Identify two guns I recently came across...

[possenti]

The first one is probably easy...

My friend's uncle went to the range with us Sunday so he could sight in his gun for deer season. It was a .30-06 bolt action. The reciever had stamped on it "National Ordnance", but it was abbrievated to something like "NATIONL ORD." on top, near the barrel. There was also a number:

"1903" - and then a letter and number - A3 I think.

I'm not familiar with old military arms, but my best guess was a Springfield or a clone. I googled up some pics, but the '03's I saw were much longer and had wood furniture over the barrel. The gun at the range had a shorter barrel, and was uncovered on top. The stock and recoil pad looked fairly modern. It also had what was clearly an aftermarket adjustable rear sight, and a hooded front sight. The owner said he had no idea what it was - his dad just gave it to him. Is it a "sporterized" surplus rifle?

Rifle #2:

My boss gave me an old .22LR rifle to repair. The magazine latch was loose and wouldn't hold the magazine in. A missing screw was the culprit (easy fix). Stamped on the barrel was "Coast to Coast Stores". I don't remember the model #. The magazine was detachable. It held five rounds and was slightly curved. The bolt handle pushed in not only in the rearward position to hold the bolt open, but also in battery - I assumed to lock the bolt shut for more quiet operation when fired. I've seen old Springfield rimfires with some of the same features, but the action was a type I'd never seen before. There was no hammer. The bolt was a "two piece", where the back half would slam forward into the rear of the firing pin when the trigger was pulled.

Anyway, I've come across two different guns this week that I know very little about. Any information would be appreciated.

 

[MrMurphy]

The first one was a sporterized Springfield M1903A3 made sometime from 1942 till 1944/45, probably with a new stock, possibly a new or at least shortened barrel, and a new rear sight.

If it's the full length military barrel there should be a "flaming bomb" ordnance stamp and month-year it was made near the muzzle about four inches back.

 

[Jim K]

The National Ordnance was never a military rifle. They were made with cast receivers and surplus military parts in the late 50's and early 60's. They used Model 1903A3 parts so that is what they marked the receiver. Government contract Model 1903A3 rifles were made by Remington and Smith-Corona.

Some folks consider them dangerous because of the perceived lack of quality in the receiver, but I have seen few reported problems. The gun store where I worked in those days sold a lot of them and the only one I saw bad had a warped receiver. We returned the rifle and they replaced it.

If I recall correctly, Coast to Coast was/is a chain of auto parts stores. Like Western Auto, Sears, and Montgomery Ward, they were big enough to order guns with their own name on them.

You don't say, but I assume the rifle in question is a semi-auto. It sounds like the Savage Model 7, which Coast to Coast sold as their model 285. They also sold the Marlin 99C as their Model 40. Both used roughly the same action. The model number would help.

Jim

 

[BEARMAN]

Goto ( www.e-gunparts.com/crossref.asp ) look up COAST TO COAST and model number . Or goto ( www.gunpartscorp.com ) enter then goto cross reference at the bottem of the index.

 

[possenti]

"Model 285" sounds very familiar. Thanks guys!