Remington 1903A3

[Defender3]

I'm not a 1903 guy but I saw this rifle and took a chance. Opinions, counsel and tutelage appreciated, and if someone could do an SRS check I'd be indebted. RA 3955959 with a star marked 9-43 RA barrel, clean and bright and measuring "0" at the muzzle. No idea what the TE might be as I don't have a throat gauge for an '03. The phone camera pictures are also the best I can do for right now as I'm on travel visiting lovely Georgia. TIA.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/defender3va/1902A3%20Remington/Remington%201903A3/IMG_1416_zps02982ad4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/defender3va/1902A3%20Remington/Remington%201903A3/IMG_1421_zps47f106a8.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/defender3va/1902A3%20Remington/Remington%201903A3/IMG_1423_zps9e6ad180.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/defender3va/1902A3%20Remington/Remington%201903A3/IMG_1433_zpsedc0181d.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/defender3va/1902A3%20Remington/Remington%201903A3/IMG_1428_zpsda7c061d.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/defender3va/1902A3%20Remington/Remington%201903A3/IMG_1427_zps17d94037.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/defender3va/1902A3%20Remington/Remington%201903A3/IMG_1426_zps1855a79c.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/defender3va/1902A3%20Remington/Remington%201903A3/IMG_1419_zps7b2ecc59.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/defender3va/1902A3%20Remington/IMG_1431_zps8cb542e1.jpg

[Defender3]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/defender3va/1902A3%20Remington/IMG_1420_zpsfeca7ae9.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/defender3va/1902A3%20Remington/IMG_1429_zpsa45a9ccf.jpg

[Rick the Librarian]

The barrel is probably original to the receiver. I see a few other mixed parts.

Does the right side of the stock have a "notch" so a "bent" bolt could clear a scope if it were mounted? If not sure, post another picture with the bolt handle raised.

[Defender3]

Thank-you for your reply. I believe the stock does have a notch but I'm afraid I do not have a picture of it immediately available. I'll look and post a picture tomorrow when I get home. A couple more pictures:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/defender3va/1902A3%20Remington/IMG_1435_zps2eba4084.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v501/defender3va/1902A3%20Remington/IMG_1438_zpsc1161e51.jpg

[Rick the Librarian]

Although I'd like someone who specializes in markings to look, I'm suspicious about the stock markings. They are those usually seen on a M1903A4 sniper rifle. Only the M1903A4 had a Type C stock with an FJA stamp. The "star gauge" mark in the 6:00 position on the muzzle crown is definitely a fake - and not a good one.

[Defender3]

I do appreciate your replies, sometimes an education is costly, in this case, not terribly. I bought this from an elderly gentlemen whom I'm certain has no malice. I'll have the chance to dig a bit deeper today and I'll post what I find in case it might help others.

[Rick the Librarian]

It depends how much you paid for it and how it was represented. I admit I'd like someone else to chime in on the stock markings.

I would guess the worth to be in the $650-700 range, with the stock.

[m1903rifle]

I also think the 1903A4 stocks would have the RA mark in addition to the FJA and "Cross Cannons" cartouche. Of course, if the bolt handle notch is not present, I'm not sure what you have.

[Rick the Librarian]

I also think the 1903A4 stocks would have the RA mark in addition to the FJA and "Cross Cannons" cartouche. Of course, if the bolt handle notch is not present, I'm not sure what you have.

My thoughts exactly. It could be a stock from an earlier M1903A4, but again, the lack of a "notch" under the bolt handle is puzzling. If it was purchased from someone who had it for many years, the markings on the stock may not be fake and I had thought.

Lift up the cutoff lever (The ON-OFF lever) - do you see an "S" or a "K" stamp?

[Defender3]

I'll take a look at the stock and cut-off in more detail when I get back this afternoon; I'm on a flight out of Jacksonville right now then it's a drive out of DC to home.

[jgaynor]

The Bolt and Magazine Box Assembly are also incorrect for a rifle of that vintage. How many sub-inspectors marks are stamped on the bottom of the stock just forward of the magazine box assembly?

[Defender3]

My thoughts exactly. It could be a stock from an earlier M1903A4, but again, the lack of a "notch" under the bolt handle is puzzling. If it was purchased from someone who had it for many years, the markings on the stock may not be fake and I had thought.

Lift up the cutoff lever (The ON-OFF lever) - do you see an "S" or a "K" stamp?

There is no notch under the bolt handle and no markings in the area of the cut-off.


The Bolt and Magazine Box Assembly are also incorrect for a rifle of that vintage. How many sub-inspectors marks are stamped on the bottom of the stock just forward of the magazine box assembly?

Not a one.

Apparently this rifle came out of a National Guard Armory in Ohio.

[Embalmer]

stamps of my original 1903a4 stock

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff186/maninblue1861/IMAG0127_zps41594948.jpg (http://s238.photobucket.com/user/maninblue1861/media/IMAG0127_zps41594948.jpg.html)


a3's ive seen have cross cannons after fja, a4's its before.

[Defender3]

Can anyone comment on the authenticity of the stamps?

[John Beard]

You have a rifle that's been overhauled, refinished, and re-assembled from mixed parts. The stock appears to be a modern reproduction that has been over-sanded and enhanced with fake stamps. The muzzle stamp is also fake.

The rifle should make an excellent shooter.

Hope this helps. Happy Holidays!

J.B.

[Defender3]

Thanks John!

[jgaynor]

The square safety lug suggests the bolt is a contract (3rd party) Spare part.
A4's will almost always have five sub inspectors stamps and A3's have four. Rarely a rifle will have more sub-inspectors marks (an A4 may have 7 or 8) suggesting the rifle was rejected and sent back down the line for correction and re-inspection.
I concur with Rick's observations. The Stock, M1903A1 was not used on original factory production of the standard M1903A3. Specially modified versions (notched for the bolt handle) of the Stock, M1903A1 (with both scant and full pistol grips) were used on the M1903A4 snipers rifle. Some regular versions of the Stock, M1903A1 may have found their way on to M1903A3 rifles as replacements but then those would not have the factory sub-inspectors stamps, Ordnance Acceptance stamp or final Acceptance stamp.
Finally a rifle with a September barrel should have a magazine box with a large bow, winter Trigger guard.
Still and all it looks like a nice rifle and should be a good shooter.

Regards,
Jim

[Rick the Librarian]

I think the bolt is a CC (Commercial Controls) bolt. A WWII replacement.

[Defender3]

Yes, it is a CC.

[PeteDavis]

The M1903A3 in a full pistol grip stock is a phenomenal shooting iron. A3's in such stocks usually fetch a premium at Va gun shows. $800.00 is a typical asking price for a rebuilt one in that kind of wood, but I have never haggled on one as I already have an example.

[Chaz]

Several years ago as a novice in this hobby, I bought (paying 3 x what it was worth) a "very late production, correct, and original" Rem 03A3 with a "rare" C-stock. (Quotations from the SoCal seller/shyster). The rifle was fully parkerized in dark gray and the pristine stock had every conceivable sub-inspector stamp forward of the floorplate as well as a beautiful FJA and crossed cannons. I soon realized I bought a fake but, sigh, a good education costs money. Later, I removed the stock and, sure enough, found the "Boyd's" stamp on the inside. The above stock looks a great deal like the "original" Boyd's on my former beauty. Offering full discloser, I gave it to my nephew and told him to use it as a deer rifle. No offense but I'll betchya the above rifle has "Boyd's" stamped on the inside of the stock. :eusa_shhh:

And wasn't there a recent thread featuring a similarly faked star gauge on a WW2 barrel? It might have been from a Gunbroker ad. :icon_scratch: