Remington '03

[kab]

 

Hi, been trying to get info on my new '03. Wanted one for years. This Remington has a date of June '42, many (if not all) R marked parts. If anyone has a clue about the bluing or plum color ?

 

Thanks, Kab

[268th C.A.]

I believe this is correct. Nice looking rifle, let real experts chime in.

[warroom1]

Bad blue job, bluing process was not the right temperature, also found on military surplus rifles

refinished in the 1950-1960s.

[M1Garandy]

I agree that this appears to be a refinish. Perhaps a sporterized rifle that was restocked at some point.

 

Can you post a picture of the magazine cutoff area?

[kab]

How is this ?

 

hope it helps.

 

-kab

[M1Garandy]

Yup, just what a was looking for. Reinforces my blued/restocked sporter thoughts.

 

If you flip the cutoff up, is there a K stamped in the stock under it?

[kab]

Thanks for the reply. Don't understand why the cut off would lead you to sporter.

 

K , I would think would make no difference as it is my understanding that Remingtons were built with straight stocks - the C stock would be a replacement. Stock has faint crossed cannons.

[M1Garandy]

Thanks for the reply. Don't understand why the cut off would lead you to sporter.

 

K , I would think would make no difference as it is my understanding that Remingtons were built with straight stocks - the C stock would be a replacement. Stock has faint crossed cannons.

 

The cutoff does not lead me to sporter, but on refinished rifles I always look there for signs of welding as many drill rifles had the cutoffs welded so the bolt could not be removed.

 

Piles of drill '03 and '03A3's have been reactivated but the removed welds are hard to hide, even with a refinish.

 

As for the stock, asking if it was a Keystone was merely a curiosity question.

[milboltnut]

Bad blue job, bluing process was not the right temperature, also found on military surplus rifles

refinished in the 1950-1960s.

 

Originally they were parkerized..... someone stripped it and hot dipped it

[alvinred]

Spend a few dollars and pick up a reference book: " The Model 1903 Springfield Rifle " by Joe Poyer. North Cape Publications, Inc. It will answer most of your questions.

[speeder3]

I find trying to pin down the lineage of any particular M1903 rifle to be quite the process at times.

 

Per the Joe Poyer book your serial number is square in the M1903 (Modified) range (table 5, pg. 61) . Yet the June 1942 date of your rifle disagrees with Poyer's data for M1903 (Modified) production dates of March/April 1942 to May 1942 (table 2, pg. 10).

 

Again per Poyer (page 31), the M1903A1 service rifle was approved on March 15, 1928, the "C" stock being the main difference between the M1903 and the M1903A1. The "C" stock was also applied to many rifles turned in for repair or rebuild.

 

I have the same situation with my M1903. The serial number says "Modified", but the production date of December 1942 says it isn't. Mine happens to have a scant stock.

 

 

 

Edit: I just noticed that table 2 says production was March/April 1942 to May 1942, but page 60 says production continued through August.