My first 1903

[pterrell]

Bought my first 1903 today! Serial number date to 1929 made by Springfield. Bore is nice and shiny, stock has seen better days but is solid, and the LGS even test fired it twice in the back before I put money down on it.

What can you guys tell me about it? I'm pretty stoked.

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[SonofWWIIDI]

I know nothing about it, except that it looks cool and I'm jealous!

Sweet gun!

Congrats.

[ccandgc]

looks like it was refurbished in 44? They are fun and accurate. Prolly won't be your last one....

[DennisCA]

Awesome - now go and shoot it!

I think I have some links I can send to you, will look for them later today.

[0321jarhead]

That's a High Standard barrel. Very good barrels.

If your serial number is above 800,000 you are good to go as receivers are concerned. Other than that they are great rifles. Got a couple myself. A 1903 and a 1903A3.

Enjoy!

[Eljay]

I have a late one and it's a fantastic rifle. I'm sure you'll really enjoy yours.

[pterrell]

I'm really looking forward to it. Not sure when it was refurbished but I figured it had to have been. The number is in the 1300000 range.

If I wanted my next one with a scope and have it be correct, what model would I be looking for? I don't want to drill and tap this guy lol

[nick]

I'm really looking forward to it. Not sure when it was refurbished but I figured it had to have been. The number is in the 1300000 range.

If I wanted my next one with a scope and have it be correct, what model would I be looking for? I don't want to drill and tap this guy lol

M1903A4. Good luck

[Armistice]

M1903A4. Good luck

Not an 03A3?

[nick]

Not an 03A3?

He wants a correct M1903 with a scope. That's an M1903A4

[Armistice]

Oh the A3 has the updated peepsights or rear sight slider thingy... dur :P

[highpower]

He wants a correct M1903 with a scope. That's an M1903A4

Not really. Actually, a correct 1903 with a scope is one of several models:

There is the WWI version that could be equipped with either a model of 1908 or a model of 1913 scope made by Warner-Swazey.

Then there is the pre WWII Winchester A5 scoped 1903-A1 as used by the USMC and the WWII USMC '03-A1 National Match rifles equipped with a Unertl 8X sniper scope also used by the Marines.

Of them all, the '03-A4 is the most often encountered and the least expensive. You better have deep pockets for any of them, but the sniper rifles based on a a model 1903 rifle are far and away more desirable and pricy than a lowly A4.

Edited to add: OP your rifle is a high number Springfield that was rebarreled with a High Standard barrel, probably after WWII. The stock shows the usual beating given to these rifles by the Greeks, but it is a "real" 1903 stock rather than a 03-A3 replacement stock.

[pterrell]

Not really. Actually, a correct 1903 with a scope is one of several models:

There is the WWI version that could be equipped with either a model of 1908 or a model of 1913 scope made by Warner-Swazey.

Then there is the pre WWII Winchester A5 scoped 1903-A1 as used by the USMC and the WWII USMC '03-A1 National Match rifles equipped with a Unertl 8X sniper scope also used by the Marines.

Of them all, the '03-A4 is the most often encountered and the least expensive. You better have deep pockets for any of them, but the sniper rifles based on a a model 1903 rifle are far and away more desirable and pricy than a lowly A4.

Edited to add: OP your rifle is a high number Springfield that was rebarreled with a High Standard barrel, probably after WWII. The stock shows the usual beating given to these rifles by the Greeks, but it is a "real" 1903 stock rather than a 03-A3 replacement stock.

I had figured it was rebarreled at some point. I wasn't going to kid myself that it was original when I saw how nice it looked. I'm glad to hear that it is a "real" 1903 stock vs a replacement. What are the chances that it is original? I know M1 Garands can come with original stocks from time to time. Is 80 years too long for it to survive? Obviously it isn't in my possession yet so I can't really sit down and pour over it for a cartouche or something.

I should probably add that I would be looking for a shooter that I would use while hunting (one day) rather than drilling and tapping an 84 year old rifle.

Anyways, I paid $600 for it. Maybe it was a good deal, maybe it wasn't. Either way, I'm excited to have it

EDIT: Would I be out of my mind to refinish the stock? Sand it down a bit and smooth the bumps out then give it a coat of oil or varnish. I wouldn't want to do something that ruins it down the line but the stock is a little on the rough side.

[0321jarhead]

EDIT: Would I be out of my mind to refinish the stock? Sand it down a bit and smooth the bumps out then give it a coat of oil or varnish. I wouldn't want to do something that ruins it down the line but the stock is a little on the rough side.

That would for sure be taboo and bring you as many years bad luck as is the rifles age.

There are a couple of good books to get that would be of a great benefit for you.

[highpower]

You did okay at $600. I recently bought one that was made in 1934 with the original barrel but it has been used as much as yours.

In 1929 the stock was stamped on the left side just to the rear of the triggerguard with the initials, D.A.L. in a box with rounded corners.

Behind the trigger guard on the underside of the stock will be a firing proof "P" inside a circle. During armory rebuilds in the US, often, but not always, a second "P" will be stamped behind the original proof if the rifle went through a rebuild. A single "P" without a circle or one in a square box indicates a rebuild where the original stock was replaced.

This is a picture of the left side and the area behind the triggerguard of the stock on a 1906 vintage '03 that I have. It has been through the armory test and rebuild twice, first at Benicia Arsenal (BA-WL stamp) and then through the Philippine Ordnance District Arsenal (POD-D) in Manila before WWII. In the right light you can just see a ghost of the original "JEC" cartouche.The barrel is a 1-19 dated Avis replacement which probably accounts for the second "P" proof behind the original proof.



Even if you don't have the original stock it was issued with (which it is doubtful that you do) be happy that you have a genuine pre war stock. Most of the '03's seen nowadays have replacement stock that are cut to fit either a '03 or a '03-A3.

Probably the least expensive way to build a sniper is to find a '03-A3 that has already been drilled and tapped for a scope. The A4 scope mount was made by Redfield and there are plenty out there. Add a Lyman scope and you will have a genuine 03-A4 clone. You will still have something north of a grand in it, but that is much less than a original would cost you.