Today's photo's of the finaly completed rifle.

[Fred]

Thanks smokeeaterpilot. The rifle needed just a few incorrect parts replaced with correct ones when I got it. Those I found. It is made from all original parts including an unused though slightly damaged stock and is in 30-03 caliber. I've been waiting 40 years to get one.
Nobody around here I've showed it to knows what it is. The wife doesn't even know what makes it special. I guess value is all in the eye of the beholder like they say.

[Fred]

Looks really nice, Fred!

Hope my M1882 28" barrel Short Rifle with (genuine) triangular rod bayonet turns out half as well.

Thanks Dick! I'd like to see some photos of your short rifle!

[Smokeeaterpilot]

Thanks smokeeaterpilot. The rifle needed just a few incorrect parts replaced with correct ones when I got it. Those I found. It is made from all original parts including an un issued stock and is in 30-03 caliber. I've been waiting 40 years to get one.
Nobody around here I've showed it to knows what it is. The wife doesn't even know what makes it special. I guess value is all in the eye of the beholder like they say.

Well you did th impossible. It's gorgeous and I'd love to get one but I don't think ill ever be able to afford a 15k rifle, by the time I am I'm sure It will be significantly more than that.

[Fred]

Thanks. I was lucky to have noticed it on an online auction. It went for $2,300.00, which was dirt cheap. Getting the correct rear band was the really hard part and was only made possible by John Beard who happened to have one for trade along with some other parts. Nobody else on the Planet had one available. I already had the correct bolt that had fortuitously come to me on a previous rifle. Those are not easy to get with their original polish on the body and extractor ring with the original extractor. If I get rid of this rifle I'll never live long enough to see another come my way so correct and so cheap. That being said, one day I will sell it along with the others just so our kids, who don't care for it or any of our stuff, don't get a chance to take it down to the local gun shop and sell it for $300.00. You know that happens all the time.

[Fred]

[Fred]

[Smokeeaterpilot]

Can you post some pictures of how it started?

[Fred]

Yea, I've got them from when I first picked the rifle up. However the casual observer wouldn't be able to notice a difference. The Parts corrected were nearly identical in appearance to those used to replace them. None of the pictures show any obvious difference. The parts that I replaced with original Rod Bayonet parts were the bolt body and extractor, Trigger, sear, cocking piece, safety, cut off spindle retaining screw, rear sight leaf, butt plate, oiler and cleaning thong and brush, rear band, trigger guard and floor plate, rear guard screw bushing, stacking swivel and bayonet release spring. The original Rod Bayonet parts on the rifle were the Rod Bayonet, stock, Maybe the hand guard, but the jury is still out on that one, early receiver with original 30-03 barrel with Rod Bayonet front sight, Rod Bayonet front band, Bayonet lock and housing. The details of the incorrect parts were so small that one couldn't see them or notice them unless one were holding the rifle and knew what to look for.
With the addition of an original early Rod Bayonet sling, the rifle really came to life and now it emanates magic and sings songs from Valhalla and radiates power... and that's when it's just sitting in a corner in the library! Lol

[Fred]

Here's a photo of the special early brush and uniquely configured brass weight that was designed for use in the Rod Bayonet 03. The cord enters an opening in the Ends of the brass pull through before it's tied into a knot. You can see how the early brush is larger in diameter than the later type. It was good for the chamber, but was a little too big for optimum cleaning of the bore. Being made of boar's hair, the bristles were flexible and had no problem being pulled though the bore by the cord, but it was determined that there ought to be another brush used that fit the bore diameter better.
You can see that the oiler itself is the early 1st type that can often still be found.

[Fred]

Can you post some pictures of how it started?

Smokeeaterpilot, here are the photo's of the rifle when it first arrived. The original stock had been meant as a field replacement and because it had been damaged, it wasn't used. It was probably sold then as surplus. That is the only reason that the stock exists at all today. Otherwise it would've been on a rifle and altered with all of the other surplus Rod Bayonet stocks when the updates of 1905 started. Possibly the stock had been purchased by Bannerman and it found its way into the hands of a collector long ago who was the one who started putting the rifle together many decades ago when there were stil Rod Bayonet parts around.
There can't be many of those Original RB stocks around anymore. That stock alone was worth the price of the rifle in my opinion. Where else can one get one of those today? Nowhere as far as I know.
Anyway, the stock still had blackened oil stains on it and dirt that'd been on it for over a hundred years. I just wiped it off with acetone and oiled the stock. You can still see the initials of the sub inspector of stocks, R.D.Roper whose initials can also be found on 45-70 Trapdoor Springfield and Krag field replacement stocks.

[Fred]

Besides adding a clip to the hand guard, there's just one more detail of the rifle to change. I've got the right part to put on the rifle or I can alter the part that's on the rifle now. I wonder if anyone else can see it...?

[Fred]

The 1903 cartridge belt and suspenders have arrived for my Rod Bayonet 1903.
I didn't know that the pockets were only meant to hold one five round clip each, for a total of 45 rounds of 30-03. A lot of rounds in the day when this rifle was intended to be fired as a shingle shot with a full magazine of five rounds to be held as a reserve. That theory didn't last very long.

[Fred]

[John Beard]

Fred,

Seeing your cartridge belt reminds me. I have the last thing you need to go with your rifle. But I'm not inclined to part with it. Care to guess what it is?

Sorry.

J.B.

[Fred]

Holy Cow John... I'm trying to think of what it could be.
It's associated with the cartridge belt... ... ...
No...nothing comes to mind... Now I want one! Whatever it is!...


Duh!... Oh My Gosh, have you gotten your hands on a box of 30-03 ammo?!!!