1903 Remington handguards

[Kragrifle]

Both of these are Remington by virtue of the machining around the front clip and maybe from the side profile. However, I don’t know what to make of the obvious difference in the length of the top portion. Can anyone help out here?2108287D-EBA8-440F-8BE4-CD2A86A91DC9.jpgE6393E43-C55F-459C-8FA0-1E3EDED33CFA.jpg7DD82E75-A5FB-4257-A21D-2075F6BC74FE.jpg04E49DF5-2A31-409D-8E30-C33218ADF4F6.jpg

[John Beard]

Your pictures are so tiny that it's hard to make out much detail about the handguards.

J.B.

[Kragrifle]

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Having trouble posting single photos to make them larger. Trying to show the difference in the top portion of handguard.

[John Beard]

I have noted some differences in Remington handguard sight-line groove lengths, but not as much as depicted in your photographs. I am inclined to believe that the handguard with the shorter groove may have been re-shaped by Bubba.

J.B.

[Kragrifle]

Hi John
I appreciate the help. I have developed an interest in these Remington 03’s and the subtle differences as they progressed through a fairly short production period.

[John Beard]

Remington made dozens of design and marking changes in their M1903 rifles through the short production run. The biggest fiasco occurred when the early M'03-A3's failed targeting and had to be re-designed. Oops!!!

J.B.

[Kragrifle]

John, at the risk of posting in the wrong place, have you ever seen these stock markings on a Krag before?2785A5C2-60A7-4931-9827-F84C0FFE7F7C.jpgE1091047-6A99-416F-B77A-58D1EA17CC1F.jpgDBB70E04-46A1-44A4-8241-061F2BDF9F4C.jpgDBB70E04-46A1-44A4-8241-061F2BDF9F4C.jpg

[gjungle56]

Any elaboration on the early o3a3 targeting failures?

[John Beard]

John, at the risk of posting in the wrong place, have you ever seen these stock markings on a Krag before?

I can't say that I have seen those markings before. The round circle appears to be an incomplete Ordnance Wheel, which suggests that the markings may be fake. The inspection stamp, as you probably recognize, is the 1899-dated stamp of J. Sumnar Adams.

J.B.