I recently purchased a sporterized 1903 and it still has the original trigger guard I was wondering if there is a good aftermarket hinged replacement

An M98 TG can be modified to fit. Takes a little crafting like bending the rear tang to the right angle and adjusting the floor plate, but basically the same distance for the screws.

+1. I know there is decent botom metal out there, but I have always tweaked mauser hardware to work.

it's an easy mod to use mauser for springfield or enfield

thanks for the info looks like I'll have to get a mauser tg coming

Well, I have blackburn bottom metal on my '03 and like it a lot!

I have blackburn on my 416 Ar on a springfield, and a paker hale (casting) 1100M with a modified williams floorplate on my 500ar enfield

Not sure if you have 1903/A3 with a stamped trigger guard/floor plate or you want to upgrade a 1903 with milled trigger guard and floor plate.

If is a 1903/A3 that you want replaced, you can find an original milled 1903 trigger guard here: http://www.sarcoinc.com/springfields.html

They also sell new manufactored trigger guards for the 1903.

The 1903 easily fits on a 1903/A3.

Make sure you get all the parts:

SPF266 1903 Trigger guard, Floorplate, Floorplate Catch Assembly Set - milled G.I. $99.95

I purchased one here and retrofitted it on a 1903/A4, and it turned out pretty nice.

Barstooler

you can try eBay for a milled guard, also.

Hinged guards for 03s, modified from issue, turn up occasionally on ebay. I have bought a few that way. Also there were dural hinged guard assemblies made by various mfrs. The Michaels version has awful raised "engraving" that looks really cheesy and the hinge pin looks rather frail. I think the best one is a steel job marked "Made in Finland" that is quite rare.

I wonder how much interest there would be for decent springfield bottom metal. I for one would buy a set if Duane Wiebe were making some.

We THINK a run of 1M (standard Mauser 30-06) would be feasible with following modifications:

Shorten front pillar, "tweak" trigger bow area, drill for angled rear guard screw. The guard screw recess' have to be changed a little or customer made new screws (Mauser head, Springfield thread)

But...it's a ways down the line

Vigillins,

quote:

I think the best one is a steel job marked "Made in Finland" that is quite rare

I'll say it's rare! I am guessing you have one of three Sako modified T.G's I made and sold on e-bay!

I have had good luck in the past by grinding down a carbide spotting drill and redrilling the rear hole in the Springfield tang, then heli-coil with a 1/4"x28 insert. Need new screws but you can get the exact Mauser measurement with the dro and using the same set up for drill and tap.