Bought my first Remy 1903, help with identification?

[SemperFi752]

Hi all! I am brand new to the board here, and pretty new to pre-60's firearms. Recently, I decided that I was getting bored with the new age stuff and decided to take a step back in time. Starting with a No4 mk2, I then gave a new home to a 8-42 Winchester M1, and just yesterday I plucked up this 6-42 Remington 1903. I have been looking for quite some time and passed on many rifles before buying this last night at Cabela's. I typically do not buy things from big box stores in order to procure the best deal, but this one just felt right. The tag was labeled $799, but I asked if they could wiggle on price, and they took it down to $729. I would like to know if I got ripped off, but I was just excited to have a 1903 built 2 months prior to my M1.

I have taken 18 pics to show markings that I have found. My primary concerns are as follows:

-The stock shows only 1 marking, in the magazine cutoff selector cutout, there is a K. The top front wood is cracked as well. I don't think Remington shipped with this style of stock (pistol grip) in 1942?
-The firing pin/bolt. The knurling does not appear to be Remington?
-The sling. It appears to say R M co. 1942/3?
-The sight. Is this original for this time period?

Anything and everything you can tell me about this rifle would be so appreciated, including if this was a decent deal. I am going to take her out the desert today and put a couple rounds downrange and could not be more excited. The bore looks great to me and appears to be the original barrel.

PIC Album: dstepec has shared 18 photos with you! | Flickr

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Welcome to the forum, I always liked the full pistol grip stocks. The M1923 is a nice touch, you don't see many.

[pickax]

Congratulations on a fine rifle! I don't think you over paid at all. These where issued with a straight stock, and your Keystone A1 style full pistol grip is a replacement. I consider that an asset to better shooting though, and yours has nice figure in the wood.
The bolt looks like a later 03A3 Remington replacement. No problem, as they are interchangeable. Sight looks original, and sling is more desirable than standard, as Jim noted.
No rebuild stamps mean stock change and bolt/ sling may have been done by a civilian owner. Always good to have a gunsmith check head spacing and barrel wear to be sure, but lack of wear on all parts looks good. someone took good care of this rifle. Crack can be glued or hand guard replaced also.

[Rick the Librarian]

I think you did pretty well for $729.00. As mentioned, replacement stock and bolt, as well as lower band. Handguard and trigger guard appear to be correct. A nice "looker".

[browningautorifle]

I'd love to shoot it just because those stocks shoot better, to me anyway. More comfortable.

[SemperFi752]

All, I took this out and shot her today, wow, definitely tells a story every time you squeeze that trigger. For some reason you just get a whole different emotion as opposed to firing an AR or new age R700. Anyway, she is accurate as all get out and the sight was pretty dead nuts.

-Where are you all buying M2 ball at these days? My local guy has some FN tracer, but I won't use that out in this dry climate.

Here's some shots of my M1. She came dry as a bone having not been fired in decades, I really feel like I saved this one. Someone took the stock down but it still had some nasty varnish on it. It also had a cracked follower arm, so I replaced it with a correct Winchester follower arm. I've been working on it for a while: dstepec has shared 7 photos with you! | Flickr

Welcome to the forum, I always liked the full pistol grip stocks. The M1923 is a nice touch, you don't see many.

Thank you much! I had to look up what a M1923 was, but I think I figured it out regarding the sling. I definitely like the feel of the stock as well, however have never held a scant or straight stock.

Congratulations on a fine rifle! I don't think you over paid at all. These where issued with a straight stock, and your Keystone A1 style full pistol grip is a replacement. I consider that an asset to better shooting though, and yours has nice figure in the wood.
The bolt looks like a later 03A3 Remington replacement. No problem, as they are interchangeable. Sight looks original, and sling is more desirable than standard, as Jim noted.
No rebuild stamps mean stock change and bolt/ sling may have been done by a civilian owner. Always good to have a gunsmith check head spacing and barrel wear to be sure, but lack of wear on all parts looks good. someone took good care of this rifle. Crack can be glued or hand guard replaced also.

I appreciate it, definitely glad to hear I didn't get taken for a ride price wise. I'm having a hard time understanding how you guys are knowing that this is an A3 bolt assembly. Is it just the firing pin, or the whole bolt assembly that is an A3? I looked up differences but can't seam to see it with my eyes.

I think you did pretty well for $729.00. As mentioned, replacement stock and bolt, as well as lower band. Handguard and trigger guard appear to be correct. A nice "looker".

Thanks Rick! What screams replacement on the lower band?

[Rick the Librarian]

Original Remington lower bands had an "R" stamp above the "U". In view of the back it has other replacement parts, I wouldn't be losing any sleep over replacing it.

[SemperFi752]

Original Remington lower bands had an "R" stamp above the "U". In view of the back it has other replacement parts, I wouldn't be losing any sleep over replacing it.

Thanks Rick! I'll keep an eye out for milled lower bands marked that way. If I come across one on the cheap, I'll snag it, otherwise, no big deal.

[RazorBurn]

Nice 1903, and nice job on your pictures too! I think you got a fair deal on it. She's definitely a nice looker, and that Keystone stock is nice. Congratulations!

[Rick the Librarian]

I admit I'd be tempt to leave as-is. Nice rifle.