 'finger-grooves'.

[baltimoreed]

Would make the suggestion not to cut down a decent full stock. There are plenty of bubba’s out there. Sarco sells these extended box mags but they are not long enough for the Air Service. They might be able to be modded. I put Sarco’s 11+1 mag on my 21 inch bbl bubba rebuild I did a few year’s ago. [The shorter ‘03, the other is a 1919 Mk1 rebuild I did.]

[butlersrangers]

'Baltimoreed' has done a nice job of adding 'finger-grooves' on a number of projects, that used 'bubbaed' '03a3 stocks to make attractive fantasy Springfield rifles.