Custom 1903 Springfield Build - Old School

[headoftheholler]

After a handful of Mauser builds, 3 of which are still in progress, I started an old school 03 Springfield build. Plan is pre war style with a couple of my own touches. Will post updates as I get them done.
Stock for project:




Donor action, wont be using this stock, bolt handle, scope, bases, or scope safety. I have a straight bolt handle and appropriate safety to replace the modified pieces:

I used positive stop filler screws to fill in the D&T holes and dressed them down flush:

I also installed a Lyman 17 front sight that was grossly oversized to the ramps dovetail, so I dressed it down to be flush with the ramp:
BEFORE:

And AFTER:

Still will need to locate the older 48 Lyman and rustblue all the metal.

 

[headoftheholler]

As I didn't want to do anything to the forearm of the stock, I picked up a Talley barrel band and worked it into a half-moon custom barrel mounted sling band.
Before:

After:

After fitting to barrel contour and rounding off sharp edges and polishing. Ready for solder.

Got the band soldered on and cleaned up a bit. Tried to position not too far from Schnabel and with a sling have muzzle just slightly higher than top of my head.

 

[rcmodel]

I don't know what it's going to look like?

But I like it already!!!

The bolt handle looks a little funky.
But maybe you haven't got that done yet??

rc

 

[Liberty1776]

VERY classy...

 

[headoftheholler]

I don't know what it's going to look like?

But I like it already!!!

The bolt handle looks a little funky.
But maybe you haven't got that done yet??

rc

Yeah that things gone, basically all I am keeping from the donor rifle is the bare barreled action. I have an orig unmodified straight down bolt body and bolt shroud/safety that is going on the build.

 

[headoftheholler]

About half way done

 

[jim in Anchorage]

Where did you get that amazing stock?

 

[horsemen61]

awesome as always I love the look of your projects can't wait to see the end result on this one

 

[Jim Watson]

Looks good.
But a globe sight on a hunting rifle?

 

[headoftheholler]

Here in the mountains my absolute max is 50 yards, maybe 75. The post and dot insert will work just fine within those paramaters on whitetails or elk here.

 

[agtman]

Looks great, but I'm not seeing a rear sight, ... and that will be what? ... a peep? ... an express sight forward of the receiver ring?

 

[headoftheholler]

Looks great, but I'm not seeing a rear sight, ... and that will be what? ... a peep? ... an express sight forward of the receiver ring?

Still tons of work to do. Rear sight will be a Lyman 48 receiver sight (note D&T holes and inlet on side of stock for it) It is enroute. The front ring and insert are also absent in picture, Still need to have a good friend of mine engrave the sides of the front ramp, sides of barrel band, floorplate and trigger bow, nothing elaborate, just simple elegant scrolls. Bolt and barreled action still need rust blued which I cant do till its back from engraver.

 

[Bexar]

What are you going to do with the bolt body? The bolt on my Daughter's 1903 Smith-Corona has a firing pin strike that is off center. I'm concerned it might affect accuracy. The SC is sportarized with a similar bent bolt.

Thanks

 

[Bexar]

Looks great, but I'm not seeing a rear sight, ... and that will be what? ... a peep? ... an express sight forward of the receiver ring?

She is beautiful.

 

[headoftheholler]

Bolt body is standard straight bend, un modified, still needs blued but no further modification needed

 

[rcmodel]

The bolt on my Daughter's 1903 Smith-Corona has a firing pin strike that is off center. I'm concerned it might affect accuracy. The SC is sportarized with a similar bent bolt.

Start a new thread in Gunsmithing, with a photo of the off-center FP strikes and we can maybe figure it out.

rc

 

[19-3Ben]

Wow. Stunning work.

 

[Bexar]

Start a new thread in Gunsmithing, with a photo of the off-center FP strikes and we can maybe figure it out.

rc

Thanks...will do and a shell casing with primer strike also. (thumbs up)

 

[Mike T]

1903

Great job! Makes my mouth water. I've never seen "RMO" on the receiver ring. What does it mean?

 

[rcmodel]

It used to say ARMORY.

Part of the word is struck out for some odd reason.

rc

 

[Mike T]

Sporter

Jeez, I was expecting something more interesting than that.

 

[200Apples]

.

Holy Toledo! I've not seen many more-elegant rifles than this one right here.

Stunning.

 

[1KPerDay]

Great stuff! Can't wait to see the finished build. *drool*

 

[Jim Watson]

RMO arose for no odd reason. The A and RY of Armory were obliterated by holes drilled and tapped for the front scope base.
The "dashes" are the slots of plug screws turned into scope base hole and dressed smooth as he converts it back to a period iron sight sporter.

The reason I asked about the globe front sight was that I see a lot said on the Shiloh board about the difference between target globe sights and silver or copper blade hunting sights. I guess if you can see the globe insert against a critter, you are ok.

 

[Al(2506)]

1903 Springfield

When I first saw the serial no. I was concerned about the heat treating on it. My old mind can't remember what the no. was where they started double heat treating the receiver's. Seems like around 800,000 but not sure. This is what I did to one that was questionable. The A.T.F. required the front of the action threads to be cut through. You can see the serial No. is very low, and I would not use it for a rebuild. Al