sportarized 03a3?

gwhaling · 01-20-2008, 06:22 PM

What parts do I need to convert it back to original. Stock and top wood also I know. What about the front band and swivels for the sling. Its a real nice shooting gun. Set up by my father for hunting in the mid 60's before they were valuable. Just looking to collect the parts to restore it in the future.
Should say where can I get the parts also.
Glen

Dickie d · 01-25-2008, 08:16 AM

The best place to get and see what you need is Numrick arms. They list what you will need and have pictures of the assembly and the cost of each part. In some cases new parts will bite you, the stock has stamps or cartouches on it and the true collector wants everything original. I have some parts but haven't had time to go thru them. I do have a full pistol grip stock for $100 + shipping if you are interested. Good luck.

nathangdad · 01-25-2008, 09:06 AM

One of the major problems with the older
sporterizing was the removal of metal. Check the sights front and rear for this situation. Also, check the receiver to see if any rounding or other work was done prior to drilling and tapping for scope bases. If your gun has some rather extensive metal removal/shaping/drilling it might not be a candidate for taking back to its original form. Also, your trigger may not be original.

SwedeSteve · 01-25-2008, 04:17 PM

Great advice Nath! Thanks.

gwhaling · 01-27-2008, 09:04 AM

Dickied,
I would be interested in the stock if it would be correct. The one I have is not a pistol grip. Could you get either stock in the same serial #'s/age. I have always been confused on that issue.
nathangdad,
No metal removal except front sight protectors. Dad said he cut them off. But I cannot see any evidence of that. Seen people saying protector just slides on? No scope mount drilling etc....Stock was cut up glass bedded and floated barrel for hunting.
Glen

Dickie d · 01-28-2008, 07:14 AM

Wish I could tell you it is the correct one, but mine is a new Sarco stock still in the box. Most A3's were sold sold by the CMP and who knows how they were configured when sold. I don't believe sight protectors were an issue item. I've never seen a Springfield at a show with them. I contacted Bruce Canfield when restoring my A4. I don't believe anyone knows more about Springfields than he does.

Dookiebutt · 01-28-2008, 07:35 AM

I have at least one M1903 stock. Maybe two. They are complete with metal. Both are scant, one is finger-grooved. If you give us a serial number we can give you a better idea of which stock is correct.

Was your rceiver drilled and tapped?

Dick, if doesn't want the stock, PM me.

gwhaling · 01-28-2008, 06:36 PM

I will get the serial number this weekend. I am pretty sure the straight stock is original though for this gun. Just wondering if a pistol grip could have been had in this range.Thanks for any help/advice. I would like to collect the parts now for a future restoration. No to any drilling or tapping of receiver.
Glen

Bravo · 01-28-2008, 06:41 PM

Hey gwhaling,

I recently did a 1903-A3 Restoration:

http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/190...storation.html (M1903-A3 Restoration)

I actually ended up spending more than I had to (I bought parts that I didn't need).

If you can show me what you currently have, I can give you an exact list of what you need.

FYI, this website is amazing:

U.S. Military*|*SPRINGFIELD 1903A3*|*e-GunParts.com

I actually bought my stock on eBay, but I'm not sure if you can still buy stocks. I got a good deal...someone had an 1903-A3 stock that had a slot cut for the bolt, which killed it's value. Thankfully, I needed a stock just like that, because my receiver had been modified.

Anyway, if you have any questions, feel free to ask. It was actually rather easy to restore.

gwhaling · 01-28-2008, 08:25 PM

Thanks everyone for help. I will post pics of the 03a3 after this weekend. It's really fairly original outside of stock butchered, slings and bands missing. It has been shot very little. My dad does not target shoot. Purely used for deer hunting/killing.
Glen

gwhaling · 02-04-2008, 07:49 PM

The springfield I have is says u.s. remington on receiver, model 03a3 serial # 34772##, barrel has R.A. flaming bomb emblem and 2-43 on end of it. Stock has a p stamp and E behind trigger, their is about five small circles and one square in front of trigger group, heres some pics.
Thanks, Glen

ggordon · 02-09-2008, 01:19 PM

Yes, the 03A3 had a front sight protector -- it slides off. I've got a Smith-Corona that came with the front sight protector. Also, Canfield's book on the 1903
Springfield shows several photos with the protector.

TURK · 02-24-2008, 11:27 PM

Dickie D, I am interested in the C stock if you still have it,and some other parts. TIA---Turk

Dickie d · 02-25-2008, 08:48 AM

Turk
I should have looked before I spoke. I have a scant or semi pistol grip not a full pistol grip. Sorry. I do have some part to get rid of. I sold my baby(O3A4) saturday and am in morning. I'll have to take some pics and catolog what I have.

TURK · 02-25-2008, 10:30 AM

Dickie, Thanks for reply, I have a sporterized A3 I want to build a replica A4,need a C stock and front band,rear band and swivels,checkered butt plate,screws,rear swivel and screws, and some scope rings I have the redfield base. thanks again----Turk

01-20-2008, 06:22 PM	#1
gwhaling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 26	sportarized 03a3? What parts do I need to convert it back to original. Stock and top wood also I know. What about the front band and swivels for the sling. Its a real nice shooting gun. Set up by my father for hunting in the mid 60's before they were valuable. Just looking to collect the parts to restore it in the future. Should say where can I get the parts also. Glen Last edited by gwhaling; 01-21-2008 at 05:37 AM.

01-25-2008, 09:06 AM	#3
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,241	A little more info, please One of the major problems with the older sporterizing was the removal of metal. Check the sights front and rear for this situation. Also, check the receiver to see if any rounding or other work was done prior to drilling and tapping for scope bases. If your gun has some rather extensive metal removal/shaping/drilling it might not be a candidate for taking back to its original form. Also, your trigger may not be original.

01-25-2008, 04:17 PM	#4
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 14,194 Images: 1	Great advice Nath! Thanks. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

01-28-2008, 06:36 PM	#8
gwhaling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 26	I will get the serial number this weekend. I am pretty sure the straight stock is original though for this gun. Just wondering if a pistol grip could have been had in this range.Thanks for any help/advice. I would like to collect the parts now for a future restoration. No to any drilling or tapping of receiver. Glen Last edited by gwhaling; 01-28-2008 at 06:40 PM.

02-24-2008, 11:27 PM	#13
TURK Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2	Stock Dickie D, I am interested in the C stock if you still have it,and some other parts. TIA---Turk

01-25-2008, 08:16 AM	#2
Dickie d Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Eufaula, Ok Posts: 94	The best place to get and see what you need is Numrick arms. They list what you will need and have pictures of the assembly and the cost of each part. In some cases new parts will bite you, the stock has stamps or cartouches on it and the true collector wants everything original. I have some parts but haven't had time to go thru them. I do have a full pistol grip stock for $100 + shipping if you are interested. Good luck.

01-27-2008, 09:04 AM	#5
gwhaling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 26	Dickied, I would be interested in the stock if it would be correct. The one I have is not a pistol grip. Could you get either stock in the same serial #'s/age. I have always been confused on that issue. nathangdad, No metal removal except front sight protectors. Dad said he cut them off. But I cannot see any evidence of that. Seen people saying protector just slides on? No scope mount drilling etc....Stock was cut up glass bedded and floated barrel for hunting. Glen

01-28-2008, 07:14 AM	#6
Dickie d Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Eufaula, Ok Posts: 94	Wish I could tell you it is the correct one, but mine is a new Sarco stock still in the box. Most A3's were sold sold by the CMP and who knows how they were configured when sold. I don't believe sight protectors were an issue item. I've never seen a Springfield at a show with them. I contacted Bruce Canfield when restoring my A4. I don't believe anyone knows more about Springfields than he does.

01-28-2008, 07:35 AM	#7
Dookiebutt Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: America's North Coast Posts: 1,397	I have at least one M1903 stock. Maybe two. They are complete with metal. Both are scant, one is finger-grooved. If you give us a serial number we can give you a better idea of which stock is correct. Was your rceiver drilled and tapped? Dick, if doesn't want the stock, PM me.

01-28-2008, 06:41 PM	#9
Bravo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Maine, USA Posts: 2,128	Hey gwhaling, I recently did a 1903-A3 Restoration: http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/190...storation.html (M1903-A3 Restoration) I actually ended up spending more than I had to (I bought parts that I didn't need). If you can show me what you currently have, I can give you an exact list of what you need. FYI, this website is amazing: U.S. Military\|SPRINGFIELD 1903A3\|e-GunParts.com I actually bought my stock on eBay, but I'm not sure if you can still buy stocks. I got a good deal...someone had an 1903-A3 stock that had a slot cut for the bolt, which killed it's value. Thankfully, I needed a stock just like that, because my receiver had been modified. Anyway, if you have any questions, feel free to ask. It was actually rather easy to restore.

01-28-2008, 08:25 PM	#10
gwhaling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 26	Thanks everyone for help. I will post pics of the 03a3 after this weekend. It's really fairly original outside of stock butchered, slings and bands missing. It has been shot very little. My dad does not target shoot. Purely used for deer hunting/killing. Glen

02-09-2008, 01:19 PM	#12
ggordon Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 123	Yes, the 03A3 had a front sight protector -- it slides off. I've got a Smith-Corona that came with the front sight protector. Also, Canfield's book on the 1903 Springfield shows several photos with the protector.

02-25-2008, 08:48 AM	#14
Dickie d Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Eufaula, Ok Posts: 94	Turk I should have looked before I spoke. I have a scant or semi pistol grip not a full pistol grip. Sorry. I do have some part to get rid of. I sold my baby(O3A4) saturday and am in morning. I'll have to take some pics and catolog what I have.

02-25-2008, 10:30 AM	#15
TURK Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2	Dickie, Thanks for reply, I have a sporterized A3 I want to build a replica A4,need a C stock and front band,rear band and swivels,checkered butt plate,screws,rear swivel and screws, and some scope rings I have the redfield base. thanks again----Turk