can you guess what I'm building?

[Chris_B]

Believe it or not, that's an original unissued C stock, not a repro. Thanks Dad :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/Chuck_Older/03A4/03A45.jpg

[Cheapshooter]

I hope it's an equally beautiful display case!

[Chris_B]

lol :D

[Chris_B]

So I guess nobody wants to guess? You guys must be slipping

[Dino.]

That's a beautiful stock. :)

[dev_null]

"can you guess what I'm building?"

Suspense?

Thumbs up on the Balvenie, too.

[Hawg]

A really big shadow box?:D

[Chris_B]

03A3, C stock, no front sight, no rear sight...

[James K]

Not another fake M1903A4?

Jim

[Chris_B]

Not another fake M1903A4?

Jim

Gee Jim, I didn't know I had too many of them already ;)

I can tell by your tone that you disapprove. Sounds like your problem 'ol buddy. :p I bought a barreled action that already has no collector value because somebody else drilled and tapped it, and I'm going to resurrect it into the rifle that I want to own but can't afford. If it offends you, give me 5 grand. I'll gladly go buy an original!

Here's a photo for you, of my receiver:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/Chuck_Older/03A4/03A44.jpg

No collectible value any more. I'm not even 100% sure that I can mount the base correctly. And I think we both know that I can't really 'fake' an 03A4 effectively because of the offset stampings. I collect a few original USGI items Jim. And I don't ruin them. Try to be a little happy for me that I have an enjoyable project and that maybe I'll have a fun rifle to shoot (which will be an advantage over a real 03A4 anyway), OK?

[Cheapshooter]

I for one am very happy with your decision, and wish you luck with your project. I'd rather see an already defaced fine old collector be made into a close copy, good shooter, than a sporter any day!

[Chris_B]

That's the whole point Cheapshooter; you've hit the nail on the head perfectly. :)

[James K]

Sorry for the tone. You may not have any others, but I have seen plenty at guns shows, usually being passed off as genuine. I have no problem with a made up A4 as long as you don't sell it claiming that it is original.

I just don't see much point. To prove that a scoped A3 will shoot? Most older shooters knew that 50 years ago. To fill a gap in a collection? But it doesn't, not really, any more than a new Colt SAA fills a gap in a collection of 19th century guns. Just for fun? Best reason, and it is the point. Good luck.

Jim

[Chris_B]

Fair enough James, but to tell the truth, it will always be a 1903A3. Nothing under heaven will make it a new gun in an old gun collection. I see the point of taking the old sporter receiver and making it into something again, and that's good enough for me :)

[BIGJOHN-1]

A Copy M1903A4 It looks nice

[madcratebuilder]

Sorry for the tone. You may not have any others, but I have seen plenty at guns shows, usually being passed off as genuine. I have no problem with a made up A4 as long as you don't sell it claiming that it is original.

I understand what Jim is talking about. There are people that are regulars at the gun shows that are less than forthright about the origins of the goods they are hawking. In other words there's a bunch of, no, a few lying bastards around that well rip you off in a heartbeat.

Fake cartouches are a big business these days and the words "bring back" are applied to ever mil-surp without a import mark, even some with:rolleyes:

Chris was made several posts, here and other forums, about wanting a A4 clone. There's no attempt on his part to deceive anyone.

Finding a nice A3 that already D&T'ed is a natural for this. I wouldn't mind having a A4 either, maybe a Gibbs model.

[Jim Watson]

You mean like the guy with the stack of yellow cards and the little star stamp who could upgrade your Springfield on the spot?

I once owned a built up rifle that looked for all the world like a Springfield Sporter. Until you read the roll marks. It was a Remington 1903 action with an early 1903A3 barrel (no spline cut but still 4 groove) in a 1922M2 stock with Lyman 48 sight. Looked good and shot well. I don't THINK it could be passed off as a Sporter, but I would not put it past some vendors to try. And maybe get lucky with a "collector" whose expertise did not equal his bankroll.

I am sure the OP does not have misrepresentation in mind.
And I don't mind the setup, whoever designed the C stock must have had an ancestor of mine for fit tests, I find it a very comfortable stock for iron sight shooting. Probably fine for a low mounted scope. Pity Leupold did not find enough of a market for their Alaskan lookalike to keep making them; that would make a nice rig.

[Chris_B]

;) if deception was on my mind, you'd think I would keep my trap shut more ;)

I'm crawling ahead with this. I had a scope lined up, but I cancelled my order. Didn't have a feel-good about the purchase. There's other sources

I had it headspaced, etc, with another bolt. Safe to shoot, barrel gauges in spec. I have all my furniture now except the bayonet lug band and screw

[hlds54]

hhmmmmm ar 15? :D

[the rifleer]

It couldn't possibly be a gun...

[Chris_B]

1903A4gery continues. Basic rifle is together, now I need the mount and rings. Fingers crossed on the mount matching the holes already in the receiver or modifying the mount. Scope came in, pretty nice for what is is, 2.5X

Am going with my 'Plan B' bolt, it fits well, matches the parkerizing already there, headspaces, and should clear the scope easily. Fits the stock properly, too. I also have an M1907 sling made up of half a WWII sling and half a WWI sling. I'm going to see if I can't make it supple enough to get on the rifle. I wouldn't shoot with it; I'll get an El Paso or similar for that. Got a nickel oiler for the rifle too

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/Chuck_Older/lessbaserings.jpg

[thedaddycat]

My guess is it's a piece of history

a rifle.... a bolt action rifle... a Springfield rifle... a "I want one" rifle....

My 1895 Mauser has similar wood, very lovely pattern on the stock! It's the top one of these two Mausers.

http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee479/thedaddycat/100_6532.jpg

[Chris_B]

Nice Mausers! Yes, gorgeous wood, for sure. :)

[kab37]

Nice rifle BUT where is the Balvenie (as shown in your first picture).

Kab

[Chris_B]

It's on the counter, Dad. It's the scotch I was offering you just the other day, but we had the bourbon instead. Still haven't opened it.

[Chris_B]

It was safe to add another hole where I needed one for the redfield mount. The nice thing is that the mount hides the un-used pair of holes completely.

I've mocked up the scope and again everything should work; bolt clears the scope at the right height

Now to find the rings

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/Chuck_Older/A4mount.jpg

[matchgrade303]

very nice! I can't afford an 03A3 So, I must live through those of you who can haha. I did have a NO 03A3 but it tried to kill me.

[tahunua001]

should be a nice looking rifle when you're done, I have been builing an A4 back to specs and it is definitely no cheap matter. I highly doubt the C stock that I have on the way is going to be nearly as nice.

[barnbwt]

Ya'know, they did drill out the last digit on the model number...so maybe it isn't a forgey after all? Plausible deniability :D

TCB

[Chris_B]

:) Thanks, but on a real 03A4, the '03A3' is offset on the left side of the receiver so it can be seen with the mount on. Tahuna has a thread on his 03A4 that shows a photo of the '03A3' location

I appreciate the thought though!

[Chris_B]

OK, here's a bad photo of the completed rifle

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/Chuck_Older/completecrummypic.jpg

Ever so slightly better photo

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/Chuck_Older/A4better.jpg

[tahunua001]

am I the only one that can't seem to load the pictures?

[Chris_B]

They work for me when I'm not logged in to either photobucket or TFL so...should work for you

It looks like yours, but in a fake way ;)

[tahunua001]

alright they seem to be working now. she is beautiful. to the untrained eye your's looks more original than mine since I went a different route with the optics and I still can't get over how nice your stock looks. it is a beautiful A4-gery to be sure, let us know how she does at the range.