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  1. #1
    Legacy Member champ0608's Avatar
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    M1903a4 Restoration Project

    One of my favorite aspects of the milsurp hobby is restoring rifles that have been messed with. As we all know, its too common to find them in badly sporterized condition, but its not all that common to find an original sniper rifle nicely reverted into standard service rifle configuration. But that's exactly what I found here. A wolf in sheep's clothing so to speak.

    This is an original 03a4, made in January 1944, with what I believe to be its original 9-43 barrel. I don't know why anyone decided to turn it into a standard 1903a3, but I'm guessing the rifle has gone unnoticed as such, and I was able to buy it for $900.

    I thought you'd all like to come along for the ride while I restore it back to its original Sniper configuration.




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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Contributing Member ssgross's Avatar
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    is it possible that this rifle made it through the a4 production, but then failed final inspection or was rejected and then recycled as a regular A3? id say doubtful, but always like to hear from the group. any markings on the stock?

    I have a similar project going with a sporterized a4 in another thread. luckily mine came with what looks to be the original bolt.barrel was cut back and junk, but was able to get a NOS 2groove within 3 months of what is should have been. I have another detailed how-to thread on correctly fitting a new stock from another sporter a3 -> a4 project.

    Looking forward to seeing how this one turns out. don't waste your time, or your $30 on a bent bolt handle at numrich.
    Last edited by ssgross; 09-01-2021 at 10:19 PM.

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    Legacy Member champ0608's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ssgross View Post
    is it possible that this rifle made it through the a4 production, but then failed final inspection or was rejected and then recycled as a regular A3? id say doubtful, but always like to hear from the group. any markings on the stock?
    It certainly may have been an a4 reject. That would make as much sense as anything really. But this stock has no markings, so I don't think it was on the rifle when it went through final inspection, IF it did indeed get rejected as an a4.

    Lucky for me, I already have quite a few original a4 parts. I've found them here and there for 20 years waiting for the right rifle to restore.

    STEP 1: get it out of this stock, get those sights off, and find out of the metal is bare or finished, under the front sight.



    The sights easily came off, and I found the barrel is finished (though somewhat gunky) under the front sight, further leading me to believe this is the original barrel. It also has what I believe is the "punch mark" I've read about on original a4 barrels. I soaked a cleaning patch in Kroil, let it sit overnight, and then went at the gunk with a toothbrush. Cleaned right up!


    Last edited by champ0608; 09-01-2021 at 10:53 PM.

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    Contributing Member ssgross's Avatar
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    looks good. how's the bore?

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    Legacy Member champ0608's Avatar
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    Now to stop subtracting, and start adding.

    For starters, it looks like the magazine cutoff if original. I'm not an expert on all the different types when it comes to these minor parts, but at least this one is blued, stamped R for Remington, and gives me no reasons to suspect its been changed.



    And more excitingly is the bolt. I have an original blued 03a4 bolt I bought on ebay about 20 years ago. I've also acquired all R stamped components for the complete bolt assembly.



    Last edited by champ0608; 09-02-2021 at 12:52 PM.

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    Legacy Member rugersworld's Avatar
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    lookin great. Should make for a fine restoration.

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    Legacy Member champ0608's Avatar
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    And the most recent development that brings us to where I currently am. I found this stock set listed on gunbroker as a "1903a3 Type 13" stock. Again, I'm not an expert on all the "types" but I think the seller and any potential buyers missed the fact that this is a 1903a4 stock. Based on the photos, the stock is in very good condition, comes with a matching handguard, an has a complete set of blued, R stamped metal components. According to the seller, the stock has no stampings indicating this stock may have been born to be a replacement. Considering I was the only bidder, I got this set for what i consider to be a bargain. Its won and paid for, has been shipped, and now just the impatient wait for its arrival. I think the rifle is going to look great in this stock, and I'm especially happy I don't have to buy the metal pieces one at a time, and that they will have a matching patina.



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    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
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    Great project and it's coming along very nicely.
    As the stock (Keystone?) has been fitted to a rifle previously, it be much easier to fit and bed.

    I fitted a NOS Keystone to my A4 build and it was a real task to bed the action....

  15. #9
    Legacy Member champ0608's Avatar
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    I was pleasantly surprised that the stock arrived this morning, three days early. The stock was very dry, badly needing oil, but was in every bit of nice condition as I hoped. After oiling, a "K" stamped in the magazine cutoff recess became obvious, indicating that it is a Keystone made replacement stock. No other stampings were ever made in the wood.

    I also happen to have a 1944 dated USGI cotton web sling. I prefer web slings to the M1907 sling, even on my rifles for high power and service rifle competition, so I'm going to add it to this 1944 rifle. And I bought a large loop, blued, NOS Remington trigger guard assembly for the rifle. I'd prefer to find one with patina to match the rest of the stock metal, but for now it gets the rifle together. (If you have a gently aged/patinaed Remington, blued, large trigger guard for sale...feel free to send me a PM)



    And here it is in the stock. Its really beginning to take form!


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    Legacy Member champ0608's Avatar
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    The last portion of this restoration I imagine will take a while.

    I DO have a Weaver 330S scope, and the parkerized hi-lux replica base and vertical split rings. I could pop those on right now and call it good enough. BUT...considering how nicely this has come out, and that it consists of all original components at this point, I'd like to find the correct parts.

    So I'll be in search of an original, WWII era, parkerized Redfield Jr base and matching, vertical split 3/4" rings. And a Weaver 330C or M73b1 scope. If you have any of those components you'd sell, please contact me.

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