Checked Another Off My "Bucket List" of Guns

[DoggyDaddy]

Stopped in Falls City Firearms (indiucky's shop in Clarksville) on the way home from Knob Creek on Friday and decided to get one of the rifles that has been on my "bucket list" - a Springfield Armory 1903. It was purchased from the CMP in 2002 (still had the original shipping box and certificate). It has a SA receiver made in 1938, judging by the serial number, and the barrel is a Rock Island Armory made in 1918 with a very nice "flaming bomb" marking on the end of the barrel. I'm in the process of cleaning it up. Let me just say that the Russians have nothing on the CMP when it comes to packing their rifles full of grease! It took me 2 1/2 cans of brake cleaner to degrease the metal, and that was after wiping off all the excess that I could with a rag. I can usually de-cosmo a Mosin with just one can. Even the bolt was packed full. Fortunately, being a Mauser clone, it was very easy to break down. Here are some "before" pics, and some "after" pics of the metal parts. The upside to all that grease is that the metal is in fantastic shape, and the bore is nearly pristine. I'm working on the stock today, going over it with a heat gun, and then I will clean it with Murphy's Oil Soap and give it a few coats of linseed oil. I'll post the "after" pics of the rifle when I'm done.

Metal parts after degreasing and a light coat of QCG spray...

 

[Bigphil5000]

Congrats on a bucket list purchase. Nothing like a trip to knob creek to get you amped up. I look forward to the after photos.

 

[Miller Tyme]

Very nice DD, like the 03's, and Rick has some nice ones.

I was down in Clarksville Friday and was going to stop by Rick's, but the job ran over. Will be down again latter this month to check in on him and see if he has any more Archangle MN's in stock.

;-)

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Very nice DD, like the 03's, and Rick has some nice ones.

I was down in Clarksville Friday and was going to stop by Rick's, but the job ran over. Will be down again latter this month to check in on him and see if he has any more Archangle MN's in stock.

;-)

He did have a New England Westinghouse that someone put in an ATI stock...

 

[tackshot]

Very nice, I remember shooting one when I was a kid and I absolutely loved it, shoot like a dream, congrats !
Oh and again nice table!!

 

[Leadeye]

Looks like a great rifle, post up more pics when you're done with the cosmo.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Okay, now for the after pics...

 

[mkgr22]

Good job, Jim!! Something else to make Indy1919A4 jealous, even though he was there when you bought it.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Good job, Jim!! Something else to make Indy1919A4 jealous, even though he was there when you bought it.

Your ears must have been burning, or else mine were... I just emailed you! As for Mike, he's got his own 1903. However, he thought a little too long about a VZ 24 with Lyman peep sights on it and I bought it too.

 

[Sling10mm]

Very nice DD, and congrats. I have always wanted one of those, but other purchases just seemed to get in the way.

 

[Bennettjh]

Nice looking rifle. IMHO, Something about those older rifles have a cool factor that can't be duplicated.

Dang that was a lot of cosmoline. Looks good now.

 

[Cameramonkey]

.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Very nice DD, and congrats. I have always wanted one of those, but other purchases just seemed to get in the way.

Thanks! I know what you mean. That's why it was a bucket list gun for me. It was always "someday".

Nice looking rifle. IMHO, Something about those older rifles have a cool factor that can't be duplicated.

Dang that was a lot of cosmoline. Looks good now.

I couldn't believe how much was there. I don't think it was truly cosmoline, or at least not the same as what the Russians use. Looked more like axle grease, and where it had hardened, it was more of a waxy consistency. And it didn't give off that signature cosmoline smell when I was using the heat gun on the stock.

I agree about the old guns. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for them. I own a few modern guns, but most of my collection is older than me.

 

[cobber]

Nice rifle!!

You use brake cleaner to degrease a Mosin? What's wrong with good old hot water?

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Nice rifle!!

You use brake cleaner to degrease a Mosin? What's wrong with good old hot water?

Better living through chemistry! I suppose I could use hot water, but the brake cleaner makes it quick and easy, and since it evaporates so quickly I don't have to wait for the water to evaporate to get the rifle back together (patience is NOT one of my virtues ). Worth the 3 bucks or so for the can of cleaner to me.

 

[Fordtough25]

Great looking '03! My brother has an 03A3 that shoots great, and I too had a Springfield '03 a few years back. My example shot great but someone had drilled the receiver and put a scope on it. Ruined it for me, but your's is an excellent rifle by the looks of it. If you leave Rick's empty you don't enjoy history and fine firearms!

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Great looking '03! My brother has an 03A3 that shoots great, and I too had a Springfield '03 a few years back. My example shot great but someone had drilled the receiver and put a scope on it. Ruined it for me, but your's is an excellent rifle by the looks of it. If you leave Rick's empty you don't enjoy history and fine firearms!

I love going to his shop. As I've told DoggyMama whenever I'm planning on stopping there on the way back from a KY show or Knob Creek, there is no such thing as just "stopping by" at Rick's. I always plan on at least an hour, and many times closer to 2+ hours. Sometimes I wish his shop were closer, but then again I'd probably be in the poor house! Hell, I probably spent close to an hour just deciding on which of the two '03s he had that I wanted to get.

 

[indy1919a4]

Wow, Awesome Cleanup, There must have been enough Cosmoline on that thing for 3 guns... Does the Safety work????, can't remember exactly, The day was such a blur of activity, But I thought I remembered a question about the safety????

 

[indy1919a4]

Good job, Jim!! Something else to make Indy1919A4 jealous, even though he was there when you bought it.

Me, Jealous of some silly old 1903 & vz-24... I was so green the drive home, I looked like some kind of Leprechaun...

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Wow, Awesome Cleanup, There must have been enough Cosmoline on that thing for 3 guns... Does the Safety work????, can't remember exactly, The day was such a blur of activity, But I thought I remembered a question about the safety????

Yes, BOTH the safeties work... darndest thing I've ever seen... a bolt action with two safeties!