Good afternoon. I have two questions for which I've tried to find existing threads, but wasn't successful.

The "aught 3" was designated the "United Statesicon rifle, caliber .30, Model 1903." By the time the Garand was adopted in 1936, the designation "U.S. rifle, caliber .30, M1" was used. I have seen some Army references which identify the Model 1903 as the "M1903," rather than spelling out the word Model; when was this shorthand adopted?

My second question relates to butt plates. I have a Model 1903 rifle which was manufactured at Rock Island Arsenal. The barrel is stamped 8-17 and I believe the receiver was manufactured in 1918 based on the serial number (258055). The butt plate is checkered; is this "correct" for the rifle? Or would the original butt plate have been smooth?

Thank you.
USMA 79
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