Buying a M1903

[Merc]

Oil continues to ooze from the surface of the stock in surprising quantities when exposed to sunlight. Has anyone been successful in expelling the oil from your stock? Is there a better way? What purpose did all this oil serve?

Edit: acetone seems to have dissolved the oil.

[Merc]

Was it a common practice to stamp a 2nd proof stamp (circle P) next to, or nearly on top of, the original proof stamp located behind the trigger guard to indicate that the original barrel had been replaced and the new barrel has been proof fired?

[Liam]

Hey Merc - the method I employ works, although sounds a little silly. After my first milsurp purchase (Persian Mauser) arrived I learned about cosmoline. Great stuff, did its job protecting weapon while in storage. I went to Home Depot, bought a section of round metal duct. Capped one end, placed wooden hardware into tube, added no-scent cat litter and capped the other end. I placed it in the back of my SUV where it rolled around randomly. When not moving the sun did a great job of turning up the heat. When the cosmo is expelled it is absorbed by the litter. The random movement ensures new litter contact. This won't work in Winter, I don't think, but works like a charm in hot weather. I have moved twice since that first milsurp purchase and the tube of cat litter has moved with me each time. Hope to help.

[Merc]

Hey Merc - the method I employ works, although sounds a little silly. After my first milsurp purchase (Persian Mauser) arrived I learned about cosmoline. Great stuff, did its job protecting weapon while in storage. I went to Home Depot, bought a section of round metal duct. Capped one end, placed wooden hardware into tube, added no-scent cat litter and capped the other end. I placed it in the back of my SUV where it rolled around randomly. When not moving the sun did a great job of turning up the heat. When the cosmo is expelled it is absorbed by the litter. The random movement ensures new litter contact. This won't work in Winter, I don't think, but works like a charm in hot weather. I have moved twice since that first milsurp purchase and the tube of cat litter has moved with me each time. Hope to help.

That’s a good idea Liam. What color is the tube? Black absorbs heat. I think the acetone that I used dissolved a lot of the oil that was near the surface but probably a lot still remains.

Edit: So, where did the oil that’s in the stock come from? The cosmoline. According to Wiki: Cosmoline is a wax-like petroleum based rust inhibitor that dries over time. The oil must have been absorbed by the stock as part of the drying process while the thickening agent (wax??) remains on the surface and is easily removed with acetone.

From what I’ve read on other gun forums, mineral oil saturation can cause wood fibers to swell or become soft. My stock actually looks ok now but I would like to remove as much of the oil as possible.

[Merc]

839C1D52-BED4-4F1B-B624-EA3F68CFC576.jpg39DCD79C-CB4C-474E-A0BA-97DBD14BA167.jpgE26E5DE3-96D9-4899-A05C-1275B00CB03F.jpg9F2200E3-29CC-4313-992D-FA23A109C336.jpgA3E56086-D468-4303-ACC1-4D16676B249F.jpg

Some ‘03 photos.

[Merc]

2885E7A0-E3B3-412C-B949-D72BB08130D0.jpgF5746E37-807B-4250-9323-1FAA6D8655B7.jpgBC020ED4-97B3-4FBE-B65D-22DF5B8BE65A.jpg83D57E29-80C5-4159-A35A-EE38BE233096.jpgBCA65826-3736-4C60-B43F-8F8739C89F29.jpg

A few more. Notice the repaired stock area. The patch is definitely a hardwood, possibly maple or oak. It’s nearly the same color as the oak table.

The spring slot end is cut on a slight diagonal. Possibly a Keystone stock?

Barrel stamped HS 9/44.

[Merc]

6F43E3B7-8F42-4BA2-AE74-B7F4D4E8233C.jpg89678CA2-B61C-4698-842C-E3DA3DE5CCCE.jpgB1C54347-7B06-406D-AFA6-1A8BA2784789.jpg

Three more. Rock Island rebuild stamp with the unknown EB initials and last 4 digits of the serial number plus another 4 unknown digits.

Notice the double “P” proof stamp. Does this indicate that the new HS barrel was proof fired?

Now that I have removed most of the oil from the stock and found a way to remove most of the remaining oil, I’ve decided to keep the stock. It’s in good condition and isn’t showing any deterioration from the oil saturation. Plus, it’s been on the rifle since the WW2 rebuild.

[Art]

Nice rifle. I like rifles with a history, even if I don't know it.

[JOHN COOK]

Just a thought. Since this post started back in April 2016 I don't know if it was mentioned or not, but isn't the 4 digit nbr on the stock indicative of the stock being a Greek return ??? I have an 03A3 with several repairs on the stock and the last 4 digits of the serial nbr is stamped on same and was told it was a Greek return. One of the repairs was similar to the one in your photo. FWIW.

john in SC

[Merc]

Just a thought. Since this post started back in April 2016 I don't know if it was mentioned or not, but isn't the 4 digit nbr on the stock indicative of the stock being a Greek return ??? I have an 03A3 with several repairs on the stock and the last 4 digits of the serial nbr is stamped on same and was told it was a Greek return. One of the repairs was similar to the one in your photo. FWIW.

john in SC

Thanks John, interesting theory.

There are several things that I wonder about. Just trying to interpret what I see:

There’s another 4 digit number (9782) stamped under the S/N on the stock. Their meaning is unknown.

The last 4 digits of the S/N are also etched on the top of the bolt handle. This indicates that an effort was made to keep the rifle’s components together. This wasn’t something that the US armorers were usually concerned about.

The bolt and its components are stamped with the R that indicates that it was made by Remington who began making M1903 Modified and 03A3 rifles in 1943. It must have replaced the Springfield bolt during the final RIA rebuild some time after 9/44.

The stock looks like it could be a Keystone stock because the end of the spring groove is cut on a slight angle. Keystone stocks were made for Remington starting in 1943. Grooves ends on Smith Corona stocks were round and groove ends on Remington stocks were square. It has the RIA cartouche so it was on the rifle before the rebuild. The Ordnance and Atwood stamps are barely visible and several handling chips and dents are present.

There isn’t an import mark, unless it’s the number stamped on the stock.

It still had the remnants of the cosmoline on the stock so it went into arsenal storage after the war.

The US Govt. put a lot of effort and money into this obsolete rifle towards the end of WW2. The M1 Garand should have been plentiful by then. It would make sense that it was loaned to the Greeks after the rebuild.

Edit: The repair that was performed to the stock was nicely done. The wood patch appears to be a hardwood that looks like oak or maple. It’s pegged in two places and there’s an external support near the recoil bolt. I can see a lot of time and effort in this repair. Is this something that the US armorers would have taken the time to do, or would they have simply replaced the stock?

Yeah, this thread is old. I just wanted to close the loop on my search for a nice shootable Springfield M1903. I didn’t think it would take more than three years to find one. It’s been an interesting thread to follow because so many have been willing to share their knowledge and give me the advice I needed. Thank you.

[twh]

RIA/EB is Robert Bjerke (spelling) an inspector at Rock Island. The numbers stamped on the stock and bolt are indicative of a Greek return which is why the rifle has no import marks. The fact that there are two sets, assuming they don’t both match the rifles serial number, just means that the stock was reused on more than one rifle. Keystone made replacement stocks, Remington made there own stocks. As to why the stock was grease soaked the Greeks used different things as a preservative for storage that ranged from something that was almost like soft wax to something that was like axle grease and not at all like cosmolene. This is why your stock appears oil soaked.

[Merc]

RIA/EB is Robert Bjerke (spelling) an inspector at Rock Island. The numbers stamped on the stock and bolt are indicative of a Greek return which is why the rifle has no import marks. The fact that there are two sets, assuming they don’t both match the rifles serial number, just means that the stock was reused on more than one rifle. Keystone made replacement stocks, Remington made there own stocks. As to why the stock was grease soaked the Greeks used different things as a preservative for storage that ranged from something that was almost like soft wax to something that was like axle grease and not at all like cosmolene. This is why your stock appears oil soaked.

Thank you for the information. All of it makes sense.

I think the Greeks were given the rifle after the RIA rebuilt it in 1944 since they sent it back to the US covered in that grease they used as a preservative. I also think the acetone removed most of the excess oil. It was the first time I’d ever seen oil drip from a stock that was sitting in the sun. After 75 years, I’m surprised it didn’t cause swelling or softening.

I think the stock repair was done by the Greeks. I can’t see the US armorers taking the time to repair a stock. I’ve seen damage in the same general area on at least one other ‘03 stock. It was probably caused by the ejecting cases.

[JOHN COOK]

The last 4 digits of the S/N are also etched on the top of the bolt handle

Merc, my rifle also had the last four nbrs. on top of bolt handle and was soaked with something. I finally got it all out of the wood after about two months. Cleaned up pretty good. I then found three 1/4 " dowels imbedded in the stock near the butt plate. It was sanded down and the contour was correct.

john in SC

[Merc]

Merc, my rifle also had the last four nbrs. on top of bolt handle and was soaked with something. I finally got it all out of the wood after about two months. Cleaned up pretty good. I then found three 1/4 " dowels imbedded in the stock near the butt plate. It was sanded down and the contour was correct.

john in SC

They probably fixed a small crack. The Greeks were obviously good wood workers.

[Merc]

When did the Greeks return the M1903s to the US?