I tried making this rifle as "correct" as I could, given that I installed a new WW2 period barrel
The upper and lower band are milled, the trigger guard is milled, the stock is WW2, the receiver and bolt are more or less pre War. The bolt stop is not MK1. It has a smooth bolt, the cocking piece is WW2, but that is what it took to get a crisp final release.
I don't remember the history, or when I purchased this M1903A3
I am quite sure the pistol grip stock is one I found. I have a couple of scant grip stocks. Straight grip stocks are too short for me! I might have even installed a new four groove barrel. I think I was told by a M1903 expert that original barrel bands were blued. So ones that are parkerized went through a rebuild program. I handed that expert a M1903A3 that I was sure was all correct and original, because the thing was so new when I purchased it. Nope, it had been through a rebuild program. This guy could identify parts by contours and tooling characteristics. When he identified this part as Smith Corona, and this one as Remington (but no "R"), hell if I know what he was looking at. Generally Remington parts have a "R" stamped on them. But not all.
I was able to purchase two, new, early WW2 production smooth Remington M1903 bolts. This is one
now here is where the bolt identification differs. The other bolt has all these inprocess stamping, and also has an "R" on the root
I saved the stamp bolt for trading as the R clearly proves who made it. Collectors want irrefutable authenticity. The thing is, these rifles were made in war time. The highest priority was to get them out the door. No American military weapon was ever built in consideration of meeting collector's aspirations 50 years after they were declared obsolete and surplussed. I have met Garand collectors who are very dogmatic as to what constitutes a correct Garand. They agree maybe 90% on part identification. One bud who spent months working at CMP when it was at Anniston Army Depot, mentioned that the collector books are frequently wrong. Collector books are based on examination of existing specimens, and prior to the huge influx of Garands, etc, by the CMP, the number to be examined was limited. To those who were pulling Greek lend lease out of original 1950's shipping cases, they saw things that the book authors never would. One I remember was that the books stated that Springfield Armory barrels on H&R receivers were considered "incorrect". And then thousands of new H&R Garands came in from Greece with new SA barrels. Obviously H&R needed barrels, and purchased them from Springfield Armory. That would of course be anathema to a collector, right? Collectors would insist on purity, never shall a SA part touch a H&R Garand. Well what mattered at the time, was getting Garands out the door, and as long as the things went bang at the end of the production line, it did not matter whose parts were on the thing. Of course H&R had to pay for those barrels, one way or another. In fact, H&R might have conducted a "Make or Buy" decision, and found SA barrels were cheaper to buy, than for H&R to make them. Corporations are really nasty in this regard. If they can make more profit buying something, than making it, they will preferentially buy. And that means the inhouse shop who is losing business to outside corporations is at real risk of going away. Pink slip Friday!
I understand the desire for authenticity. With the old weapons, having one that is exactly as it is when it left the factory is a real treat. Except when I shot the things in old bolt gun matches, and then what mattered most was function, accuracy, ergonomics. And I was quite happy to sideline straight grip or scant grip stocks for pistol grip. I would swap strikers and sears. Trade worn rear sights for one with positive clicks. Etc, etc. I also replaced worn barrels with new ones. I made sure to purchase new M1903 and M1903A3 barrels when I came across them. I don't have an all original or all correct M1903 or M1903A3. I don't think I ever had one to start with.
The thing is, does your rifle go bang and does it place the bullet where you aimed. If it does, its a good rifle. The narrative you want, of all correct and authentic, its just a story in your head.