Wondering what I picked up today.

[nf1e]

Springfield Armory 1903 1.4 mil ser number with a high standard 5 44 barrel that gauges 0. Lyman 57 SMF rear sight with target knobs. Bolt is late 1940 to early 1941 has the last 4 digits of the serial number electro penciled on rear of bolt handle. Stock is scant type no mil stamps on sides just a bunch of letters and what looks like a serial number stamped on bottom in front of sling swivel.and a smooth butt plate with large trap. There is a Roman numeral X stamped on for stock just in front of trigger metal. 1957 heavily stamped on right side of butt half way between sling swivel and top. Rifle also has 1905 sight in front of receiver. I am just interested in knowing what this is. My 03A3 and 03A4 repro rifles are on Rem receivers. This one looks like a real rifle to me. I am not having any luck find information on the rear sight, The Lyman 57 SMF. No problem finding SME.
Thanks for your help.
http://http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x413/nf1e/IMG_0762_zpsd5a2d6f2.jpg (http://s1180.photobucket.com/user/nf1e/media/IMG_0762_zpsd5a2d6f2.jpg.html)

http://http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x413/nf1e/IMG_0756_zps0ff379da.jpg (http://s1180.photobucket.com/user/nf1e/media/IMG_0756_zps0ff379da.jpg.html)

http://http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x413/nf1e/IMG_0761_zps27c22b2f.jpg (http://s1180.photobucket.com/user/nf1e/media/IMG_0761_zps27c22b2f.jpg.html)

http://http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x413/nf1e/IMG_0757_zpsa382a011.jpg (http://s1180.photobucket.com/user/nf1e/media/IMG_0757_zpsa382a011.jpg.html)

http://http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x413/nf1e/IMG_0763_zps20c58b86.jpg (http://s1180.photobucket.com/user/nf1e/media/IMG_0763_zps20c58b86.jpg.html)
Semper Fi
Art

[Mike D]

Sounds like a Greek return that someone put a Lyman receiver sight on. Hard to tell without photos.

Mike

[nf1e]

Thanks Mike. Just got home with the thing and I was curious. I will take a couple of photos tomorrow and put them up.
Art

[John Beard]

I agree with Mike. You appear to have a CMP Greek rifle onto which someone drilled, tapped, and installed a receiver sight. Good shooters. Limited collectibility.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[Mike D]

Nice photos. And looks like you have a nice little range, also!

Last four digits on the bolt and right side of the stock are signs of a Greek. Another characteristic of a Greek return is a "B" stamped on the floorplate. They pinned the floorplate so it would not open.

Sight looks like a 57 SME to me. That stood for Springfield, Mauser, Enfield. Maybe the stamp was broke when your sight was done?

Looks like a fun gun to shoot. How'd you do hittin' the paper?

Mike

[Fred Pillot]

Nice looking shooter. What is interesting is that the 1944 barrel has the early fixed sight base.

[Art]

Nice rifle, I'm sure you'll enjoy shooting it.

I concur that it's probably a Greek return, especially with the S.N. on the side of the stock, If the "B" is stamped on the floorplate and/or the floorplate has been pinned to prevent its removal, that's a dead giveaway for a Greek rifle. A lot of '03s have really been around, I have a really nice Greek return Springfield Armory '03 manufactured in 1921 that the authorities on this forum have told me is a former USMC rifle. This rifle has a replacement bolt with the last four digits of the serial number elecro penciled on the root of the bolt handle which was Greek SOP but the last four were also deeply stamped into the bolt handle knob which to me indicates it might have gone to someone else before the Greeks got it. I have seen at least one Greek return that had New Zealand markings on the butt stock so that particular rifle seems to have made a side trip there (or at least the stock did) before the Greeks got it.

A good many '03s were retrofitted with Lyman or other receiver sight upgrades for use in matches or informal target shooting after WWII by civilian owners. Yours looks like an attempt to emulate one of those weapons.

[nf1e]

Thanks gentlemen. Had the opportunity to take her out on my range for a bit yesterday and I am very pleased. Using the same load that I use for my other 03 type rifles, LC 62 match brass, WLR primer, Berger 135 FB over 48 gr of 4064 at 2700 fps I am easily maintaining the 10 ring on an SR1 at 100. That is off a rest. I have not used the Lyman sights for over 40 years and felt right at home. While cleaning the rifle after shooting I realized that I hadn't blackened the front sight. That should only make it better next time.