Looking for info on this 1903

[LanceKTM950]

Hey Everyone,
Newbie to guns in general (recently escaped from Illinois) and 1903s in particular, traded a .22lr for this, my first real (non .22) gun. Don't know its history, don't see any obvious flaws but haven't cleaned or closely examined the barrel yet. Anything specific to look for? Would like to try a recoil pad-type butt stock, need recommendations. Am looking forward to shooting this treasure. Comments welcome!
Thanks,
Lance

[1mark]

You have a sporterized 1903A3. The stock, sights and possible the barrel are commercial, not military. Before you shoot it have the head spacing checked.

[LanceKTM950]

Thanks 1mark.
There are no visible markings or ID on the barrel, I've looked carefully.

[chuckindenver]

sporterized 1903 Remington.. should be a good shooter...make sure the bore is nice, and enjoy

[kcw]

In May of 1941 the Remington Arms Co., in response a British request for arms, started production of the M1903, which had been obsoleted by the U.S. military for several years in favor of the M-1. In order to get production going, Remington leased some 50 box cars worth of old, mothballed M1903 tooling from the U.S. government which had been in storage at the Rock Island Arsenal. If new tooling had to have been made, a year or more would have been required before production began, but with the used equipment, even though in rough condition, Remington got things rolling just five weeks after receiving it. The first finished 03's came off the line in October, but by that time the U.S. government, acknowledging that it was short on arms, had taken over the contract to supply its own troops; nonetheless, the U.S. did still supply the British with a quantity of 03's.
By the late 1950's the U.S. government, and others supplied with the 03 during the war by the U.S. , began to sell off the obsolete 03's' in mass as surplus. The primary civilian idea during the next decade, or so, was to "sporterize" surplus military rifles to look like commercially produced guns. At the time commercial guns were relatively expensive & it made economic sense to do such conversions. No doubt your rifle is of that era.
Today it is pretty much considered a sin to sporterize an American GI bolt gun still in its military configuration. Moreover, these days commercial sporting arms are now relatively inexpensive to purchase as compared to the now higher cost of doing a quality sporterizing job to a GI gun.

[kcw]

Hey Everyone,
Newbie to guns in general (recently escaped from Illinois) and 1903s in particular, traded a .22lr for this, my first real (non .22) gun. Don't know its history, don't see any obvious flaws but haven't cleaned or closely examined the barrel yet. Anything specific to look for? Would like to try a recoil pad-type butt stock, need recommendations. Am looking forward to shooting this treasure. Comments welcome!
Thanks,
Lance

If you really think that you need a rubber recoil pad I'd 1st consider the use of a universal type, "slip on" pad, such as see commonly seen on shotguns. Those are fairly inexpensive as compared to a professionally installed pad which needs to be ground down, etc. Another idea, and one which wouldn't lower the value of the rifle, is to install standard configuration plastic butt plate. You can buy universal replacement plastic butt plates from various suppliers. You choose one slightly larger than the end of your butt stock, center it so as to mark the new screw holes, and trim off the excess, overhanging material. I like to affix the plate, then use something such a "whiteout" to coat the underside of the overhanging material. Remove the plate and carefully trim off the excess with a wood file, etc. smooth to a close fit with successively finer grades of sandpaper, final finishing the edges to a shine with fine grade of steel wool. You can buy such plates for $15 or so.

[ClaudeH]

If there are no markings on the barrel it brings the chambering into question. Be sure to identify exactly what cartridge that rifle is chambered for before shooting it.