Remington M1903 Modified

[Shark Bait]

My father bought this rifle in the 1950's when he thought it might become necessary to hunt in order to feed the family. He said it came packed in cosmoline and he had to work hard to get it all out. His impression was that it had been fired very little. I thought that it was an arsenal rebuild for many years, but I started researching it and learned more info.

In the early rears of WWII, Remington was making 1903 rifles to help meet the demand that production of the Garand could not keep up with. Based on the article below, I have little doubt that this rifle is a 1903 Modified made in 1942. The cartouches on the stock are interesting because one shows it as Springfield Armory, then overstamped by Raritan Arsenal. I'm thinking that the type S stock is earlier than the rifle and perhaps came off another gun. Remington was using surplus stock blanks, so it is possible this stock was also surplus and used for this rifle.

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2016/6/8/the-remington-m1903-rifles/

I know we have a tremendous amount of knowledge on this forum, so if you have more info about this rifle I would love to have it. Also, feel free to share your 1903's here.

 

[OFT II]

I don't think any of the Remington '03 stocks had finger groves. I agree that the stock is likely a SA stock. Nice rifle.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Here's a picture of my M1903 (modified), shipped in 1942. I agree that the stock on yours is probably a "liberated" Springfield Armory stock, used because it was available - and the RA cartouches were overstamps to show that happened officially at Remington.

Remington inherited the old Rock Island Arsenal tooling and after making a few standard '03s, produced some slightly-modified Model 1903s on it early in WWII. These were dubbed by collectors as the Model 1903 (modified). Note that the rear sight base has no grooves, and the adjustment knobs are flat, not dished. The stock has no finger grooves. Rear barrel bands were first grooved (original pattern), and later were stamped in the '03A3 style.

Hope this helps.

John

P.S. You might want to view my photo album depicting U.S. .30 caliber rifles here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/members/paladin85020-albums-u-s-30-caliber-military-rifles.html

 

[Shark Bait]

I don't think any of the Remington '03 stocks had finger groves. I agree that the stock is likely a SA stock. Nice rifle.

The article I linked in my original post states the some did have the finger grooves. Other info I found indicates this stock is probably from the mid 1930's, due to the SA JFC cartouche. I guess it's tough to say whether Remington originally assembled the rifle with this stock, or it was added later. I know it is the stock that was on it when my father bought it.