Another 1903 education thread

[TheVolunteers]

Hey guys, I found an ad for a 1903a4 clone from an a3 receiver near me and the asking price seems very low to me so I was hoping to get some advice from the hide before taking a look. I know next to nothing about Springfields (I've been more into K98s) but I've always loved World War II history and I'd like to get my K98's counterpart.

I've read through the other 1903 thread posted recently and gathered some useful information, do you have any recommendations on what to look for specifically with this rifle on shorter notice? It looks to have a reproduction C stock along with "Texan" Ford & Co scope, from what I can gather the scope is probably from the 50s but I don't know much else.

I'm hoping to get a good shooter representation of the real thing, and I know to check for serial numbers beyond 800,000. For the stock, are there any markings I should be looking for to verify its origin? Any knowledge about this "Texan" scope? Aside from general rifle condition, anything else I should be paying special attention to?

Thanks all for the help, hopefully you guys can help me spend my money!

 

[RTH1800]

Norman Ford company made a an early scope in the era of the first Weavers. It was called the Texan. In the same era as the early uncapped Alaskan by Lyman etc. All were low power, steal tube and most all were what we would call a medium CH reticule today.

 

[pmclaine]

With any A3 variation you will have no concerns regard the heat treat/serial number issue.

With a lot of less expensive A4s made from A3s there are commercial enterprises that built them on recovered drill rifles.

A drill rifle is one that the military welded the barrel to the receiver and welded the magazine cutoff off" so when you do inspection arms you don't get hung up and n the magazine. It made the rifles non functional except for drill.

To recover them the welds at the barrel/receiver are cut and the non serviceable barrel is thrown away. The receiver ring can be refaced. The weld at the cutoff is cut through and the receiver ground to make it look cosmetically better.

If the original damage was not to severe and the restorer is good to go the rifle will be good to go.

And some rifles were just made into A4s from perfectly serviceable A3s.

Research it a little bit and ask the seller about this.