Springfield 1903 Restoration Project

[Sup]

We have decided to try and restore my great grandfathers 1903, which means I am now in search of a correct stock for the rifle. Most of them that I can find are 1903a3 or similar, any help would be much appreciated.

Picture of the receiver:

 

[BasraBoy]

Re: Need help finding a stock for a 1903

I can't help you on a whole stock but I have the original top handguard from my M1903A1 project rifle doing nothing. If it'll help, PM me.

It's in great shape, no major dents/dings and no splits. It has the clips attached.

 

[VJJPunisher]

Re: Need help finding a stock for a 1903

have fun finding an original,why not get a stock set from the CMP and then hand rub it with fairtrimmer's military OX, will turn out gorgeous

 

[dannyryan007]

Re: Need help finding a stock for a 1903

CMP would be my recomendation as well. You'll have to call them up and see about availability. I've been in their warehouse, they have everything from iffy service stuff to collectors quality when it comes to M1s but the 1903 stuff was a little slimmer.
CMP customer service
888-267-0796

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: Need help finding a stock for a 1903

I bought a CMP repro, sanded down the CMP logo and sent it in to get the military stamping done on it -

I understand the people they get the stock from doesn't do such a good job of clean-up but CMP gets em and fine sands them a bit more and this is the result.

 

[armydog]

Re: Need help finding a stock for a 1903

what year is the barrel? what year was the receiver made? Are you looking for a straight stock or pistol grip "C" stock? If it straight do you want a finger grove fore stock or smooth?...Good originals are out there if you have the cash, right now their going for 300.00 to 500.00 maybe less if you find the right deal. whats wrong with the old stock? Can you post a pic of the whole rifle?

 

[Sup]

Re: Need help finding a stock for a 1903

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: armydog</div><div class="ubbcode-body">what year is the barrel? what year was the receiver made? Are you looking for a straight stock or pistol grip "C" stock? If it straight do you want a finger grove fore stock or smooth?...Good originals are out there if you have the cash, right now their going for 300.00 to 500.00 maybe less if you find the right deal. whats wrong with the old stock? Can you post a pic of the whole rifle? </div></div>Looking for a straight stock to match the one that was on it. According to the serial number lists the receiver was manufactured in 1928 and still has the original barrel on it.

Whats wrong with the stock is that my dad when he was a youth back in the 50's cut the mannlicher stock down to reduce weight and tossed out the top grip. He now regrets it and would like to restore it into the condition it was in when my great grandfather gave it to him.

I know next to nothing about these rifles so wouldn't even have a clue which stock to order from CMP to get. Would this one be about right for that era:

Edit: I can't post a pic of the whole rifle as I don't have access to it right now. Can snap a pic over Christmas while visiting the folks though.

 

[armydog]

Re: Need help finding a stock for a 1903

Dupage trading, https://www.dupagetrading.com/03-parts.html is selling cut forearms and upper hand guards, might be worth giving it a shot. otherwise the CMP stock are not to bad but I hear the take a little fitting. Good originals are still out there, check eBay, gunbroker and the like.
this is my M1903A4 Faker, i'm working one, its a recovered drill rifle, got the whole thing complete with a nice keystone stock for 140.00 on Gunbroker, then 150.00 for a NOS 44 barrel, got one of 35.00 Gibbs bolts, and 100.00 for the Scopes, Redfield mounts and i'm almost ready to shoot the sniper matches this next summer. still got a little finish work to do.

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: Need help finding a stock for a 1903

The CMP stock didn't take any fitting to speak of, I heard it was teh BOYDS stocks that did, CMP claims they DO the fitting for you - and it is a pretty fair claim -

I sanded down teh CMP logo and sent it in for stamping and am quite pleased with it.

I'm not certain on the cmp thing as to the top handguard - mine came with the 03A3 since the stock I have is a C stock so it will depend on the serial number - I picked up an 03A1 top handguard from numrich that closely matches.

 

[bcw1284]

Re: Need help finding a stock for a 1903

FYI, if your serial is under 880,000 you should NOT fire it as the receiver has only been single heat treated. These are very brittle and can explode even with weaker vintage ammo.

As far as a stock, I believe it should be a finger groove straight grip and you will need all MILLED type (parkerized finish) bands & floorplate. The stamped/blued stuff is for the 1903a3/a4 and is NOT interchangeable, at least the "top" band is not. The cartouche that was on mine was two crossed cannons with "S.A." above and "G.A.W." below them, inside of the rectangle on the left side of the stock near the cutoff switch. There are others though, so there may be a different SA stamp as well. Check one of the 1903 books, like the one by William Brophy.

It should be "P" marked on the grip, and the barrel should be stamped with a "flaming bomb" and date code near the front sight.


Here is the one exception:
IF this was a NM rifle with the peep sights, then the correct stock is the "C" grip. The Scant style is not used on the 03 rifles until the a4 comes along in WWII. The non-groove straight grips are also WWII, or thereabouts, IIRC.

 

[Sup]

Re: Need help finding a stock for a 1903

Thanks for the help, just ordered an "S" type stock and milled upper band. Hopefully these parts will get here quick so we can get things bolted up.

Are there any additional hardware needed to mount the upper band? all other hardware is still intact.

 

[Sup]

Re: Need help finding a stock for a 1903

Dug the rifle out of the safe this afternoon and snapped a few shitty cellphone pics:

 

[Sup]

Re: Springfield 1903 Restoration Project

Stock and front band showed up and finally had some time to put things together a bit:

Looks like I'm going to have to do some sanding as this if all the further I could get the band onto the stock:

Also, do I need to drift out the front sight to install the milled front band? Tried every way I could think of it to get it past the sight, no joy.

Another question, where can I pick up the last couple bits of hardware that I'm missing? Need a bolt and sling swivel for the forward band as well as whatever hardware goes into the slot directly forward of the middle band.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[packratt]

Re: Springfield 1903 Restoration Project

Numrich Arms (e-gunparts.com)
Sarco
Springfield Sporters

 

[Sup]

Re: Springfield 1903 Restoration Project

Have been looking on Sarco, seems they are currently out of stock on a lot of parts.

Will check out Numrich and Springfield Sporters.

 

[Casey Simpson]

Re: Springfield 1903 Restoration Project


<span style="color: #3366FF">http://www.nationalmatcharmory.com/</span>

<span style="font-size: 11pt">Pull down on the left to "1903 Springfield National Match Rifle".
</span>


http://dgrguns.com/New-03-or-03A3-Main-Stocks.htm

 

[madcratebuilder]

Re: Springfield 1903 Restoration Project

Evil bay has a great selection of 1903 parts. You can actually see the part you are buying unlike a lot of parts venders. That can be important if you are trying to match patina.

I'm looking for a 28 vintage SA bolt myself, good luck finding one under $150.