early scant stock

[RCS]

This scant stock came from a dealer who purchased large amounts of wood from Rock Island years ago. I do not
believe it was ever installed (I did try it) and fired on a rifle. This stock has the S in the cut out and Rock Island
stamp. Note that this stock is inletted only for the 1903/1903A1 receiver and not the 1903A3 receiver. Also the
cut out for the 1903A3 handguard ring is also absent. The stock bolts are normal. I would think that this might
be the first scant stock to be issued ?DSCN1462.jpgDSCN1461.jpgDSCN1460.jpgDSCN1463.jpg

[PeteDavis]

Nice. I see them from time to time.

[John Beard]

Your stock was manufactured at Springfield Armory in mid-1942. And you are correct. It is an early scant stock, but not the only one.

Hope this helps. Thanks for the pictures!

J.B.

[TDP0311]

I have a scant stock that came on a Marine 03 that is basically flat on the bottom, sort of like a Winchester Carbine stock. Not sure if I like that feel or not, but definitely an interesting feature!

[dave]

Your stock was manufactured at Springfield Armory in mid-1942. And you are correct. It is an early scant stock, but not the only one.

Hope this helps. Thanks for the pictures!

J.B.

If SA why is it stamped RIA. I thought RIA quite springfield 03 production right after WW1? #2. Were scant stocks made before WW11?

[PhillipM]

If SA why is it stamped RIA. I thought RIA quite springfield 03 production right after WW1? #2. Were scant stocks made before WW11?

It was made at Springfield armory as a replacement (S in the cut off), added to a rifle at Rock Island, tested with a blue pill and received it's firing proof P, and the final RIA rebuild inspector stamp.

[John Beard]

If SA why is it stamped RIA. I thought RIA quite springfield 03 production right after WW1? #2. Were scant stocks made before WW11?

(1) You are correct. RIA quit Springfield 03 production right after WWI. But RIA continued overhauling worn-out M1903 rifles. When the U.S. entered WWII, RIA greatly accelerated M1903 overhaul and needed spare replacement stocks. But as you observed, RIA no longer had tooling to make stocks. So the stock was made at SA, then shipped to RIA as a replacement for use in overhaul.

(2) No.

Hope this helps.

J.B.