Looking at a RIA M1903...

[John Beard]

I know that would be the case if the (block) circled "P" were the larger 1/2" diameter, but is a 7/16" circled block "P" also a SA firing proof, or a RIA?

Seasons' Greetings!

Does the stock have any marks stamped on the bottom in front of the magazine? Please advise.

Thanks! And Merry Christmas!

J.B.

[jonnyo55]

No, none of the Remington "hieroglyphics" or any other marks are present forward of the magazine...just "RI" at the forend tip, "10" and a 7/16" circled non-serif gothic "P" behind the TG, and a very faint "L" at the bottom of a dent behind the magazine cutoff. BTW, the magazine cutoff and the safety both feature sans serif lettering, which I believe to be SA only during this period...correct? If so, this would add greater credence to the "parts set assembled at SA" theory.

Merry Christmas to all here, too! The rifle itself was a nice enough present to myself, but discovering that the bayonet in my collection was also a 1918 RIA was a nice stocking stuffer!

[jonnyo55]

I've cleared up a bit of the "mystery" surrounding this rifle. When looking at my Remington '03 the other day, I noticed that the circle "P" seemed smaller than that on the RIA in question. Dragging out my calipers, I measured the circle on the RIA and found that it measures out to .5"...the SA standard. It's not quite as deep as the other SA stamps I've seen, so I mistakenly assessed it as the smaller RIA/RA version. So it seems that what I've got is a bona fide RIA parts set assembled at SA, just as Rick suspected.

Happy New Year to all...best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2014!

[Fred]

Except for my Rock Island not having the RI stamped into the tip of the stock, it seems to be the same as your rifle.

[rayg]

Both rifles are beautiful and in my opinion the profile of the early 03 has just a classical/beautiful look to. Ray

[jonnyo55]

Re: RIA M1903

You know, it's funny...comparing this rifle with my Remington M1903, I'm struck by how much little things like the stock's grasping grooves and the lightening cuts on the rear sight base add to the elegance and grace of the rifle. That and, of course, the finer finish of the earlier rifle make it a much more attractive piece, at least in my eyes...the early '03's are perhaps the most esthetically pleasing service rifles ever made!

[rayg]

You know, it's funny...comparing this rifle with my Remington M1903, I'm struck by how much little things like the stock's grasping grooves and the lightening cuts on the rear sight base add to the elegance and grace of the rifle. That and, of course, the finer finish of the earlier rifle make it a much more attractive piece, at least in my eyes...the early '03's are perhaps the most esthetically pleasing service rifles ever made!

You said it better then I did, especially this part. "the early '03's are perhaps the most esthetically pleasing service rifles ever made!" Ray

[Rick the Librarian]

You know, it's funny...comparing this rifle with my Remington M1903, I'm struck by how much little things like the stock's grasping grooves and the lightening cuts on the rear sight base add to the elegance and grace of the rifle. That and, of course, the finer finish of the earlier rifle make it a much more attractive piece, at least in my eyes...the early '03's are perhaps the most esthetically pleasing service rifles ever made!

I couldn't have said it better - early M1903s come the closest to being a work of art!!

[ClaudeH]

You know, it's funny...comparing this rifle with my Remington M1903, I'm struck by how much little things like the stock's grasping grooves and the lightening cuts on the rear sight base add to the elegance and grace of the rifle. That and, of course, the finer finish of the earlier rifle make it a much more attractive piece, at least in my eyes...the early '03's are perhaps the most esthetically pleasing service rifles ever made!

I especially like the little scallop machined onto the boss for the magazine selcector pin. That is pure machining art!

When I returned to college as a "non-traditional student" (adult) part of my application for admission at DePaul was to write a description in detail of a cherished item I owned. I fudged it. I had a couple of A3s by then but was still salivating for an '03. I wrote about an '03 and pulled all sorts of stuff into it like the connection the high quality machining invoked as a memory of my machinist grandfather, the connection to my grandfather's and father's generations that fought WWI & WWII, and so on. I really waxed eloquent about the scallop! I knew full well some liberal english department staffer was going to read my essay and have apoplexy, but I knew my writing skill would prevail. I enjoyed that!