Recently acquired M1903-A4

[Jon Field]

45754Accidentally bought this A4, hope I did ok!45753

[Jon Field]

45756

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45757

[Jon Field]

4575945759

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45760

[retread12345]

How can I accidentily buy one ??

[Jon Field]

Check good gun shows

[p246]

How can I accidentily buy one ??

I tried this line with my wife, it did not work well.

[bruce]

You did well! Sincerely. bruce.

[Jon Field]

Thanks

[cplnorton]

It's been through a full rebuild, which 99% of them have been, so that's normal. The cross cannon cartouche on the keystone stock is something that is different.

I can't see enough detail of the cartouche to tell if it's a legit cartouche or not. I've just never seen a cross cannon cartouche on a A4 before. I've seen a GAW with a cross cannon on some wartime rebuild M1903's. But I've never seen one just by itself that I can remember.

I do sort of think the scope has been messed with. Even though some books mention the M8's were used, there really isn't any evidence they were used by the military. Which almost all the A4's were sold without a scope, so most scopes on these have been added in the commercial market. But the fact that there is a serial number on this scope is what really bugs me. I think someone added those markings on the scope tube to pass the scope off as military scope.

I would be curious to see that cross cannon in more detail. Otherwise it looks like a honest rebuild A4 from the pics that I can see of it and a beautiful rifle at that!

[Jon Field]

45793

[Jon Field]

45795

[Jon Field]

45796 Remington wheel at its best, very faint.

[Jon Field]

These are the only other markings on the stock, besides the Remington wheel and BA over 11 on the stock.45797

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I wonder what the 11 under the BA means other than Benecia Arsensal! That mark is also on the A-4 for sale on Gun Broker. Also, magazine cut off is not a Remington part, must of been changed during rebuild.

[cplnorton]

Hey I'm sorry I should have been more clear.

I know Remington used an ordnance wheel with the FJA and then RA later but usually the bells at the bottom of the cross cannons on all the A4's I've owned are different. Otherwise when I look at your cross cannon cartouche, it reminds me of the ones from Springfield and not the Remingtons I've owned.

The rest of the cartouches look ok. I'm just not sure on the ordnance wheel. I really am more into the Marine sniper rifles. I study the A4, but no where near what someone like Gaynor does. In fact I hope he comes around and comments. It might be ok. I'm just not sure on a Keystone stock if there could be a cross cannon stamp like that.

Here is the cross cannon on my A4. If you look and compare it, especially the bells of the cannons, there is a difference. Unfortunately my stamp got smacked in that spot. I will try to go back through my archived pics and find a clearer one.

https://i.imgur.com/ov0T3z5h.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/bqjaWKf.jpg

[cplnorton]

Here is a pic of one that is a little better to show the bells that I'm more used to seeing on them. I put it beside mine to compare.

https://i.imgur.com/epZopCRh.jpg

[cplnorton]

Here is the one A4 (top) compared to yours on the bottom. Hopefully John Beard, Chuck in Denver, or even Jim Gaynor himself will come in and weigh in if they have seen this style cross cannon stamp on a A4 like this. It seems strange to me, but those guys do more with the A4 than I do.



https://i.imgur.com/3VCpvB9h.jpg

[Jon Field]

I see the difference, the guy I bought it from has owned 6 of them and said they All had slight differences from each other. I've been trying to post on the CMP forum but can't get pictures to load, even the sysop can't figure out the problem.

I hope the rifle is worth the 3500 clams I spent on it!!

[cplnorton]

Yeah there isn't a lot of activity on jouster anymore. It seems it's pretty quiet over here. :(

The CMP forum would definitely get you more exposure.