1903 Springfield Rebuild Questions

[Midmichigun]

Ladies and Gentlemen!
Short time lurker, new poster.
I have been impressed with the Expertise and Professional manner in which everyone here treats each other. Hence I have decided to post!
I recently acquired a 1903 Springfield that is due to be rebuilt. The barrel is pretty destroyed to answer that question!
I will post pics as I go along, but would like some input from the Experts here.
The Springfield in question is receiver #: 1203xxx. Which I believe puts it in the early 1920's. The barrel is dated: SA 8-30.
The stock is a Remington pinned (mid 1940's replacement?) with a smooth buttplate. The stock has no cracks, and no deep external cartouches or marks near the magwell/ floorplate or "pistol" grip area. I "think" I can make out a faint mark near the mag cut-off, but I may be tricking myself into seeing it! The end (forend) of the rifle has a mark that looks more like a "B" than a flaming bomb. The buttstock is marked: BY 32. Both are incised and white. Simple rack numbers.
What I plan to do, is this:
1. Replace the barrel with a period part (1903, prefer a SA or early HS barrel) to match the SA receiver. I look for guidance here. What would be a common barrel/ receiver combination?
2. Stock will be restored to 100% Remington. This will be until I upgrade to a real SA stock.
Questions as follows:
1. Correct buttplate type for a "pinned" Remington stock?
2. Would the stock parts be "milled" or stamped for a Remy of this era? I sometimes see ads for both types of barrel bands and buttplates.
3. What would be a correct SA stock for this rifle (with the above receiver SN)? Different sources tell me this was a 1903 or 1903A1?!?!? Is this a "scant stock" or "C" stock... or?
4. Is it "normal" for this Remington stock to be lacking in cartouches if it was a replacement, or has "time" worn the marks away?
5. What is the correct handguard. I have a "split" type (which is unmarked and also broken). I would like a match to the Remington stock.

My reference has been the book by Canfield, but I like to do research from all avenues.

I would like to make this rifle eventually correct as possible for a "rebuilt" service rifle.
Thanks for any and all help!

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[John Beard]

Ladies and Gentlemen!
Short time lurker, new poster.
I have been impressed with the Expertise and Professional manner in which everyone here treats each other. Hence I have decided to post!
I recently acquired a 1903 Springfield that is due to be rebuilt. The barrel is pretty destroyed to answer that question!
I will post pics as I go along, but would like some input from the Experts here.
The Springfield in question is receiver #: 1203xxx. Which I believe puts it in the early 1920's. The barrel is dated: SA 8-30.
The stock is a Remington pinned (mid 1940's replacement?) with a smooth buttplate. The stock has no cracks, and no deep external cartouches or marks near the magwell/ floorplate or "pistol" grip area. I "think" I can make out a faint mark near the mag cut-off, but I may be tricking myself into seeing it! The end (forend) of the rifle has a mark that looks more like a "B" than a flaming bomb. The buttstock is marked: BY 32. Both are incised and white. Simple rack numbers.
What I plan to do, is this:
1. Replace the barrel with a period part (1903, prefer a SA or early HS barrel) to match the SA receiver. I look for guidance here. What would be a common barrel/ receiver combination?
2. Stock will be restored to 100% Remington. This will be until I upgrade to a real SA stock.
Questions as follows:
1. Correct buttplate type for a "pinned" Remington stock?
2. Would the stock parts be "milled" or stamped for a Remy of this era? I sometimes see ads for both types of barrel bands and buttplates.
3. What would be a correct SA stock for this rifle (with the above receiver SN)? Different sources tell me this was a 1903 or 1903A1?!?!? Is this a "scant stock" or "C" stock... or?
4. Is it "normal" for this Remington stock to be lacking in cartouches if it was a replacement, or has "time" worn the marks away?
5. What is the correct handguard. I have a "split" type (which is unmarked and also broken). I would like a match to the Remington stock.

My reference has been the book by Canfield, but I like to do research from all avenues.

I would like to make this rifle eventually correct as possible for a "rebuilt" service rifle.
Thanks for any and all help!

(1) An SA 1920-dated barrel would match your rifle's serial number.

(1) Stamped buttplate.
(2) Stamped.
(3) A two-bolt Type S grasping groove stock.
(4) Remington made a few spare replacement stocks that are devoid of cartouches. Most Remington stocks have factory cartouches.
(5) A high-hump handguard having no fixturing slot in the barrel channel and a distinct 1" wide relief cut for the front metal clip.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[Midmichigun]

John,
Thanks for the prompt reply. I am going to attempt to upload some images, so here it goes!
First pic is the receiver and serial number:

Side view of the stock and receiver area:

As mentioned, I don't see alot of cartouches (externally) on the stock. When I took it apart, this is what I found:


The buttstock has some incised and white "rack numbers" on it:


The rear swivel doesn't have an "R" on it, for Remington. I don't know if this is natural!

The magwell and triggerguard:

I will post more later. I have cleaned up the stock a bit. I used an iron to steam off some of the dents, and then I degreased the wood. Several coats of tung oil, and the rifle looks better!

[John Beard]

Thanks for the pictures.

You appear to have a CMP Greek rifle.

Hope this helps. Thanks again for the pictures.

J.B.

[Midmichigun]

John,
Thanks for the kind words! I was wondering where this critter came from. However, I don't see any Greek marks. I seem to recall someone saying that they had a few small marks....
Anyway, I have attached a few more photos. I have begun to clean the Remy stock of the icky varnish and dirt.... I have been down the road before, so I used extreme care and came up with a nice stock...
I will post photos when I get them uploaded!

[John Beard]

My identification was based on the dark oil-soaked appearance of the stock and what appears to be a drilled cross-pin in the trigger guard/magazine. Does the floorplate have a large or tiny "B" stamped on the outer surface? Please advise.

Thanks!

J.B.

[Midmichigun]

John,
No go on the B, on the outside floorplate. However, I do have a "3" on the inside of the plate:


On the magwell/ trigger housing, I dont see any clear ID marks. I "think" I may see something that appears to be an "0" right next to the floorplate release.

It is rather small, and not clear. Sorry that I couldn't get a more clear photo. But should there be a 0 in this region?

Next question:
What is the correct buttplate for a Remington stock of this nature? I have a smooth buttplate (missing the door). Should it be smooth?


On to the stock!
I did some cleaning as mentioned. I don't believe in severe sanding, in hopes of finding marks...

What inspector marks should be on a Remy stock in this area? You can also see the cutoff has left indents in the cutout.

[kokomo]

I see a boxed FJA in pic #4. This is correct for a pinned Remington and SC stock. Could you post a picture of the lower band spring cut out.

[Midmichigun]

Kokomo,
What you see is a distinct possibility! It is severly faded... I have Bruce Canfields edition of 1989 as a reference... and what I am reading off of the 'net. I don't think he talks much about these Remy stocks. Only reference I saw was pg67/ 68.
As requested here are more photos of the stock/ furniture.
As requested, here is the lower band spring cut out.... there is an R on the spring:

Here is the end of the stock:



It looks to be another "3"?

Here is the swivel on the band. It is clearly marked with an R:


Ok, I was doing searches on the internet, and I came up with this tidbit... I look for guidance or clarification. The bayonet lug is stamped with an H on it. I read that it means that it was "hardened" for grenade launching... is this true?



Thanks everyone for patience on "my" project. As mentioned, I would like to restore the receiver/ barrel/ FCG to 1903 status, and the stock as a seperate Remy entity.

[Calif-Steve]

I am not sure if this is a Greek return or a put-together. Receiver looks like parkerizing over some pitting. I am not so sure I'd put much money/effort into this project. If you already have the parts, go for it. You will not be able to buy the parts and come out ahead on this project. Sometimes they are what they are. Good luck on this one.