1917

[Emdawg]

I ordered 2 by accident, just got my 03 faxed and will report when get guns.

By accident he says.

[Bainter1212]

By accident he says.

That's what he will tell his wife.

[w55]

That's what he will tell his wife.

Ha

[w55]

Sweet should be here 20th!!

[Grendl]

Picked it up from FedEx last night. Bolt handle was sticking out of the box and three of the four pieces of tape that were holding the box closed had failed or were one strand from failing.



Rifle is complete. Every part seems to be accounted for. The firing pin launched a pencil several feet into the air, so that and the safety function properly. Really filthy chamber and bore, but passes the bullet test.

[Irrelavant]

Hey Grendl, that thing looks really good! Did you get 100% chrome? So far, you have the best of the bunch.

[Grendl]

Yes, everything (except the butt plate) is chromed over a non-sandblasted finish so it gleams like a mirror with lots of little eagle heads and initials. I'd be more tempted to strip the chrome if I knew it had a nice blue finish underneath, but I fear that was stripped as part of the plating process. I think I'll just strip the stock. Seems like a thick enamel or lacquer-based paint. I'll try a heat gun first to avoid staining the wood white.

[Irrelavant]

Yes, everything is chromed over a non-sandblasted finish so it gleams like a mirror with lots of little eagle heads and initials. I'd be more tempted to strip the chrome if I knew it had a nice blue finish underneath, but I fear that was stripped as part of the plating process. I think I'll just strip the stock. Seems like a thick enamel or lacquer-based paint. I'll try a heat gun first to avoid staining the wood white.

I used gel paint stripper and it worked really well. Careful with the heat gun, the wood was REALLY dry on mine. Your chrome looks really good. The more I get into mine, the more pitting I find in the chrome...still thinking about stripping and re-chroming. I'm taking progress pics for a transformation post later.

[Bainter1212]

I have decided for now not to strip the chrome on mine.......if someone else does it and it comes out real nice though I may reconsider. My stock wasn't painted so I didn't have to contend with that issue.

I know refinishing can diminish the value of a collectible......what I don't know is if a chromed parade rifle is actually a "collectible" in and of itself or if it's value has already been destroyed.
I don't want to refinish it if there will be future demand for "original" parade guns.

With all that said, the markings on mine are really deep and bold so if I had the chrome stripped off I believe the markings would be OK.

A couple of plating companies advertise the ability to strip off chrome without damaging the underlying metal so that is a thought.....

[Marcus von W.]

Original finish on these was rust blued.

Late WW1 to early post-WW1 refurb/overhaul finish is some kind of dark flat black - not sure if it's some kind of bluing or black oxide type finish, but not thicker and grainy like Parkerizing.

WW2 refurb finish is Parkerizing. Kind of smooth (not real grainy) and dark greyish, from what I recall. A number of these were overhauled and refurbished for WW2, some of these will have WW2 production "JA" - Johnson Arms - marked barrels.


I myself would just clean them up and leave them as is. This is part of their history and the configuration in which they last served. Of course I could see stripping the stock if damage repair necessitates it or if the finish is just unacceptably deteriorated.

[mj1]

Local VFW had some chrome 03s so I might have have a look this could be a new venue.

[major burnout]

Just picked mine up from the Fedex store. When I get home I have to juggle a crying baby and then get past my wife, who will want to know why, oh why, did I buy another rifle......
Might be latet tonight until I can inspect it.

Pro tip:
Wait for the cover of darkness to bring it inside.

[w55]

Got mine from Fed X today. Both had unpainted wood and the chrome had been painted over with a flat black. The black paint comes off with the slightest touch and chrome under the paint.

They actually look pretty cool.

[TRAP55]

Got mine from Fed X today. Both had unpainted wood and the chrome had been painted over with a flat black. The black paint comes off with the slightest touch and chrome under the paint.

They actually look pretty cool.

Two of em?
Bring some burlap, you're doing the stocks while I clean the paint off.

[w55]

Two of em?
Bring some burlap, you're doing the stocks while I clean the paint off.

Deal!! Yes 2