1903 USMC Service Rifle under the radar.... Picture heavy

[Mike D]

Your rifle, do what you want.

The buttplate does not affect me, but what appears to be varnish on the stock, sure does. I don't believe the USMC did that. A previous owner did not bother to remove the hardware before applying this, it seems.

I'm wondering about the stock. It is a Rem M1903 stock, correct? No relief for an A3 handguard ring, right? Looking at the cut-off relief and stock bolts, it does not appear to be sanded at all. Could it be NOS??

More questions after answers. Thanks!

Mike

[Normanclature]

If Mike D is correct and it is a Remington stock, then the "correct" buttplate for the stock would be a milled or stamped Remington. So the stock on this rifle is a replacement and any 03 buttplate could have been added by the Marines from spares.
It seems to me that under these circumstances it is merely a matter of personal preference for the present owner to put a stippled buttplate on his rifle. I cannot see how this is destroying the rifles history or misleading future buyers.
We know stippled buttplates were used by the USMC. Checkered ones were probably used also.

[John Beard]

Your rifle, do what you want.

The buttplate does not affect me, but what appears to be varnish on the stock, sure does. I don't believe the USMC did that. A previous owner did not bother to remove the hardware before applying this, it seems.

I'm wondering about the stock. It is a Rem M1903 stock, correct? No relief for an A3 handguard ring, right? Looking at the cut-off relief and stock bolts, it does not appear to be sanded at all. Could it be NOS??

More questions after answers. Thanks!

Mike

(1) Incorrect.

(2) Right.

(3) No.

J.B.

[Mike D]

(1) Incorrect.

(2) Right.

(3) No.

J.B.

John - Thanks for the answers. If you could, please provide a little more info.

If the stock has no finger-grooves and no A3 ring relief, what else could it be besides made for a Rem '03?

Do you know of any sub-contractors that made this type of stock?

Why not NOS? Would that not explain the wood fibers?

Mike

[Punch the Clown]

(1) Incorrect.

(2) Right.

(3) No.

J.B.

OK, I'll play. The stock is a Springfield scant stock that someone re-shaped to a straight grip? That's my guess and I'm sticking to it.

[Roadkingtrax]

Punch its not a scant stock. I had a similar Marine rifle, and it was in the style of a Remington straight stock, albeit...a little rougher cut.