Finally got my hands on a piece of family legacy and American history...

[ChrisATX]

My grandfather on my father's side used one on Guadalcanal. My grandfather on my mother's side trained and was a decorated Army marksman with an '03. I became interested in them, naturally, after CMP ran out.

From what I've ascertained, 382xxx Rock Island Arsenal, double heat treated receiver, built in February, 1918. Barrel is September, 1944, High Standard with Springfield flaming bomb. Crown is next to perfect. Ladder sight with no volley notch. Bottom of the stock is marked "77 3 1" in front of the trigger guard. Swept bolt handle. Electropenciled numbers do not match receiver serial. No stamping on side of the butt.

The store received it for consignment from a collector yesterday evening. I stopped by after work, and by some alignment of the universe, saw it. Basic research on the numbers last night, went back this morning and put my name on it this piece of history. It was available for a grand total of 18 hours, and this is the kind of shop where there is a good chance that someone already browsing in the shop would buy it/layaway it as it was being brought in.

Anything else you can tell me would be appreciated... Greek return?

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Thanks!!!

[ChrisATX]

Buttplate:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7382/12255033534_bf17818919_c.jpg

[Parashooter]

Greek return, mixmaster, could shoot well. If you like it, that's what counts.

[Major Tom]

Definitely a grand ol' lady. I love it. Lucky you.

[da gimp]

the way I figure it on the old mixmasters with replaced barrels............... chances are that they were really used in combat by one of our guys......... don't get me wrong, if I had a chance to get a stone mint condition rifle for the same money, I'd get it first.................. but at the same time, in a way, the rebuilt, used hard old girl is dern desirable too.......it most probably was used to defeat our country's enemies........ by at least one man, who was fighting dern hard to protect his brothers & himself............there definitely ain't no shame in owning it..........

[Clark Howard]

If the magazine cover has been pinned with a skinny pin just in front of the trigger guard, it may be a Greek. Looks like a nice example of an 03 service rifle. Regards, Clark

[ChrisATX]

Thanks everyone! Is there a link to read the historically accurate details about the US supply of '03 rifles to the Greeks?

[Punch the Clown]

When would the Hatcher's Hole have been installed?

[ChrisATX]

Good eye! I didn't even notice the Hatcher hole.

[chuckindenver]

might be a USMC rifle. Greek return for sure. remove the handguard, look for vise marks on the barrel

[ChrisATX]

Thanks everyone! Looking at the ladder sight, just to verify, the bottom most line on the odd number (right) side is the 100 yard zero, correct?

[Fred]

Yes

[fkienast]

I have RI 318xxx with the same HS 44 Barrel. Greek return. No Hatcher hole. Shoots excellent.

[Punch the Clown]

The bolt looks like the Greeks had it for sure, but the rest of the rifle isn't screaming "Greek Black" at me. Looks like park in my opinion. A through scrubdown will make that rifle sweet.

[Finestkind]

If the stock is what I think it is I will buy it from you and send you a replacement.


Finestkind

[ChrisATX]

What?? What is it? You can't leave me hanging like that!

[TDP0311]

Chris, did you remove the handguard to see if there are any plumbers table marks on your barrel? This is what they look like- from my rifle:

[TDP0311]

disregard the first photo, it uploaded by accident. the plumber's table marks are on the second photo right near the rear sight collar

[ChrisATX]

I didn't check. It was not something I knew to look for until I started doing more extensive research after committing to buying the rifle. I will as soon as I pick up the rifle. Thanks for the pics, TDP0311!

[TDP0311]

I want to know the story on the stock now too!

[ChrisATX]

CMP forum says it's likely a real Mark I stock.

[ChrisATX]

Also, doing research, I'm not sure whether this is "Greek Black" or a USGI Parkerization... I certainly don't remember it being the super black color that I see many describing the Greek color to be. And, of course, I'm reading several people posting "if you have to ask, it's probably not..."

Also, I remember the magazine floorplate having a lot of play... it certainly didn't seem to be pinned, or if it was, not robustly.

I'm a photographer so you can be sure you'll see some serious, non-iPhone photos of this rifle once it's in my possession.

[ChrisATX]

Ahhh, Pederson Device cutout on the stock:

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2872/12255132965_b37a671c1f_c.jpg

[ChrisATX]

Stock magazine cut off recess is stamped "J". Thoughts?

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[ChrisATX]

Inspector stamp is "D.A.L."
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[Griff Murphey]

Stamp on floorplate indicates def. Greek return bought through CMP. You could write them and get verification. However long the collector had it could not have been more than about 10 years... I would say.

[TDP0311]

Ahhh... cool deal with the cutout for the Pederson Device. My wife and wallet are both happy I wouldn't have found an original Mk 1 stock on my M1903, it would have ended up with me buying a Mk 1! :D

[TDP0311]

The R on the bolt stands for Remington.

[Fred]

Just a heads up for anyone who might be looking for one, I'll be putting a 1903 Mark I up for sale very soon. It will be posted on the WTS forum and maybe on Gunbroker later if nobody on the 1903 forum seems interested. It's all correct and all original in that it's Never undergone rebuild, parts change, sanding, hand guard or stock replacement, hatcher hole drilled, original barrel replaced, WWII inspection stamps applied and Never had the original 1903 Mark I parts removed.

[chuckindenver]

neet Rock Island safety sleeve,,

[ChrisATX]

A little personal background in why I'm so interested in the history of this piece of iron and wood.

I come from 3 generations of Marines on my father's side. My father was a "Full Metal Jacket" era Marine, 100% all the way through. All his friends/hunting buddies were as well. I was the only kid I knew growing up who had a father and a grandfather who each had two birthdays. Unfortunately, my father was not a nice guy. Abusive, alcoholic, he was toxic. He severely injured his knee in the Corps and was honorably discharged. He told me that if I tried to carry on the family tradition, he'd kill me himself first. I remember the conversation vividly. So I made my career academia/science.

My Grandfathers were a different story. The Greatest Generation to a picture perfect portrait. The Marine side Grandfather was on Guadalcanal, stayed in the Solomons until a Japanese grenade blinded his right eye. He was sent home and awarded the Purple Heart. He taught me how to hunt, fish, work on boats, shoot guns, be a good human being. He passed away in Spring of 2010. I've actually flown out of Henderson Airfield. I have hiked Mount Austen. That experience about brought me to my knees, he had just passed away that Spring. I've worked in caves on Guadalcanal that were Japanese last stand holdouts, hiked through the jungles on the top of Mt. Austen. I've been through Matanikau and Tenaru. I've landed on the 1.25-mile long bomber airstrip on Munda in New Georgia, and been to Olasana and Plum Pudding Islands. The field sites for my PhD research were Mount Austen on Guadalcanal, and Olasana in the Western Province. Olasana is the island that Kennedy swam the crew to for food and water.

My other Grandfather was Army, he was counter-battery field artillery in North Africa. His vehicle was strafed by a Stuka and disabled in the middle of the "surprise" Valentine's Day Panzer attack at Faid, Tunisia during the Battle of Kasserine Pass. Germans tried to get him to drive a half track back to the German line after capture, but he ground the gears out of it instead. He spent the rest of the war at Stalag IIIb, Furstenburg, attempting multiple escapes, including one successful one. He climbed a tree outside the walls to celebrate freedom. He and his companions were ratted out that night by refugees while sleeping in a barn. He helped raise me, taught me to be faithful, honest, and keep your word, he beat the fundamentals of integrity into me. He passed away June 13th, aged 94. Not a better man has walked the Earth than these two.

Here's me in a cave doing fieldwork on Mt. Austen, Guadalcanal:

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/40535_538365619360_7769948_n.jpg

[TDP0311]

That is incredible Chris. What type of research were you doing there for your Ph.D?

[Finestkind]

You all figured out about the stock. It does appear to be a Mark I stock and I have a Mark I that has all the Mark I parts except the stock.


Finestkind

[ChrisATX]

That is incredible Chris. What type of research were you doing there for your Ph.D?

Thanks! I use stable isotope ratios in cave deposits, coral skeletons, fossils, etc. to reconstruct how rainfall, oceanography and climate has changed through pre-historic times. I'm a chemist and oceanographer by training.

[ChrisATX]

Sorry Finestkind, I sincerely wish you luck on your quest, but this rifle stays "as found".

[pmclaine]

Love to see more photos from your Pacific adventures. What is left in those caves you studied?

[ChrisATX]

She's in her forever home.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7393/12493344385_1650397083_b.jpg

[chuckindenver]

sling needs to be installed correctly lol

[Fred]

It sure does

[ChrisATX]

Anyone have a video or guide?

[Richard H Brown Jr]

http://www.fulton-armory.com/faqs/AR-FAQs/sling.htm Actually for putting it on the Garand, but it works the same way for both the 1903, 1903A3 and 1917, and the M-14.

RHB