(Remington) Springfield 1903 - First Vintage Rifle

McArgent

McArgent

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I scored a Remington made Springfield 1903. It's in mint condition (at least in my opinion) and it's a beauty. I didn't expect it to be anywhere near this nice.
Now I feel like I need the "fixin's" for it, and if it starts this nice, I really need to take care of it. The stock feels "dry" and a bit rough. My knee jerk was to throw some oil on it, but I don't want it to swell or get tacky. I also considered some really light sanding, but again, I might find out that rough feel makes it easier to hold and whatnot. The one thing that's wrong with it is that the cross-bar for the elevation is bent on one side. I'll need to replace that eventually, but not critical right now. I also need to get some clips for it (finally a 'functional' way to teach my nephew to clarify between clips and magazines). I also feel like I need to get a sling for it.

This is what my father used when he was in the Army (he was an aircraft mechanic, not infantry, but he qualified as a marksman in boot), and it's going with me when I visit him for his birthday this year, so he can shoot one again.

Share your wisdom with me. :)
 
After handling it some more, it's not as rough as I thought.

Also, looking at the cross-bar on the elevation, I'm not so sure that it's not supposed to be bent like that. It still moves fine.
 
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Sanding is a No-No. When I start on a mil-surp stock I just wash it down with good old soapy water (Dawn and warm water). I’ll wash and rinse it maybe 2 or 3 times depending then towel dry it and lay in the Sun to dry for an hour or so. Then I go a little different way from most … I use raw linseed oil instead of boiled linseed oil. Most of today’s boiled stuff is actually not boiled but chemically “boiled” and I just like raw. It does take a lot longer to dry so instead of a weekend project it turns into a week but when the raw linseed oxidizes it give that reddish-brown patina that I personally like best. Anyway when I apply the raw linseed I just coat it and rub in in gently making sure is covered well but not dripping soaked. Usually I apply a morning coat and then an evening coat the first couple days then I’ll apply one coat in the evening for a couple more days until you see the wood is now drying even in all places. After that it is maybe one light coat a year just to keep it nice.
 
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I can't believe that you'd post about an '03 and not show us any pics! Sounds like a nice piece though.

The "cross bar" is officially known as the rear sight slide. Is it bent to the point that it won't move? The slide can be disassembled and replaced if it's truly buggered up.

1624971895842.png
 
OK, that one is flat all the way across (and in 2 pieces, good to know). Mine still slides up and down, so it's not critical to replace it, but I'll want to eventually.
Now that I've got some sunlight, I'll get some pics of it (partially for my own records as well).
 
I believe that if pictures of said rifle are not posted forthwith then you should be flogged with an angry tuna and sent to a 3 day time out to ponder your misdeeds.
 
What is the texture just below the cats head on the stock?

1624980198944.png
 
McArgent said:
If you mean the dark spot, it's the cat's shadow, or if it's that checkerboard, it's the screen in the window that I was getting sunlight from. :)
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The checkerboard is what I was wondering about.
 
Was curious about that, you can see it in the table surface also. Nice 1942 [I think] rifle. According to Poyer your ‘03 rifle is about 40,000 away from the 03-a3 and could be a [Modified] transition rifle between the two. Your S stock is supposed to be rougher than the earlier better finished straight and C stocks were. Multiple shortcuts and features of the rifle were eliminated to increase productivity. Should be a good shooter.
 
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I've got ammo for it now, and it might go to the range very soon.

Somehow I thought I had looked it up and found 1924. That means the barrel on it is the original, it wasn't replaced. That also kind of tells me it was intended to be used in WWII (guessing), but it couldn't have been because the condition is too nice. And here I thought it was almost 100 years old. It's "only" 79. However, that also means it was made the same year my Dad was born.
 
baltimoreed said:
Was curious about that, you can see it in the table surface also. Nice 1942 [I think] rifle. According to Poyer your ‘03 rifle is about 40,000 away from the 03-a3 and could be a [Modified] transition rifle between the two. Your S stock is supposed to be rougher than the earlier better finished straight and C stocks were. Multiple shortcuts and features of the rifle were eliminated to increase productivity. Should be a good shooter.
Click to expand...
It looks like a scant stock
 
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SWEET SCORE ! Gotta love them old classics. DPRC has some steel out at 300 yds that needs ringing
 
Billy - If you weren't 3 hours away, I'd take you up on that.

Bahamadon - From what I understand, DPRC has a waiting list to get a membership.
 
I'm used to traveling a bit more than an hour up to Caswell.
I've also just got back from a long road trip, so I'm a bit "road tripped" out.
 
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