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I just purchased this M1903A4 RIA Rebuild at a local gun show. The Alabama Military Collectors Association show is my favorite show due to the displays, many knowledgeable and friendly sellers, and no non-gun crap (cotton candy, jerky, jewelry, etc.).
I would like opinions on this as the only thing I can really, for sure, say is real is the receiver. It all looks good but I am NO expert.
More pictures. Barrel info, rebuild proof, etc.
Scope pictures and details.
More Scope Details and Buttplate
Bolt pictures.
More bolt pictures.
Ed Bjerke (EB) was foreman of the small arms repair shop at Rock Island Arsenal from 1947 to 1958, and your rifle would have gone through rebuild during that time period. Looks like the barrel was replaced at that time. Looks like a pretty straight forward rebuild.
The stock is an A4 stock, but probably would have originally been on a later A4 rifle.....but , all in all, a fine rebuild with a great scope.
Nice addition to your collection steelap. Thanks for the pics.
I agree. Typical rebuild with replaced barrel and most likely stock. But both appear original. Your scope is a nice M82 scope used on the M1-C. Thanks for sharing.
From the rebuilt rifle perspective the only items out of place on your rifle given its history would be the scope rings and the windage screws. The windage screws are commercial (blued) they should be color case hardened (original) or parkerized (rebuild). The rings look like reproduction or have been parkerized by someone other than military and the screws in them would also have been color case hardened. Very minor details though, nice rifle.
Most of the 03-A4's out there came through the NRA/DCM, and were sold without scope or rings. Everyone had to scrounge around to find a scope and hard to find one with all original scope and rings.
The stock is an original 03-A4 stock, and went through rebuild also where it was refinished. The original acceptance mark of Col. Frank J. Atwood can still be seen, but has the later RIA rebuild mark of Ed Bjerke.
It appears the scope has been slide forward to where it is touching the scope base. If it is touching the base it should be moved back slightly.
Beside finding the rifle being a nice one, i think the serial number is interesting. The serial number has the following numbers but in a different sequence. 2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8.