Buying a M1903

**Merc** · 08-21-2016, 12:32

Originally posted by twh

Look at the band spring cut out. In the pictures it looks square. If it is it's a Remington Stock. Early Remington cross bolt stocks were only marked with the FJA and ordinance mark as there was no SC production so no need to mark them with RA.

TWH,

I looked and it is square. Thanks for the sharp eye and the knowledge.

Merc

**Merc** · 08-22-2016, 04:00

Here's a sight that identifies M1903 and 03-A3 stocks:

Home - T-Rfindley

https://www.trfindley.com/pgm1903stkid.html

What you get when you contact T-Rfindley Bicycle Repair: Free bike diagnostics and troubleshooting Bicycle repair at your convenience – we work seven days a week. Guarantee on all kinds of work Access to quality certified spare parts Free consultations on all matters relating to the operation of bikes T-Rfindley Bicycle Repair provides a full […]

Check out the links at the bottom of this guys page. Looks like his speciality is refinishing stocks and can re-stamp cartouches.

Merc

**PhillipM** · 08-22-2016, 04:52

Originally posted by Art

Merc, they could give a rats rear less about keeping the rifles "correct." They care about the most expedient way of putting rifles in the field. The don't care about collectors or enthusiasts a bit. Whether the rifle eventually wound up with a collector or as bumpers and razor blades was irrelevant. The didn't care then then and still don't.

You'll read often about "bubba" rifles. Heck most "Bubba" specials were made by WWII and Korean War vets who didn't want anything like a military rifle. They had had their fill of rifles in military garb. They wanted a hunting rifle and they didn't want it to look military which resulted in the boom in "sporterized" military rifles back then. I don't think that's "evil." If I was a serious collector of '03s I'd have a couple of pretty '03 sporters from that period to go with the others.

As a teen, I begged my Korean War vet father for an M1. We simply had no knowledge of the DCM, so he spent a lot of 1983 dollars to get me an SA Inc. Garand for Christmas. After I unbound it and shot it in the back yard etc., He picked it up and looked it over and said, "I never thought I'd touch another one again." This was not a jubilant remark, but a lamentation. What was going on in his mind, I'll never know. He was a life member of the NSSA, loved his 1148 in 28 gauge, but the M1 drug up memories he never conveyed to me.Photo217.jpg

**Merc** · 08-22-2016, 11:52

Phillip,

Do you have a photo of your father in his uniform?

Merc

**PhillipM** · 08-22-2016, 07:09

Originally posted by Merc

Phillip,

Do you have a photo of your father in his uniform?

Merc

Unfortunately not a good one. I have his company graduation somewhere but I don't know if I could pick him out

**Merc** · 08-23-2016, 04:54

100_3803.jpg

Finally got around to buying a muzzle gauge.

Merc

**Merc** · 08-23-2016, 05:43

Here's a good article on the history of the Smith Corona 03-A3:

An Official Journal Of The NRA | The Smith-Corona Model 1903A3s

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2010/3/12/the-smith-corona-03a3s/

Although not as widely used as the M1 Garand, the Smith-Corona Model 1903A3s saw service in every theater of the war.

Merc

**psteinmayer** · 08-23-2016, 09:19

That is some Great reading! Thanks for sharing Merc...

**Merc** · 08-23-2016, 09:33

Originally posted by psteinmayer

That is some Great reading! Thanks for sharing Merc...

Your welcome. Just trying to contribute. My problem is that I often don't know what I don't know, but I'm learning. Everything's out there if one takes the time to look and the forum knowledge here is helpful. Great bunch of guys.

Merc

**Jeff L** · 08-23-2016, 12:22

Looks like you got a nice one. I like the tiger stripes on the butt stock.

**Merc** · 08-23-2016, 01:25

Originally posted by Jeff L

Looks like you got a nice one. I like the tiger stripes on the butt stock.

Jeff,

The stock does have an interesting grain that reflects light differently as the viewing angle changes. Almost like a 3-D effect. All this was hidden under af dark thick sticky coating. Was it Linseed oil breaking down after 73 years?

Merc

**Jeff L** · 08-24-2016, 12:32

Did you clean up the stock?

**Merc** · 08-24-2016, 01:40

Jeff,

The dark sticky coating on the stock was starting to come off on my hands just from handling it and came off completely with spirits. Possibly a moisture repellant that was applied to protect the wood while in storage?

Merc

**bombdog** · 08-24-2016, 02:15

Great thread Merc, and all you contributors... i read all of it and peaked my interest into my search for a proper stock for my 1930SA 03... She's now wearing a newly fitted and refinished boyds C-stock cause the one that bubba used 50 grit sandpaper on was gruesome... i'll try and get a picture... She looks like an 03A1 anyway...
bombdog, out...

**Merc** · 08-24-2016, 06:43

Originally posted by bombdog

Great thread Merc, and all you contributors... i read all of it and peaked my interest into my search for a proper stock for my 1930SA 03... She's now wearing a newly fitted and refinished boyds C-stock cause the one that bubba used 50 grit sandpaper on was gruesome... i'll try and get a picture... She looks like an 03A1 anyway...
bombdog, out...

I'm glad you found this thread. I think it's one of the more interesting topics on the forum and where else would you find this many forum members willing to help.

Sounds like your rifle is now a "looker" with the refinished stock and would like to see it. Is it a shooter as well?

Merc

Buying a M1903

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