1903A3 stock help

[Tom William]

I have a stock on a remington 1903A3 that I need help with, and also some questions about some parts on the rifle. It is a straight grip stock with a large letter M in the barrel channel and what looks like a letter A in the area where the action sets. There is also an ordanance bomb on the end end cap of the stock. The stock and the rifle are in great shape and look like it has not seen any use since it was rebuilt. All of the parts that are marked are marked with an R. Should the upper sling swivel band and the stacking swivel band be marked, and if so, where would the marks be?. Also what about the butt plate, should it be marked?. I bought this rifle from the CMP in about 2005, sold it in 2007, and bought it back today. It was a rifle that I regretted selling from the day that I sold it!. Thanks, Tom Erickson

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[John Beard]

I have a stock on a remington 1903A3 that I need help with, and also some questions about some parts on the rifle. It is a straight grip stock with a large letter M in the barrel channel and what looks like a letter A in the area where the action sets. There is also an ordanance bomb on the end end cap of the stock. The stock and the rifle are in great shape and look like it has not seen any use since it was rebuilt. All of the parts that are marked are marked with an R. Should the upper sling swivel band and the stacking swivel band be marked, and if so, where would the marks be?. Also what about the butt plate, should it be marked?. I bought this rifle from the CMP in about 2005, sold it in 2007, and bought it back today. It was a rifle that I regretted selling from the day that I sold it!. Thanks, Tom Erickson

(1) The upper sling swivel band and the stacking swivel band are not marked. The bands and swivels were factory pre-assembled as single replaceable parts and the swivel screws were permanently staked. Only the swivels are marked.

(2) The buttplate should be marked with an "R" on the back side, usually near the large screw hole. The buttplate cap is not marked.

Congratulations on getting your rifle back! I know the feeling.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

I'm also happy to hear that you got your rifle back Tom.

It's a terrible feeling when you sell/trade a gun and later have remorse. I've never been fortunate enough to get one back that I wished I had kept, but it must feel like reuniting with a long lost family member to get one back!
Post a photo if you have time. You can find photos of my long lost (but not forgotten) guns on the back of milk cartons.

Take care,
~ Harlan

[Tom William]

Thanks for the help. I took the rifle out of the stock and put it on the dashboard of my truck in the hot (98+) degree Kansas heat. I could not beleive how much oil came out of the stock. The stock must be at least 2 shades lighter in color without all of that oil. I only left it in the truck for 2 days. Is it possible to warp a stock with too much direct sunlight?.

[Mike D]

Direct sunlight? Are you putting the stock in a black plastic bag with absorbent material?

[Tom William]

i put it in direct sunlight, with the windows rolled up, and the stock resting on a bath towel to keep the oil from getting on the dashboard.

[Mike D]

Just curious, I have only heard the bag method. Seems like the wood would really have to dry out before it would warp. I don't know.