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On Thursday I received two Smith-Corona M1903A3s from CMP. These were advertised as Veteran Returns - VFW, AmLegion, etc.. Imagine my surprise when I opened the boxes and found both rifles coated in cosmo/axle grease with the last four ser# stamped into the stocks and electro-penciled onto the bolt handles. These were very clearly GREEK RETURN RIFLES, of which I have no less than six from previous CMP sales. The good thing is that both had bright shiny bores which gauged very well for MW and TE.
However, one of them had been modified by the Greeks, who installed a sling swivel into the left side of the buttstock and brazed a sling loop onto the left side of the lower band, thus modifying the rifle from USGI configuration. I contacted Lynn Meredith at CMP - he's their M1903 expert armorer - who was also surprised as he didn't know there were anymore Greek returns at CMP. We agreed that I would return the modified rifle which he would replace. Great service from CMP, as always.
The second rifle is a keeper with a circa 9-43 serial number. FJA with RIA E.B. re-build stamped stock with correct 6-43 dtd. barrel with a MW<2 and a TE2 and a S-C bolt body, which was rebuilt with Remington parts. (Anybody want to trade S-C parts for Rem parts?) If this rifle was ever carried or shot it was very minimal. It would have gone through a post WWII rebuild regardless.
I would be interested to hear from any Cal Gunners who also receive Greek return rifles or who are avid M1903 collectors
However, one of them had been modified by the Greeks, who installed a sling swivel into the left side of the buttstock and brazed a sling loop onto the left side of the lower band, thus modifying the rifle from USGI configuration. I contacted Lynn Meredith at CMP - he's their M1903 expert armorer - who was also surprised as he didn't know there were anymore Greek returns at CMP. We agreed that I would return the modified rifle which he would replace. Great service from CMP, as always.
The second rifle is a keeper with a circa 9-43 serial number. FJA with RIA E.B. re-build stamped stock with correct 6-43 dtd. barrel with a MW<2 and a TE2 and a S-C bolt body, which was rebuilt with Remington parts. (Anybody want to trade S-C parts for Rem parts?) If this rifle was ever carried or shot it was very minimal. It would have gone through a post WWII rebuild regardless.
I would be interested to hear from any Cal Gunners who also receive Greek return rifles or who are avid M1903 collectors
