Jan'42
05-19-2014, 02:32
Finally an analysis of my essentially original 1913 RIA M1903 after I disassembled to take stock of the situation.
The GOOD:
100% correct 1913 barrelled action. Barrel is 3-13 RIA dated, marked also underneath R 22 P (repair in 1922?)
Rear sight has the platinum wire line insert. Knobs are dished, early.
Blue about 70% original, or more. Small downside
Stock is an original single stock bolt CN 1913 cartouched S. Has the small s in the cutoff area, and the larger S on the foreend tip. More on the stock soon.
Handguard is as far as I can tell one of the early no sight groove modified for sight groove handguards, with the "steeper" hump section that is sometimes encountered. Simply marked with a J in the handguard channel.
upper band is non-H marked
Mid band swivel is the split type
Buttplate is fine checker
Sling is 1913 dated. Seen better, own better, but it MAY be original to the rifle.
Bolt stop extant (never removed as far as I can tell)
BAD:
Some cold blue on the barrelled action and triggerguard. I have degreased it and applied a thin coat of rust blue solution, which does the dual purpose of removing the offensive cold blue and LIGHTLY recolours the metal (I am not going to fully reblue it - there is perhaps already 70% original left anyway)
Barrel is throat worn up to about 6 inches. I wasn't going to shoot it anyway, but the barrel is toast. Past that throat erosion, it's nice :)
UGLY:
Handguard usual crack back to almost the mid band. I have glue stabilised it, and it is a TIZGHT juncture crack, so not visible now unless I told you. Was polished a touch (now rectified)
Stock had been cracked through the triggerguard on the left side up through to the fingergrooves - looks like bayonet parry crack or similar. That is totally invisible after repair. Had been polished (rectified)
P on wrist had been "embellished" by prior owner. Not sure where to go with it, but my stock corrections have partially rectified it. The CN 1913 was also slightly retouched, but my stock restoration efforts raised the reforced line a little, making them look correct again.
1907 RIA M1905 bayonet: ground in the pommel area, reblued. M1917 scabbard. Repro IMA grip panels. Will take some effort rectifying! Will use as gunshow trade fodder.
The Downright sordidly disgusting:
Someone took a WW2 Rem bolt. heat straightened it, reprofiled the handle slightly on top and sides. Cold blued the evidence. Will have hot reblued or polished and trade it at Gunshow as a sporter bolt
Someone took a WW2 03A3 Rem cocking piece and threw it in a lathe and tried turning it to look like an early cocking piece. FAILED.
I will photograph it all later, especially the dudded bolt. The rest is FINE, and I have 2 replacement bolts on the way. I am not intending shooting it, so bore is meaningless, as is stock repair - so long as it is essentially original is all that counts to me! Finding anything near original M1903's Down under is VERY difficult at the best of times we usually only have poor condition rebuilt for the Việt Nam Cộng Hòa (South Viet Nam) and imported here ex-Viet Nam in the 1980's.
I initially paid $1800 for the rifle, with the bayonet and sling. The seller is a refurbisher and did highlight to me ONLY embellishment of the cartouches. After I pointed out the rest of the issues, we agreed on the lot for $600, him refunding me (money received)
The GOOD:
100% correct 1913 barrelled action. Barrel is 3-13 RIA dated, marked also underneath R 22 P (repair in 1922?)
Rear sight has the platinum wire line insert. Knobs are dished, early.
Blue about 70% original, or more. Small downside
Stock is an original single stock bolt CN 1913 cartouched S. Has the small s in the cutoff area, and the larger S on the foreend tip. More on the stock soon.
Handguard is as far as I can tell one of the early no sight groove modified for sight groove handguards, with the "steeper" hump section that is sometimes encountered. Simply marked with a J in the handguard channel.
upper band is non-H marked
Mid band swivel is the split type
Buttplate is fine checker
Sling is 1913 dated. Seen better, own better, but it MAY be original to the rifle.
Bolt stop extant (never removed as far as I can tell)
BAD:
Some cold blue on the barrelled action and triggerguard. I have degreased it and applied a thin coat of rust blue solution, which does the dual purpose of removing the offensive cold blue and LIGHTLY recolours the metal (I am not going to fully reblue it - there is perhaps already 70% original left anyway)
Barrel is throat worn up to about 6 inches. I wasn't going to shoot it anyway, but the barrel is toast. Past that throat erosion, it's nice :)
UGLY:
Handguard usual crack back to almost the mid band. I have glue stabilised it, and it is a TIZGHT juncture crack, so not visible now unless I told you. Was polished a touch (now rectified)
Stock had been cracked through the triggerguard on the left side up through to the fingergrooves - looks like bayonet parry crack or similar. That is totally invisible after repair. Had been polished (rectified)
P on wrist had been "embellished" by prior owner. Not sure where to go with it, but my stock corrections have partially rectified it. The CN 1913 was also slightly retouched, but my stock restoration efforts raised the reforced line a little, making them look correct again.
1907 RIA M1905 bayonet: ground in the pommel area, reblued. M1917 scabbard. Repro IMA grip panels. Will take some effort rectifying! Will use as gunshow trade fodder.
The Downright sordidly disgusting:
Someone took a WW2 Rem bolt. heat straightened it, reprofiled the handle slightly on top and sides. Cold blued the evidence. Will have hot reblued or polished and trade it at Gunshow as a sporter bolt
Someone took a WW2 03A3 Rem cocking piece and threw it in a lathe and tried turning it to look like an early cocking piece. FAILED.
I will photograph it all later, especially the dudded bolt. The rest is FINE, and I have 2 replacement bolts on the way. I am not intending shooting it, so bore is meaningless, as is stock repair - so long as it is essentially original is all that counts to me! Finding anything near original M1903's Down under is VERY difficult at the best of times we usually only have poor condition rebuilt for the Việt Nam Cộng Hòa (South Viet Nam) and imported here ex-Viet Nam in the 1980's.
I initially paid $1800 for the rifle, with the bayonet and sling. The seller is a refurbisher and did highlight to me ONLY embellishment of the cartouches. After I pointed out the rest of the issues, we agreed on the lot for $600, him refunding me (money received)