serial number on bolt

[Randy A]

I've notice that people have been talking about certain 1903 bolts being marked with matching rifle serial numbers. Mine is marked as such, looks like it was electro pencil'd 1475333. Is that supposed to be significant? When I was in, we marked all of the bolts to match the rifles they belonged to (M16s of course, some of the M14s too).

Information

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[Lancebear]

Hey Randy,

The full serial number arc engraved on the top of an '03 bolt is about USMC WWII M1903's.

Hard to find an '03 with a fully engraved serial number on the bolt, probably an M1903 bolt, that matches the serial number on the receiver. Rare bird.

I'll stretch my neck and state that the Marines did this just prior to WWII and during the war. Not a secret, but to me the most defining characteristic of a Marine M1903 rifle and not the only one of many.

You may have a rare USMC WWII '03 rifle. Post some photos and the real experts will chime in. J.B. is the professor on all '03's...and I figger' he and the rest of us would like to see it.

Lancebear

[Emri]

Could also be a National Match rifle, or just someone trying to keep things together. Like Robert said, show us some pics!

Emri

[Chuckindenver]

no hit in my list.
some other NMA1,s close.
if the number is on the back of the bolt handle, it is a Greek lend lease rifle.

[Randy A]

Ok, I'll have to study up on how to post images, never done that before. the numbers are on the barrel of the bolt, like I say, they look like they were electro pencil (by hand).

[rebound]

If bolt has two large holes it's a U.S.M.C.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Here's a link to a tutorial for posting photos here.

How do I upload or post images on MILSURPS.COM? - Military Surplus Collectors Forums

hth,
~ Harlan

[Wolley]

And if an A3 has a serialized bolt? It means nothing?

[Randy A]

It is the full serial number and it does match the rifle. There are holes in both sides of the front action ring but only one in the bolt (bottom about 3/8 in behind bolt face). The rifles original stock had been sporterized and the buttplate was replaced. I've got it in a C stock now, so I couldn't tell you anything about the original hardware. I'm still working on the pictures, I've never even put them on the computer before so it'll be a day or two. Thanks fo r the help guys.

[Randy A]

I'll try this, Hope it works, pardon with my photo skills! The left view of the receiver was an attempt to show the green color, but lighting isn't the greatest. Also there are some arc pits in the numbers, I thought they'd been vibrate engraved, but am now thinking different.