1903a3 with Lyman scope update.

[Todd2]

Ok I got this rifle. After examining I don't think it is a ex drill rifle. Heres some pics I just took. I think the scratches in sellers pics made it look like a drill rifle. I took it apart to get serial #.Attachment 71155Attachment 71154Attachment 71156Attachment 71157
Sorry serial hard to see 4019089 can anyone tell me what year?

Information

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[supercub]

I would say it looks all the world like a Gibbs reproduction from the pictures posted. When you took it apart, did you look at the junction of the barrel and receiver at the bottom? Most of the time there are signs of a ground off weld at that spot of the receiver. Is there a stamp on the barrel tip? Often times they have Criterion barrels and are stamped other than RA X-X.

[Todd2]

Yes it's RA 43 on the barrel

[JGaynor]

Yes it's RA 43 on the barrel

More than likely the rifle originally had a barrel marked 9-43 or 10-43. The magazine cutoff area appears to have been worked on.

[Todd2]

Sorry RA 6 43. The seller said the barrel is new out of cosmoline. I took picture of the bottom receiver I'll post them tomorrow it won't let attachments right now. I can't tell if there was a weld. There is some damage but. There is some in different areas also. The sling holders all have an r on them so does the bolt. Someone scratched WV on part of the bolt.

[Calif-Steve]

I do agree it is likely a Gibbs rifle. They used GI, Italian or whatever barrels they had in the pile. But sure looks like a Gibbs to me.

[Todd2]

I highly doubt this is a gibbs. The wood stock is burgundy all the pro repros I've seen are brown wood. There are no gibbs or jra marks of any kind. I've never heard of gibbs using an nos barrel. The gibbs receiver if you look close has some kind of coating to cover the weld marks. It has a texture like an old ceiling with all those little dot bumps on it. Anyways here's the pics I took last night. The first pic shows the WV on the bolt I was talking about.

[supercub]

Todd, You have a recovered drill rifle receiver and although it could pass as a Gibbs, it isn't one of theirs. There were a lot of people that bought those receiver's, cleaned them up used them for restorations. You will note the remnants of the weld in your pictures of the bottom side. I would say the welds on that receiver were minimal, many were far more obvious so in that respect you did better than you didn't.

The bolt was done by Chuck in Denver and stamped WV for Warpath Vintage. He does that to assure the bolts aren't passed on as real A4 bolts and he also stands behind his bolts and that identifies them. Hats off to him for that.

Shoot it and enjoy it, it's a decent gun!

[Todd2]

Thanks Supercub! If you didn't reply i would have thought WV meant the state! I wonder if Chuck did the whole rifle? Also the scope is way off I played with the screws for windage will I have to shim for elevation? I love the reddish color of the stock. There's a real a4 for sale in town for 3k. Has the wrong weaver scope 29s I think, replacement wood stock. As far as I can tell the only thing correct on that a4 is the receiver. 3k for an a4 receiver ouch I'll stick with mine till I win the lottery.

[supercub]

Chuck makes and sells the turned down bolts so you know that for sure. He may have built the rifle, you'd have to ask him. If he did, you have a solid rifle, he doesn't do junk. If he didn't, it's got a good bolt at minimum. Chuck does frequent this and other forums so likely will chime in. If not, you can do a search for his contact info. I think your right about the bird in the hand.......