View Full Version : My 1942 Remington 1903
I paid a great price for my 1903, NOTHING! I inherited my '03 from my uncle. It is stamped 10-42 on the barrel. I have had a good bit of help from Rick the Librarian and Bear (Bear was until recently a neighbor of mine) identifying the correctness of my rifle while on MilSurpluscollectors Forum (I followed them here at the suggestion from Bear) I was able to sit down and visit with Bear so that we could compare '03's (he has some great rifles), we also got to sit around and swap war stories for a couple hours.
Here are a few Pictures of my Rifle. If the sun ever comes out today I will get better Picutres.
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1942 Remington 1903 rifle ... Cool! Received for free ... Way Cool! Inherited from your uncle ... Way Cool in the Most Extreme! Congratulations! Sincerely. bruce.
I am trying to get some good pictures of the gun in natural light, but the sun is not cooperating.
There are 2 other rifles that I will be inheriting from my uncle. A Garand and an M1 Carbine. He can no longer shoot, he just wants to reload for them a little longer. He also has a low number SA '03, and an A3 that he sporterized that nobody wants to shoot because the stock he put on it is a bruiser and the Barrel was shortened 2 inches.
Fred Pillot
06-13-2017, 03:49
Looks like it has a straight bolt handle.
Yeah, It has been identified as a Rock Island Bolt Body. But the firing Mechanism is Remington. The Follower is a Winchester and the lower band is stamped.
Finally go some sunshine for natural light.
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Hey Jay,
Welcome to Jouster. Good people here just like at Milsurps, in fact many are members of both forums. Several years ago when Jouster was having forum problems and had to close for a few months, the kind folks at Milsurps adopted us during the transition.
Hope you and your bride have settled in nicely on the coast. Must be wonderful for you to smell the salt air again.
BEAR
. . . . . .The Follower is a Winchester and the . . . . . ..
I doubt the follower is Winchester, as I don't believe Winchester made any '03 parts. --Jim
"Upon further review" . . . .
I just realized you might have a Winchester-produced follower that was meant for the M17 rifle. --Jim
jsaviano
06-14-2017, 04:27
Remington 1903 Modified??
Remington 1903 Modified??
Correct, there are no lightening cuts on rear sight base so probably true unless it's a rebuild. I had sn 854289, a Greek return CMP rifle, that had the modified sight base.
Rick the Librarian
06-14-2017, 10:26
They're ALL "Remington Modified". The term is sometimes used to describe later rifles but is not really correct. The rifle is a later one, that's for sure.
Yes, I know ...a pet peeve! :)
The follower is Stamped with a W. It is a milled follower. The Lower Band is Stamped, but the Sling Swivel is Milled.
@ Bear. I read about the problems Jouster was having. I thought that everyone who had a hand in helping did one heck of a job. I have enjoyed reading peoples posts so much that ithas kept me up 'til the wee hours on several mornings.
'They're ALL "Remington Modified".'
Rick, please explain since it is my understanding (perhaps erroneous) that the original Remington's were just like the SA and RIA 1903s, and only later did Remington begin to streamline production by cutting unnecessary corners. My books are 6 feet away and it's too hot for me to make the effort to move that far. Thanks.
My rifle is an "Un-Modified Remington 1903 with the possible exception of 3 parts, Stamped Lower Band, RIA Bolt Body, and a Fine Checkered milled Remington Butt Plate.
jsaviano
06-17-2017, 04:29
They are NOT all "Modified" Remington made many, many 1903 Springfields that were "identical" to the Rock Island ones.
Rick the Librarian
06-17-2017, 05:28
'They're ALL "Remington Modified".'
Rick, please explain since it is my understanding (perhaps erroneous) that the original Remington's were just like the SA and RIA 1903s, and only later did Remington begin to streamline production by cutting unnecessary corners. My books are 6 feet away and it's too hot for me to make the effort to move that far. Thanks.
You are correct - however the term as used by collectors (depending whom you consult) has the term "Modified" used for Remington M1903s in the 3,050,000-3,100,000 range and later. Well after the earlier parts were no longer used. Some say the term applies to those with stamped parts. There was no "starting" and "stopping" period of March, 1942, as often claimed. Changes were introduced gradually over a number of months. You can find later Remington M1903s with earlier characteristics, and vice/versa.
The term "Modified" was used to describe all Remington M1903s because the machinery and gauges used by Remington were, in effect "frozen" to those changes made to @ 1919, when Rock Island ceased production. There were numerous changes made at Springfield after that period in producing M1903s. For one, the Type C stock was made standard long before the Remington M1903 was produced. However, in the interests of getting production going, Remington was allowed to use the "straight" stock (first with grasping grooves, later without) instead of the Type C.
John Beard
06-17-2017, 06:40
The term "Modified" appeared in Army Ordnance documentation describing the Remington M1903 rifle several months before the first rifle was submitted for inspection. The term "Modified" was used to distinguish the Remington rifle from the then-standard M1903A1 rifle. With adoption of the M1903A1 rifle in 1929, the standard M1903 rifle was officially classified as obsolete, thereby precluding further production of such rifles as new. So to politically work around the "obsolete" classification, the Remington rifle became "Modified".
J.B.
Rick the Librarian
06-18-2017, 05:24
Thanks for the clarification, John.
Thank from me as well John, I enjoy learning as much as I can about my new found interest in US Mil Surp Weapons. The '03 has a special interest in my as this was the first rifle I ever shot in my life way back in Navy Boot Camp.
Thank from me as well John, I enjoy learning as much as I can about my new found interest in US Mil Surp Weapons. The '03 has a special interest in my as this was the first rifle I ever shot in my life way back in Navy Boot Camp.
Navy boot camp? What time frame was this? You must be an old timer....
it was 1971-1972 in San Diego. We shot the '03 for fam fire and the Garand for Qualifying. Also fired the 1911A1 and a Thompson Sub (don't ask me why any of these weapons except the 1911, Fleet Units had M14's and M16's)
And yes I have been called an "Old Timer a few times (a day):icon_lol:
ElWoodman
06-20-2017, 03:11
If the follower is marked with a "W" then it is from a Winchester M1917. The followers from '03s and '17s are pretty close to identical.
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