Springfield Model 1903 WW2 Remington Contract

[Mp40Bran]

Hello everyone. I have a Springfield Model 1903 WW2 Remington Contract. All parts are matching. Please let me know if it looks authentic. The seller is asking $600. I really appreciate everyones help.

[Mp40Bran]

Date

[Johnny Peppers]

It is a Model 1903 Remington, but has been through rebuild. The "scant" stock was not used on any original 1903 Remington rifles, and the P in a square is a rebuild proof mark.

The "scant" stock was the result of using straight grip stock blanks in a duplicating machine for pistol grip stocks. The military had run out of stock blanks large enough to make a pistol grip stock, but still had plenty of straight grip blanks on hand, but no duplicating machine for straight grip stocks.

During WWII when Remington was making the 1903A4 Sniper rifle they ran out of pistol grip stocks, and the "scant" stock was substituted on some of the 03A4 rifles.

[Mp40Bran]

Thank you so much for your help? So was the stock rebuild in WW2 correct? Does this hurt the collector value of the gun? Does this mean this model was used as a sniper?

[Johnny Peppers]

Thank you so much for your help? So was the stock rebuild in WW2 correct? Does this hurt the collector value of the gun? Does this mean this model was used as a sniper?

More than likely the rifle was a post WWII rebuild. Not being original does hurt the collector value.

It was not used as a sniper rifle. The model 03-A4 that was a sniper rifle was marked 03-A3, in case the receiver was ever used again as an 03-A3, but the marking and serial number were placed on either side of a Redfield base for a scope sight that covered the top of the receiver.

If I can get the photo posting to work I will post photos.

[Jeff V]

$600.00 is a good deal, almost all of these went through a rebuild at a government arsenal. Almost all of the ones that supposedly have not been rebuilt are collector put togethers.

[Johnny Peppers]

Most of the original Model 1903 Rifles that are in original condition were Lend-Lease, and brought back to the US in the 1950's time period.

Quite a few of the 1903-A3's in unissued condition were sold through the NRA/DCM in the 1950/60's time period.

[oldcorps]

Assuming the bore is in the same condition as the rest of the rifle, $600 is an excellent price. The bolt is not original to the rifle and since the handle is straight (as opposed to swept back) it's either Rock Island or Springfield from a low numbered, much earlier rifle. No big deal because correct WWII Remington bolts are plentiful at about $25 and headspacing is easily accomplished. Otherwise, all metal parts should be marked with an "R."

The Marine Corps still had some '03A1 sniper rifles as late as 1964 when an armorer buddy showed me some at Le Jeune. These were all former national match rifles fitted with 8X Unertl scopes and kept in individual wooden crates. Their designatios was M41 and they most likely made it to southeast Asia early in the Vietnam War. As far as I know, these were the last of the 1903 series issued for other than purposes.

[Willi Z.]

Quite a few of the 1903-A3's in unissued condition were sold through the NRA/DCM in the 1950/60's time period.

I had several of those back in the early 90s. Wish I had kept them.

[Mp40Bran]

Thank you everyone for your help!

[Johnny Peppers]

Some of the straight handle bolts were double heat treated, but most are single heat treated. The swept back bolt handle was first used in late 1918, about the same time as the double heat treated receivers.

[oldcorps]

We can only go by the pictures. The odds are overwhelming that it's a single heat treatment bolt and at any rate, not original to the rifle in any way. The symbols beneath the bolt handle will reveal its vintage.

[Johnny Peppers]

Some of the single heat treatment bolts are marked on the safety lug.

[oldcorps]

Yes, I probably have at least one but these are far less common than the correct bolt for the Rem. '03 that's the topic of the thread and would only be of value to someone retrofitting an early '03.

[Johnny Peppers]

Yes, I probably have at least one but these are far less common than the correct bolt for the Rem. '03 that's the topic of the thread and would only be of value to someone retrofitting an early '03.

Kind of what I thought also when the information was posted on the heat lot numbers being under the bolt handle. Just additional information on the heat lots.