Jan'42
03-11-2014, 05:01
Picked up a Rem 03 (not 03A3) with a serial of 3094XXX (paranoid, yes :eusa_whistle:)
Questions: seeing the stock set is NOT original (it was replaced by one of Northridge replacement stock sets, unfortunately) - is this TOO late to be a GG stock rifle originally? Should this be just a regular non-GG S stock? Should the handguard be early style with the concave section and half-round windage cut, or later Rem style with the tapered profile with a straight cut windage cut? (it currently wears a Booher or whomever contractor "lump" handguard - the fugly ones). The seller included the stock that was on it when HE got it - unfortunately cracked - and is the transitional type with pins rather than stock bolts.
I have a Greek return GG stock that LOOKS Rem (there is an R on the foreend tip - RIA?) that should clean up nicely - I think it would look nicer than the later plain jane non-GG stocks, but possibly not historically correct (weird supposition for a "bitser" anyway!). Maybe put on a Keystone C, but again... Ah well.
Another odd aspect to this rifle is a complete lack of barrel markings. The barrel shares the same slightly worn and used appearance as the rest of the rifle, so I am fairly certain it is period correct. I know RA/SA/RIA/HS/Sedgely barrel stampings are usually pretty deep, so any idea what this could be? I seem to recall SOME Rem's having unfinished SA or RIA blanks, but surely Rem would have marked them? It is NOT a civilian barrel. The RSFB is the non-fluted, full round type (worse luck - I have definite esthetic tastes in M1903's, the round RSFB not being one of them :) )
Other than the above oddities and restoration points, the rifle seems good - barrle lots of life left, Rem milled triggerguard set, Rem bands, Rem bolt, Rem rear sight. Only thing I had to buy was an nickle oiler, a stacking swivel and a sling - I was very happy to get an ORIGINAL Kerr NoBukl M1903 type sling at a Gunshow the other week for $35 (yes, it IS original, and NOT a WPG repro - unless someone put rust stains on the canvas, wore some of the blackening off the brass and then let it mellow for 50 years :) I got it with a can of GI bore cleaner thrown in - the little khaki one that proclaims you can put it in your ammo pockets etc :)
Questions: seeing the stock set is NOT original (it was replaced by one of Northridge replacement stock sets, unfortunately) - is this TOO late to be a GG stock rifle originally? Should this be just a regular non-GG S stock? Should the handguard be early style with the concave section and half-round windage cut, or later Rem style with the tapered profile with a straight cut windage cut? (it currently wears a Booher or whomever contractor "lump" handguard - the fugly ones). The seller included the stock that was on it when HE got it - unfortunately cracked - and is the transitional type with pins rather than stock bolts.
I have a Greek return GG stock that LOOKS Rem (there is an R on the foreend tip - RIA?) that should clean up nicely - I think it would look nicer than the later plain jane non-GG stocks, but possibly not historically correct (weird supposition for a "bitser" anyway!). Maybe put on a Keystone C, but again... Ah well.
Another odd aspect to this rifle is a complete lack of barrel markings. The barrel shares the same slightly worn and used appearance as the rest of the rifle, so I am fairly certain it is period correct. I know RA/SA/RIA/HS/Sedgely barrel stampings are usually pretty deep, so any idea what this could be? I seem to recall SOME Rem's having unfinished SA or RIA blanks, but surely Rem would have marked them? It is NOT a civilian barrel. The RSFB is the non-fluted, full round type (worse luck - I have definite esthetic tastes in M1903's, the round RSFB not being one of them :) )
Other than the above oddities and restoration points, the rifle seems good - barrle lots of life left, Rem milled triggerguard set, Rem bands, Rem bolt, Rem rear sight. Only thing I had to buy was an nickle oiler, a stacking swivel and a sling - I was very happy to get an ORIGINAL Kerr NoBukl M1903 type sling at a Gunshow the other week for $35 (yes, it IS original, and NOT a WPG repro - unless someone put rust stains on the canvas, wore some of the blackening off the brass and then let it mellow for 50 years :) I got it with a can of GI bore cleaner thrown in - the little khaki one that proclaims you can put it in your ammo pockets etc :)