Questions on possible fraud 1903A4 Stock on flea-bay?

[tomwatts]

I notice this C stock is a Keystone replacement stock with an Armory stamp but no Inspector or RA Remington Arms stamp. And it also does not have any rebuild stamps.

This is being posted as a genuine A4 Stock for $1,299.00

Question, could be this be an armory rebuild of some type????

It passes most of the look and feel type issues, but of course its not an original condition A4, regardless of what the seller says.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1903-A4-sniper-stock-/231161384065

Also do we want to do a Advisory Panel Review & Validation???

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Calif-Steve]

Boy, more questions then answers. I would pass on this one, not only expensive but likely a fake. No arsenal stamps and no Remington marks. Pass!

[JGaynor]

At The very least the ordnance crest is a fake. The stock may well have been a NOS keystone A4 replacement but adding the fake mark hurts it. The price is high. Not eough detail in the pics to assess the metal parts.

Regsrds,

Jim

[Badger]

Saved auction information and pics for posterity and future member research ...

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1903 A4 Sniper Stock | eBay

Buy it Now Price: $1299.99 U.S.
Condition: Used : Split the cost with friends
Seller Notes: “Excellent condition.”
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States

Very rare opportunity to get your hands on a complete original 03A4 sniper stock. The wood is in absolutely fabulous condition. The only blemish it has is a tiny chip where the rear sling swil mounts. I have owned several of these stocks over the years and this is the nicest condition I've owned. No rebuild markings present. I have included the metal components, but they were not with the stock when I bought it. All metal parts are Remington and marked "R". The stock is expensive yes, but good quality stocks are near impossible to find and demand a premium. This is an investment grade stock and should not be missed. If you have a nice 1903A4 with a beat up stock, than this is your opportunity to upgrade.

MESSAGE FROM ljrapp: The stock is not real. Either you got scammed or your doing the scamming. The stock has been posted on a half a dozen forums as being a scam. The stamps are wrong,fake hand made cut and not even a good fake at that.

REPLY: I don't scam people. I would gladly allow any interested party to hand inspect the stock prior to purchase. I have compared side by side this stock with with other 03-A4 stocks from DCM 1903-A4's I own. I even used a 20x loop to look for particular tool marks that would otherwise indicate a forgery. It was not stained afer the fact, no cover up, nothing. The angle is correct and the machine marks are exactly the same as other stocks, indicating a very high likelyhood that they were even made on the same machine. This was not done by some idiot with a saw and file in his garage, trying to make an extra buck tricking others.

I have only been able to find one forum where this particular stock is in question. (CMP). Though I have often gained from the experience of many CMP forum members, I would question the experience and expertice of the two individuals who say this is a fake because of a lack of stain in the bolt notch and the angle of the cut. They are likely not owners of an 03-A4 as they certainly wouldn't make the statements they did if they could hold their own rifle in their hands for comparison.

Compare the notch with what is published in JC Harrison's "The Collectable '03" and you will see it is textbook. The bolt notch is stained and matches the rest of the stock. The light area in the center of the bolt notch is present on EVERY original 03-A4 I've examined. Is is stained as it should be. The angle of the cut and mill marks are 100% exactly like the others as well. If someone did this in their shop, there would almost certainly be some difference, even if it were a very slight deviance. I have seen forged markings on stocks before, and they are often easily identifiable. Some are very, very good representations and require close examination. Come see for yourself. I am a collector myself and have nothing to hide, and am in no way attempting to scam anyone.

Thank you all for looking.

[Badger]

Also do we want to do a Advisory Panel Review & Validation???

Forwarded to Advisory Panel forum for review and opinion ....

Regards,
Doug

[Chuckindenver]

check that post....

[Badger]

Assessment ...

This item has been judged by members of the Milsurps Advisory Panel as NOT completely authentic, possibly has been rebuilt, or put together with correct/incorrect markings or substituted parts.

[supercub]

At The very least the ordnance crest is a fake. The stock may well have been a NOS keystone A4 replacement but adding the fake mark hurts it. The price is high. Not eough detail in the pics to assess the metal parts.

Regsrds,

Jim

I agree, the crest is fake and I suspect the P proof is as well. Maybe that's the only stamps they had handy. I think the stock is in fact a replacement Keystone A4 stock as I have a scant that closely matches that one sans the phony stamps regarding the bolt notch. In my experience the notches varied quite a bit, none exactly the same but all following a recognizable pattern. They should have left it as was.

Kurt