My cutoff is welded in the "ON" position! Any ideas on how to fix this?

[Joe A]

Help! Someone (unknown) years ago welded the cutoff in the "up" or "ON" position before I inherited it. Two questions: (1903A3 S/C Springfield):

1. Anyone have any ideas on how to remove this weld job in a manner that will cause the least amount of damage to the receiver?

2. Anyone know why anyone would have done that?

(I plan on removing the weld myself, and your suggestions would be highly welcome--likely with a hacksaw and a file of some type... unless someone can tell me a much better way to do so... or turn it over to a gunsmith and let a professional do it).

Information

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[Calif-Steve]

Joe: you have a Drill Rifle there. You will also find the barrel is welded to the receiver and there should be a steel rod pounded into the barrel. You should not put much money into this project. Do not have a gunsmith look at it as that will get spendy. You need to find a nice, running rifle. By hitting the really big gunshows in your area you will find a keeper. Good luck.

[Joe A]

Steve,
Holy Mackarel! I never thought to even run a rod down the barrel... you are correct! I just ran a rod down it to see and sure enough... it stopped about 4 in from the chamber. I got a flashlight and checked it out... and you're right... it's plugged with something. Dang it! This was going to be my project to bring this baby back to life... heck. One more thing. I could probably get the "pounded rod" out one way or another... but a barrel that is welded to the receiver may be "a bridge too far." The stock is broken too.. but that was going to be the easiest fix to this project. Well, that explains how it came into the family. My wife's grandfather was the Company 1SG of his HS Drill Team in TN back in the WWI era, even ran away to a U.S. Army Cavalry Unit that was at Fort Oglethorpe, GA next to Chickamauga Battlefield one summer when he was 15 year old. The Calvary 1SG there took him under his wing and let him stay there riding with the troops until the end of the summer when he told him "it's time for you to go home, you can join up when you graduate from HS." All of that said... if there's any way I can get this thing operating again... I'll just pay it and do it. Sentimental value on my side... "Pop" was a heck of a man... and rode his horses 'til he died.

[Joe A]

One last thing... Pop must've acquired this '03A3 sometime after WWII... as it is a S/C made in 1943... with a very, very, early serial number out of 100,000 that S/C made that year, their first year of production during the war.

[Calif-Steve]

A Dremel Tool works. Carbide tools, not steel. You are going to buy a bolt, barrel and stock, plus odds and ends. All adds up. Find a buddy who knows this stuff and get some help. Not easy to remove the barrel, either. So find a buddy. Where are you located? Fort Benning area?

[Joe A]

Nope, Metro ATL, and yes, I've got a bud that can handle it. He's got a shop. Heck, we'll have some fun with this one. May take some pictures and post 'em on here... "Mission Impossible!" I've got two Dremels.. thanks for the tip on the carbide.... Story of my life! It's never easy!!! Oh well, that's what make it fun sometimes! Thanks for you help Steve!

[Calif-Steve]

Fun project. This is a fun winter project. Family history involved. Good luck.

[Joe A]

For anyone else dealing with this issue... I understand that the CMP Armory in ALA recently sold lots of these parade ground versions of the 1903A3 in the Fall of 2011 (last year)... they can go to this site that posits to inform how to bring them back up to action... http://www.foundry.ray-vin.com/firea...drillrifle.htm

This site is going to be a great help on this project....

[Salt Flat]

Joe, I have a drill rifle that is all complete and looks good. I have opted NOT to make a shooter out of it. I think they are an interesting collector rifle in their own right. Add a WWII field jacket, a bayonet and helmet and you have a great display. Brophy's book "Springfield 1903 Rifles" lists this as an 1903 variation and shows the military drawings used to convert them. IMHO The cost to convert these to shooters makes it impractical and when your done it still has weld spots and mismatched parts and a rifle that has minimal value. I get that it has sentimental value but once you modify it is not the same rifle your relative used. It would be better to find a lightly sporterized high number 1903, Remington '03 or 03a3 and "remilitarize " it. I know this has been discussed before but in my opinion converting a drill rifle to a shooter is "Bubba" activity. It makes me crazy when I see one of the 03A4 clones made with a drill rifle action. The sellers usually fail to mention this little detail when advertising them. Salt Flat

[garrettbragg12]

I'm subscribing to this thread, because I'd love to see how it turns out. It'd be amazing to see a doomed 1903 restored to her former, functioning beauty. Keep us updated!


M1/M3 Carbine: late '44 Inland
M1 Garand: late '44 Springfield