Shortly thereafter Remington began updating its tooling and equipment to accommodate the changes required for production of the new rifle. These changes were significant enough to warrant a new “model” designation and, on May 21, 1942, the “U.S.
A simplified receiver-mounted rear sight would reduce production time and have the added bonus of being a better combat sight. This sight, and its barrel-mounted fixed base, required a great deal of machining. One component that remained more or less unchanged from the earlier M1903 rifles was the Model 1905 rear sight. These changes included less machining to the rear sight fixed base, elimination of the bolt stop, replacement of some milled parts with stamped, sheet metal components and elimination of the grasping grooves on the rifle’s stock.Īs demand continued to escalate, Remington received more ’03 production contracts and continued to consider ways to further increase the manufacturing rate. While these changes were marginally helpful, further modifications of the basic design were deemed necessary. By early 1942 the company had made some 649 changes in ’03 manufacture to speed production and reduce costs. Remington sought to increase production by reducing cosmetic touches such as careful polishing of the metal prior to Parkerizing and eliminating some non-essential features. Shortly after Remington started its new ’03 production line, America was officially at war with the Axis powers, and the expected huge demand for more rifles became a stark reality. Initially, the new Remington ’03s were very similar to the rifles made at Rock Island Arsenal in the late World War I period. Remington began manufacture of Model 1903 rifles in fall 1941. for new production of the Model 1903 bolt-action rifle using machinery and some raw materials (mainly stock blanks) in storage at Rock Island Arsenal since manufacture of the ’03 rifle ceased at that entity in the early 1920s. Even so, it was apparent that more rifles would be needed. Existing Model 1903 Springfield rifles in the government’s inventory, along with substantial numbers of obsolescent but serviceable Model 1917 rifles, were taken from storage and reconditioned as necessary for issue. Even with this increase in M1 rifle output, the anticipated supply of service rifles would be insufficient to meet the demand. was granted a production contract for the Garand.
Plans were made to increase M1 rifle production at Springfield Armory, and the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. On the eve of America’s active involvement in World War II, it was apparent that there would be a serious shortage of service rifles for its rapidly expanding armed forces.
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