1903 usmc ria

[Smokeeaterpilot]

Hey guys picked up this last week, finally got around to taking pictures.

I have a few questions.

It has the Marine 10 front sight hood, but not the Marine 10 sights. I thought thought I remember reading that the Marines removed all sight hoods from their service rifles is this correct?

The bolt finish matches the rest of the rifle completely. But it's a NS bolt. Did the Marines use NS bolts for replacements?

I'll try to get pictures of the what I'm talking about, but it looks like the top of the sear (if you remove the bolt you can look on top of the sear and see it) is ground down (a gunsmith friend and 1903 collector pointed that out) said the marines would work the sears during their rebuilding. Is this true?

Lastly, it looks like there is no pitting. But some minor surface rust on the metal in various places. Nothing serious. Should I attempt to remove it to prevent it from spreading? Is there a way to do this without damaging the bluing?

[Smokeeaterpilot]

[Smokeeaterpilot]

[Fred]

There's never any "minor surface rust".
Surface rust on a weapon is Never OK. Period! Use oil and fine steel wool to remove it. There's no trick or mystery involved. Just square your rifle away. Use a stiff nylon tooth brush and oil for sight knobs and hard to get to places.

[Smokeeaterpilot]

There's never any "minor surface rust".
Surface rust on a weapon is Never OK. Period! Use oil and fine steel wool to remove it. There's no trick or mystery involved. Just square your rifle away. Use a stiff nylon tooth brush and oil for sight knobs and hard to get to places.

I heard some people recommending bronze wood and it won't affect bluing, is this correct? Thanks for the help.

[Rick the Librarian]

I've used copper wool and a copper brush and it worked well.

[leftyo]

please stay away from the steel wool, good way to ruin a nice rifle.

[blackhawk2]

Nice rifle, I wish it was mine.....I would only use Kroil oil and a soft tooth brush....I believe the finish on the NS bolt is not an exact match, does not have the same level of platina....Leave the wool in the tool box.....regards....alex

[Ironlip]

I've removed rust from blued guns with bronze wool, Rem Oil, and very, very light pressure. It will take a while but it works.

[Smokeeaterpilot]

Thanks guys! I want to clean off the rust but not damage the bluing. I'll try the tooth brush, oil and maybe bronze wool or copper brush. I want to be extremely careful with her.

[Rick the Librarian]

Good Philosophy - start "easy".

[the_1st_sgt]

An old trick I learned from my father, a WW2/Korean War Marine-use the eraser of a pencil for light surface rust. It won't harm the finish and will take the rust right off. Clean and oil afterwards.

[Smokeeaterpilot]

That's interesting I've never heard of that. I'll give it a shot thanks

[Fred]

Erasers also work well for cleaning the contact points of a CVC helmet cord in a tank or for that matter any electrical contact. Bronze wool is just fine. That rifle's finish isn't delicate. It's a combat arm, not a lace doily.

[Fred]

That rifle looks Fantastic! Really nice! I'm envious.