Wonky 03A4 Stock? Potential Forgery?

[jburg318]

Does anyone else think that this rifle is a potential forgery? I think at least the stock is.

You can see what looks too be wood putty in front of the trigger guard to cover up old cartouches and the FJA stamp looks completely fake. Like someone sanded the stock and tried to make the markings pop out again so restamped the cartouches by hand.

Also, the serial number looks like it was potentially engraved. I know that the Z was added after the fact because there were some repeats in the serial number when the rifles where produced.

The seller states that it is "roughed stamped" as determined by a local expert.

Remington 03 A4 Sniper 03 A3 30-06 WWII rifle : Bolt Action Rifles at GunBroker.com


Jon

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[rugersworld]

It does look like sanded wood putty on the stock, and the "K" stamp looks odd. The bolt handle also does not look right. The barrel is from a regular A3 rifle.

[Calif-Steve]

A "Bitser". A bit of this a bit of that. Spare parts gun, for sure. Not sure at all, but I half-think this is a converted Drill Rifle. Half-hearted thought, but a rifle to avoid.

[m1903rifle]

The receiver markings have been applied with an engraving machine. It's a complete fabrication.

[Neal Myers]

This is scary; I don't see much that looks right on this rifle. Although, SA did sometimes use filler to fill dings when rebuilding A4's.

I think Steve is right about it being a drill rifle; it looks to me like picture #24 shows a drop of weld on the receiver near the cut-off lever. The bolt handle is obviously altered to A4 configuration. Stock markings have been "improved"; the Keystone K should have serifs. Looks like someone stood too close to a polishing wheel while holding the receiver. The SN looks like it was done (or redone) with a pantograph. The scope base appears to be a Sarco reproduction; I'm guessing the seller doesn't know you should never remove the scope base, but, not being original, & not having shims, it probably doesn't matter.

Now, where did I leave my 10' pole?

Neal

[Father Ted]

I won't even pretend to know anything about m1903 snipers but I'm pretty sure that on the crossed cannon ordinance stamps the tips and bottoms of cannons are supposed to line up outside of wheel as the seller says, the pictures tell the story...

[Salt Flat]

WOW, That is just the worst fake I've ever seen. You can see where the original markings were ground off on the receiver ring. It was ground down to the level of the area that the handgaurd ring nests. Salt Flat

[jburg318]

What's scary is that its being sold with a reserve and at $1000 it hasn't been met. I am sure that someone will fall for it too and bid past the reserve. Sad.

Jon

[JGaynor]

This auction has been discussed at length on the CMP forum (twice yet!). It is the seller's second attempt to pass this item.
Note in the terms: "AS-IS No refunds of exchanges". Give this one a pass.

[jburg318]

This auction has been discussed at length on the CMP forum (twice yet!). It is the seller's second attempt to pass this item.
Note in the terms: "AS-IS No refunds of exchanges". Give this one a pass.

I am glad that with as little knowledge that I have about the 03A4 variant that I was able to pick up on it being a fake. All it takes is a little bit of reading.

Jon