Went To The Reno Show, Came Home w/a Z-Prefix 03-A4

[Jay Johnson]

I sold two rifles off my shoulder while hunting the show isles looking for a national match 03-A1, a Type 1 NM Garand that I couldn't paper and a M1903 M2 .22 training rifle, that I brought to The Big Reno Show yesterday. I found one NM 03-A1, a 1.28 mil in good shape with all the accessories and papers, but the guy was stuck on $6,500 and not budging, so I moved on and found my first 03-A4. It has a beautiful stock set, it's an all original, as issued Z-prefix 03-A4 with an October '43 receiver and a 1-44 barrel that gauges 1MW/2TE.









I also sat with Ted Brown and talked for some time about M-14's, Garands and tools and gauges, he and I share a passion for arsenal tools and gauges, though his collection is much bigger then mine. I dropped-off to him a match conditioned .308 Garand and new laminated Dupage stock set for him to fit and bed. Ted had one of the new M-14 LA receivers built up, it looked very nice. I bought my first original as-issued Springfield M1903's (799K w/a 1-18 barrel) from Ted's a Shooter's Den about 14 years ago, we have some history, but I was the only one that remembered it

Anyway, needless to say that I'm very happy with this purchase, the previous owner said he had it in his safe for 12-years and never shot it, I'm definately going to shoot it, a range report will be fourth coming.



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[bruce]

Cool find! Range report awaited with anticipation! Sincerely. bruce.

[jgaynor]

Is the safety missing or is it just me?

[Jay Johnson]

Is the safety missing or is it just me?

No, you're right. The safety fell out when I was examining it, I have it, just needs to be installed.

Now that I'm home and have gone through it the headspace is tight, closes on a Clymer GO gauge but only closes a few degrees (maybe 5-7 degrees) on a Clymer NO GO gauge. The muzzle wear on my Duff gauge is apx. .7 and the throat erosion on my ARA-MOR Machining gauge is apx. 1.8. The bore is perfect.

[Jeff L]

Nice find.