[Baltimoreed]

I decided that I wanted to do another 1903 so I found this sporterized Mk1 Springfield of 1919 vintage with a 1933 bbl. I picked up what looks like an unsanded uncartouched stock with only a small R in front of the action. I went over it with bronze wool and hit it [and a new looking handguard] with multiple coats of birchwood caseys red military stain and a couple coats of truoil. Milled the grasping grooves on my mini mill. There are 3 scope mount holes on the left side that will need to be addressed. It's together but not finished and needs a few small parts and a blued upper bbl band. I have a mk1 cutoff coming and will probably have to make a dummy mk1 spindle as I can't seem to find one. Here is my 1903 'carbine' build and it's new big brother. The Kerr sling on the Mk1 is original.

 

[Rockys Pop]

LOVE it !!

in 1975 my Dad was working in small-arms at Anniston Army Depot (refurb line) and got pulled to help inventory an older warehouse on the depot.
they found crates of WW1 K-rations that were still quite edible....and at the back of the warehouse they found a crate with 4 NEVER ISSUED 1917 dated 03/A3s still in cosmoline.

the warehouse supervisor called in security and had those wonderful old rifles escorted to the CHOP SHOP, as per protocol.
Dad cried when he told us about it that evening.

 

[Baltimoreed]

Made it into a 11+1 today with a numrich mag extension.

Swapped the mag extension out and put it on my 21 in bbl 1903 build. Put the flat floorplate back on the Mk1. Haven’t shot them since the switch yet but I like the look of it on the shorter rifle. Also replaced the buggered up trigger guard screws with new ones.

 

[Baltimoreed]

Here’s the family photo.

 

[dh1633pm]

A pretty sweet 1903. I have a 1903A3. I put on a replacement stock. Don't worry I still have the original. Replaced with one with all the metal parts so I can swap out quickly.

A few weeks ago I picked up another Krag. All original. I also have a NRA sold one that has the cut off stock.

Nice collection you have. Thanks for the pictures.

 

[Baltimoreed]

Started on another build, here’s my duffle cut ’c’ stock. When I cleaned all the gunk off I discovered 4 lighter patches, 2 on the butt and 2 on the forearm. On another guy’s advice I used leather stain to darken the patches and now have multiple coats of stain on the entire stock. They are just about gone. Truoil should make them disappear. Waiting on my donor rifle still but small my parts have come in. Next big thing will be to repair the duffel cut after my rifle arrives.

 

[dh1633pm]

Nice work. Keep em coming.

 

[Baltimoreed]

Met a guy on RimfireCentral who offered me a repaired M2 stock and a cut M2 fore stock the was in his dads stuff. So I might be using a more correct stock on my build. Hoping the last of my parts and donor 03 will be here this week and I can get this build going. The guy with my 03 has drug his feet big time, 20 days since the darn auction ended.

 

[Baltimoreed]

Shooting the 1903 Springfield Mk1 build next weekend at my cas club’s BAMM shoot. Also using a pair of .45 S&W revolvers. Should be a fun match. Started assembling parts for a cut down Scout Springfield for my next ‘03 build. My donor is a 1934 ‘03 sporter, it’s intact but with a uncut but turned down bbl and no rear sight base. Also had a Redfield recvr sight. I’ll use the refinished ‘C’ stock and cut off stock replacement wood from Sarco, also an 03a3 handguard with a hole cut in it like a mauser handguard for the sight base. Planning on a 18.5 inch bbl. I’ll have to borrow my buds bbl facing tools again. Won’t be another remilitarized rifle, more like a bubba the bubba rifle.

 

[Baltimoreed]

Here’s my 18 inch ‘03 Springfield scout front end, it will eventually have the bbl threaded and the vortex screwed on tight to the upper bbl band. Tried it using the skinny ‘03 mount and sight inside of the bbl band but didn’t like it but wanted to do the front sight that way. I remembered that I had a demilled M1 gas cylinder from another build so I cut it up and tried it. Looks a lot better with the M1 sight. Waiting on a few more bits to arrive. I’ll use a XS Clifton mauser scopemount to put the scope or red dot out on the bbl. When I get my smith to thread the muzzle it I’ll have him turn down the bbl for the XS mount.
I’ve got it together as far as I can. After I drop off the bbl/action at my smith I’ll work on the wood. The lower half of the handguard is new wood but it will get a hole cut into it for the scope mount. Also need to jbweld a thin piece of brass under the thin part of the handguard as a split is starting on the lower end.

 

[Baltimoreed]

Dropped it off at my smith's today to do the bbl work, hopefully it won't be too long.

12-8-20. Smith is threading the bbl now [called me yesterday] so I will get back on it soon.