Photos '03 Sporter for MP-Marine

**Emri** · 06-18-2013, 06:10

It is the post titled "My $150 Score". Looks like someone added a side mount for a scope and put the rifle in a commercial "Monte Carlo Sporting" stock. I doubt the scope mount is a G&H. It looks to have two Weaver cross slots where the rings attach.

Thanks Jim for helping out and posting the pics for us to view.

FWIW,

Emri

**chuckindenver** · 06-18-2013, 06:16

mount is a Jeager mount,,,little oil will help out that ol girl. nice score.

**Rick the Librarian** · 06-18-2013, 06:45

It's had a pretty good "make-over", but for $150, you made out like a bandit!!!

**chuckindenver** · 06-18-2013, 09:10

pretty close to mine, and i notice, like mine was ordered with a rear sight base conture.

**Rick the Librarian** · 06-18-2013, 01:08

Originally posted by chuckindenver

.... mine was ordered with a rear sight base conture.

I gotta ask, Chuck ... what's that?

**Cosine26** · 06-18-2013, 09:58

This rifle may well be in it original configuration. I f I remember correctly, at one time it ws possible to order all parts FOR THE “Sporter” and have them shipped to your favorite custom gunsmith. A review of early RIFLEMAN Magazines shows ads by several advocating that one do so. Crossman rails against this for he feels that the Sporter is correct as issued, or can be modified using the original stock. He also indicates that, if you ordered the whole rifle, and restocked it, you could sell the stock. The cost of parts vs the cost of the complete rifle was about $4.00 and he thought that you could sell the stock for more than this.
There was a question asked about a “Sporter” with the rear sight base installed. In some of the early RIFLEMAN magazines, the ordnance department offered sporter tocks with various barrel channels. Here is some research I did a few year ago.
Sporter Stocks
The following information is excerpted from an article entitled “United States Rifles, Caliber .30” by Lt. Col Townsend Whelen which appeared in the AMERICAN RIFLEMAN magazine in August 1934. According to the information provided, LtCol Whelen was the Ordnance Officer of the Seventh Corps Area.
SPECIAL STOCKS
* The D.C.M. price list includes certain stocks available for sale to members of the N.R.A. The old style service straight-grip stock, the pistol-grip stock type C and the “Stock Assembly, cal .30, SA 6597 “ for the Style T rifle, have already been described, and are for replacement purposes on standard rifles.
* The “Stock assembly, cal .30. SA6595.” Is the N.R.A. sporting-type pistol-grip stock which was standard on the above U.S. Rifle, Cal. .30, M1903 N.R.A., now obsolete. The similar stock SA6596 is intended for the same rifle where the owner desires to replace the Lyman No. 48 with some other sight and objects to the cut in the stock.
*The “Stock, assembly, cal. .30 SA6598,” is the pistol-grip sporting-type for the service and National Match rifles. When the standard stock and the rear-sight fixed base are removed from these rifles, this stock can be substituted. The similar stock SA 6599 is intended for such use when the standard rear sight and fixed base are to be retained. In this case the owner will usually desire to fit some form of walnut hand guard between the rear sight fixed base and the lower band, and the standard military lower band (Band, lower) should be used to retain the hand guard in place. With all other sporting stocks the appropriate one of the special bands should be used, the band not being included in the price of the stock.
*When the member desires to convert the service or National Match rifle to sporting type, and he removes the standard stock and hand guard, he finds that the exposed surface of the barrel is rather rough. If he further removes the rear-sight fixed base, he finds that the barrel under it is not blued, and is rough in shape. It is usually customary to have a gunsmith polish and blue this unsightly barrel. When this is done, the barrel grooves of stocks SA6598 and SA 6599 will not fit. Therefore “Stocks,, assembly cal. .30, SA 6600 and SA66012 have been provided, having narrow barrel groves which a gunsmith can channel cut to fit the refinished barrels.
*Note that the price of a stock includes the walnut stock only, and does not include the lower band, lower band swivel, lower band screw, butt swivel, butt swivel screws (2), , butt plate, or butt, plate screws(2) and these must be ordered separately. The old- style service straight-grip stock, and the Type C pistol-grip stock, use the “Plate, butt, assembly,” and the sporting type stocks, including the Style T, use the “Plate, butt, M1922(Sporting.”)
* I am sure that the above information is well known to the M1903 experts but hope that it will provide some insight into how the Ordnance Department supported NRA member back in the 1930’s.
* Incidentally it ws about this time that the “Sporter” was discontinued but the ordnance department indicated that they would maintain a supply of spare parts for five years. Later it was announced that these spare parts would only be sold to individuals who had previously purchased a “Sporter.”

**Johnny P** · 06-19-2013, 06:00

The only problem with this is that the rifle shows up as being sold as a Sporter. Receiver only sales are recorded in DCM Sales.

**chuckindenver** · 06-19-2013, 06:08

Rick.
you could order an NRA sporter that would accept the standard 1903 rear sight base..iv seen several in the last year,
i found them all to be in the same serial number range. including my own.

**Rick the Librarian** · 06-19-2013, 06:27

OK, I think "conture" had me kind of confused!

**Herschel** · 06-19-2013, 10:30

This rifle is on the SRS list as being sold as an NRA Sporter. It has the same Lyman 48 as came on the NRA Sporters. The side mount for a scope looks like a Griffin and Howe for the double leaver ring assembly. The side mount base will have the name of the maker. I see nothing that indicates to me the rifle is anything other than a standard configuration 1903 NRA Sporter to which the side mount has been added, scope block holes drilled and tapped and the gun installed in an aftermarket stock. The holes for the scope blocks could have been done by SA but I doubt it due to the location of the rear scope block. As best I can tell from the dark photos, the gun certainly should not be reblued or parkerized.

**Cosine26** · 06-19-2013, 04:20

Special stock information, reconfirmed. August 1934 issue AMERICAN RIFLEMAN page 21. Hope this helps. I can scan and provide copy if desired.

**Johnny P** · 06-20-2013, 05:22

Originally posted by chuckindenver

Rick.
you could order an NRA sporter that would accept the standard 1903 rear sight base..iv seen several in the last year,
i found them all to be in the same serial number range. including my own.

Could you post a picture of your barrel showing the contour?

**marine-mp** · 06-21-2013, 09:09

Johnny P...I will send Jim a couple pics of the barrel contour and perhaps a few better pics of the side mmount ...which I agree with Herschel...is a Griffin and Howe...from all the pictures were I've been seen of them. I will be a few days as I am in Virginia for our son's change of watch ceremony. Will try to post Monday evening. Thanks to all for the insight. Semper-fi & This We'll Defend. Mike

**jgaynor** · 07-02-2013, 01:49

More Pics from marine-mp. The are big attachments so i will use p-bucket again. The double lever lever side mount was installed (two pins & three screws) then the side of the mount was milled and polished flat. I believe this was the way G&H installed their commercial jobs. Not that it's conclusive but I hope Michael Petrov weighs in. The checkering (stippled) and white line inserts do not look like G&H work or an NRA sporter. Interesting rifle though.

Regards,
Jim

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