Single Heat Treated M1903 Bolts

[Merc]

I saw a rather interesting Remington 03A3 today at the largest and best known antique shop in Gettysburg, PA. It appears that the chamber failed to contain a fired round. There was a portion of the receiver that was missing, the front end of the bolt was damaged and the stock was damaged near the receiver. It was still for sale. The price? $450.

The circumstances surrounding the failure of a rifle from the early 1940s are unknown and the fact that the rifle is still for sale is astounding. It’s particularly troubling to see that a failure occurred to a rifle that’s generally considered safe to shoot. We trust our old rifles will stay together when we take them to the range, but should we?

[John Beard]

I feel confident that the failure was provoked by an obstructed or partially obstructed bore. Or perhaps by a faulty reload.

J.B.

[Merc]

I feel confident that the failure was provoked by an obstructed or partially obstructed bore. Or perhaps by a faulty reload.

J.B.

Excellent point. Maybe the rifle is to be admired for largely containing the explosion. It has all the characteristics of a barrel obstruction. I wonder how many bullets we’d find lodged in the barrel. The bolt shifted back some and was jammed and the receiver mostly stayed together except for one small area on the side near the stock that was missing. I couldn’t see anything on this rifle that was salvageable except for the external hardware and possibly the stock.

[Merc]

The 03A3 stock on my Greek returned M1903 that I bought back in July has a hardwood patch that’s cut in the shape of an inverted wedge and pinned with small dowel pins. It’s located in the same spot near the receiver where the other stock was damaged by the ruptured receiver.

29AC76D7-9A29-4672-A409-4E4C3EB8F6C2.jpg

Another possible barrel obstruction?