Help needed identifying this M1903

[73 RB-Z]

I did a good amount of searching, but information seems a little scattered on these rifles... or I haven't found the right website yet.

My uncle has this Rock Island 1903, pictured below, and I'm trying to decode a little bit of its history

At first glance, it's not an A3
It has a C-stock if my Google searches are correct
Receiver serial dates it to around 1918 or thereabouts, in the "safe" range for RIA receivers
Barrel is by Springfield dated 1942
Looks to be stamped trigger guard / mag floor plate (not sure if these were ever machined)

From reading, my guess is that this rifle is possible a 1942 build for WW2 issue. Where I get a little lost was my impression that all WW2 issued 1903's had the A3 update. The stock also looks very clean, which makes me skeptical that it was issued at all. Maybe it was just rebarreled in 1942 and that's it?

My dad and his brother got these probably in the 50s when they were selling for next to nothing.

Can anyone with M1903 experience weigh in?

He sent me photos from his ipad. I cropped and sized to show the rifle, I know the banisters will look wrong

[Maxwell 2]

Based on the information provided, WIKI states the following on this riffle:

M1903 with 'scant' stock (1942)— in late 1941, before the 1903A3 was standardized, Army Ordnance wanted to standardize on a pistol-grip stock for all M1903 rifles. There were thousands of stock blanks that had been sized for the old straight stock. They weren't deep enough for the full pistol grip of the Type C stock, so they were modified to allow a "scant" grip that was the largest grip they could form. These "scant" stocks would only fit on a 1903, and would not fit an 03A3. Springfield only rebuilt existing M1903 rifles using this stock in 1942 and marked the cut-off seat with a small "s."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1903_Springfield

[highpower]

You had it pretty close on your first post. It looks like a rebuild of a WWI Rock Island 1903 with the usual mixture of different years and manufacturers of parts.

The C stock looks like a wartime Keystone, but the pistol grip area looks a bit more refined than is typical of Keystone stocks. Without better pictures it is hard to tell. If it has the cut out for a A3 upper handguard band then it is definitely a WWII stock. Scant stocks look way different and if you ever see one you will instantly be able to tell the difference between them.

Other than that there is not really all that much to say about it, although it should be a good shooter.

[kendog4570]

It is not a scant stock. It is either an A4, a replacement Keystone like highpower said, or a "C" type A1 or NM DCM stock. Are there any drawing numbers stamped in the wood on the butt, on the toe side forward of the rear sling swivel mortise?

[Mustang]

It is definitely a "high number" Rock Island receiver and was made with nickel steel, so it should be safe to shoot.

If someone can look in the magazine cut off relief, there may be a letter stamped there, possibly an "S" or a "K", which may help identify the stock maker.

As other have said, it is likely a WWII rebuild. If the barrel is still good, it could be a good shooter. It looks to be in good shape.

Does your Dad or Uncle remember where they got them?

[highpower]

It is not a scant stock. It is either an A4, a replacement Keystone like highpower said, or a "C" type A1 or NM DCM stock. Are there any drawing numbers stamped in the wood on the butt, on the toe side forward of the rear sling swivel mortise?

Defiately not an A4 as there is no relief for the A4 bolt handle.

[73 RB-Z]

You guys rock, thanks very much. I'll try to get the info on stock markings. It may be a bit before I can get the info from him, It took a couple weeks for him to take and send the pictures

I'm realllly hoping he lets me take it out for some shooting, it looks like such a nice rifle.

I don't have a year for purchase on them. When they got their rifles, my dad says they paid $12 for the M1917 and the same for the 1903 I can only imagine they were bought from the old army navy surplus in Walnut Creek

[vdgamrero]

Scant stocks look way different and if you ever see one you will instantly be able to tell the difference between them.