Wow, A lot of great advice!!! Thanks guys.
I've had this gun for close to 30 years.
When I was a kid I would go hunting (deer grouse squirrel) with my dad and our neighbor to Richland Center Wi. We stayed at my neighbor's in-laws farm. They were great people (Walt and Doris). They would set up bunks for us in their attatched garage, feed us and treated us like family. Walt was like my 3rd grandpa. My dad was a carpenter and we did a lot of work up the to try and repay the hospitality. Remodled the bathroom one year for Doris, built Walt a new pole barn another. Stuff like that. Tried to show our appreciation. Spent a lot of time walking those hills and Doris made the best hamburger/gravy/mashed potatoes I've ever had.
This was Walts gun. I had a Remington 742-308 with a scope. It was a nice one with the engraving in the reciever that was gold inlayed. Old Walt's eyes weren't the best anymore and I would always let him use my gun (when he went out with us) and I would use this one. He really liked that 742 and even when I quit going up my dad would take my 742 along for Walt to use. One year I told my pappy to let Walt know that if he liked that 742 enough I'd trade him for his 03A3. I had shot 4 deer with this thing with 4 shots. Two were on a dead run up the hill through the brush. Luck? maybe but the original peep sights just seemed to be perfect. If the target was in the peep and the bead was on the target it was goin down when you squeezed the trigger. I can see how it would be your best friend if you were living in a foxhole during the war.
Anyway, My dad brought me home an 03A3 that year and my 742 stayed in Richland Center. Walt used it for many years after that. He's gone now.
This thing is still all original with the exception of the stock. Walt had shortened the front of it to make it look more like a hunting rifle. He may have even bought it like this. I'm not sure. The rest of the gun is original and a Remington. I guess many were made by other companies that weren't gun manufacturers before the war but were converted to boost production that was needed at the time.
I should probably just stick it back in the closet. There are many memories associated with it that are mine. I wish I could see those memories of the guys that had it before me. It should be used though because it hasn't made a memory in close to 20 years. Just been wasting time in a closet. Not fitting for an old warrior.
Anyway, Probably many good stories out there like that.
Here's some pics.
Thanks again, Phil (opsled)