Questions on two stamps on R.I. M1903

**p246** · 02-09-2017, 05:03

**p246** · 02-09-2017, 05:07

**cplnorton** · 02-09-2017, 06:35

They are always a little hard to see, I saw them for years on stocks and just wrote them off as what looked like dents in the wood from bolts. Till one day I really took a good look and saw tooling marks, then I really started to watch for them. But yours looks pretty uniform in appearance, and looks like many I've seen.

The 2nd star on your stock is the more common place I see them. That is interesting though as your's has two.

I forget did you say what date the barrel is?

**cplnorton** · 02-09-2017, 06:56

Ok it was a 9/18 barrel. Yeah it probably wouldn't have vise marks on it. You could pull the handguard and look, but it probably wouldn't unless the barrel had been pulled off a unserviceable receiver at some point and installed later.

The Marines pretty much started numbered bolts at almost the same time as they started to do hatcher holes. So if that was drilled by the Marines it most likely would have had a numbered bolt at one time, but that stuff was swapped a lot even back then, let alone 70 years plus later.

I wish I could tell you more on it, and maybe others like John could. I would probably guess it was more likely a Marine rifle at one time, than not. But it would be nice to know 100% for sure what that star does mean.

**p246** · 02-09-2017, 09:31

Thanks for what you got me. I'll pull the stock and see what we got. I also have 10 more R,I. To slowly figure out for future sale for my friend. 1 for sure was a NRA sales rifle and two more possible could be.

**p246** · 02-09-2017, 09:33

Seems every time I look over a rifle I see stuff then ask and learn. This time it's the stars and the CPL NORTON nicker under the bolt....hey we got to name it something.

**Richard H Brown Jr** · 02-09-2017, 09:46

Has the stock really millled, or is it the result of the bolt handle being smacked down a few hundred times in rapid fire practice. Or range practice,or combat firing.

The reason I ask is, I read the previous comments and decided to look at the stock on my 03 and 03a3.

The 03a3 stock has lots of cartouches (obviously not a marine 03a3). And if I look closely at the area where the bolt handle meets the stock when the bolt is locked, there is a tiny half moon dent that's darker than the normal beautiful red color (of walnut wood that's had BLO, grease, cleaning solvent, Cosmoline worked into it)

The 03's (which according to some work by cpl norton on serial nos. *could* have been a marine 03) stock also has a tiny half moon ding where the bolt handle meets the stock.

Is it possible that the bolt handle milling caused the ding? Decide for yourself, look closely at the area where the bolt handle meets the stock when the bolt is closed, while you work the bolt.

If you look close at where the bolt handle meets the main tube of the bolt sleeve the flat area on the bolt handle that was milled out has a half moon-like surface on the left (looking at the bolt sleeve from below, with the sleeve pointing away from your body).

My 03 bolt sleeve's half moon has a sharper edge to it than the 03a3's bolt sleeve.

I seem to remember reading some place that at least in the Army, back in the old days where the rifles were racked in the barracks. To smooth the action, soldiers would tie back the trigger, and work the action to smooth the surfaces on the bolt and the receiver, and the magazine follower, to 'smooth the action' for faster, slicker bolt action.

Just my two cents worth.

Comments?

R Brown

**p246** · 02-09-2017, 09:51

This one appears cut using a magnifier. My 03A3 is not cut but does have what I will call a dimple from the bolt. It's not near as deep nor is it uniform in shape like this rifle. There are 10 more Rock Island 1903s I'm supposed to pick up and eventually sell for him. I plan to see what those look like in that area. It's an interesting mystery.

**p246** · 02-09-2017, 10:03

I had time to take more pics. Using a magnifier I appears to me to see cutter marks at the bottom of the half moon. But in closing the bolt it fits perfectly. I don't know myself which one is right. The wood doesn't look compressed or have any ridges but that could have been worn away long ago.IMG_1478.jpg IMG_1479.jpg

**p246** · 02-09-2017, 10:04

PS stock looks shinny as I took a soft bristle brush and BLO/turpentine mix to gently clean area to see it betterIMG_1480.jpg IMG_1481.jpg

**p246** · 02-09-2017, 10:05

IMG_1482.jpgBolt closed...

**p246** · 02-09-2017, 10:14

Richard this is the angle that makes me think it's cut. In the bottom of that C with a magnifier I swear I can see cutter marks. The area right above it does get hit by the bolt when closed. I can't IMG_1483.jpgget any of my thin feeler gauges under the bolt in the above area. But I can get one started in the Deeper C shaped area. Once again not proof as stock could have shrunk just an observation. Off tonight and bored by the way so call me a geek.

**p246** · 02-09-2017, 10:19

Two pictures of star stamp after cleaned upIMG_1484.jpg IMG_1485.jpg

**p246** · 02-09-2017, 10:33

Pulled it out of stock. Full of cosmoline which I left. No vise marks on barrel. It had a C121 stamped on barrelIMG_1486.jpg IMG_1487.jpg

**p246** · 02-09-2017, 10:34

IMG_1490.jpg IMG_1489.jpg