M1903A1- Is this a rebuild?

[tinydata]

I posted this over on CMP but didn't hear anything back- hopefully you guys can help out!

I purchased this "M1903A1" recently and I'm wondering if it is a rebuild.

The SN is in the 1.43 million range and the barrel is stamped SA 10-32. (original?)




The stock sports a SA/SPG stamp, P stamp on the grip, drawing number D1836, and a couple of letters here and there:



I'm not sure what the other stamps are as they don't look like any rebuild markings that I recognize. The stock is stamped with a rack number so I am fairly certain it is a Greek return.

The barrel is stamped with the manufacturer and date, but there's no Ordnance "flaming bomb" or punch mark- what is the meaning of this discrepancy?


The rifle also sports a nickle steel bolt.


Does this look like a put-together rifle or could it be a genuine 1930s M1903A1?

Thanks

[1mark]

The stock has the Greek stamps. The hand guard is a replacement. But still it is nice.

[CPC]

I see a hatcher hole. I know some of these were parts guns by this time but would that be appropriate on a new rifle with a 32 dated barrel?

[Promo]

Does the stock have a serial number, marked in front of the rear swivel?

[John Beard]

The rifle is a put-together. The receiver and perhaps the barrel have been refinished in Bubba's basement.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[tinydata]

Regarding the handguard, it appears to be the same version as the interwar SA handguard on my Marine rebuild 03. The drawing number on that piece is D28179

It just appears to have been sanded down but the sight knob cutout is the same shape:



There is no serial number stamped on the stock like those on NM rifles.

John Beard, thanks for the assessment. What would point to it being a Bubba put-together? When I received it from Dupage Trading there was a fair amount of cosmoline hiding in the stock/under the receiver and there was also cosmoline in the bore. I also forgot to post this photo but the receiver and breech finishes do not match:

[John Beard]

The most troubling aspect of your rifle is the copper-colored finish on the receiver. I am not aware of any military finishes which look like that, except perhaps on a ceremonial rifle. And the front barrel stub looks like it has been polished and blued.

The stock and handguard are not contemporary with the serial number by quite a stretch.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[Rick the Librarian]

D28179-marked handguards date from the late-1930s, several years after your rifle.

[tinydata]

Rick and John, when were the D1836 C stock and D28179 handguard adopted? From consulting Brophy's book, it seems that there were two varieties of pre-WWII C stocks, but at least one was standardized in 1928.

Is the one stamped D35379 an earlier version?

I apologize if I'm asking too many questions. I'm trying to fill in gaps in my knowledge and I can't find a lot on this topic.

[Rick the Librarian]

Both the D1836 and D28179 dated to the late 1930s. Springfield Armory started stamping drawing numbers on some M1903 (and M1 Garand) parts.

[John Beard]

Rick and John, when were the D1836 C stock and D28179 handguard adopted? From consulting Brophy's book, it seems that there were two varieties of pre-WWII C stocks, but at least one was standardized in 1928.

Is the one stamped D35379 an earlier version?

I apologize if I'm asking too many questions. I'm trying to fill in gaps in my knowledge and I can't find a lot on this topic.

A stock marked D35379 is a National Match stock. The D1836 stock was used on both service rifles and National Match rifles. The drawing number, incidentally, refers only to the wood portion of the stock. After the stock bolts were installed, the stock fell under a different drawing number. But that number was not stamped in the stock.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[tinydata]

Very interesting and helpful as always.

So she isn't a purebred but she sure can shoot:

[PeteDavis]

Nice iron. Put to proper use, I see. And well done.

PD