Help identifying 03a3 barrel

[Mkastning]

Hi all, I've been a lurker several times and have found good information before signing up today. I have found a 03a3 with a clearly not normal barrel mark and date of 10-45. At first glance I figured it would be sedgley, but upon further and magnified look, it's clearly not a circled S.

I wandered around the Tulsa show last night as well as today trying to find one of the many experts there that could help but no luck.

Would love to know what it is if anyone has seen this mark before.
35040

[John Beard]

I've never seen anything like that before, and I don't quite know what to make of it.

The blued finish on the barrel indicates that it was made for commercial sale. Military barrels were parkerized. The last WWII military contract barrels were made by Sedgley and were dated 2-45.

My guess is that Sedgley or High Standard or perhaps another contractor had a few semi-finished barrels leftover after WWII ended, which they finished and sold on the commercial market.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[Mkastning]

Definitely something different, I wonder though if a commercial barrel would normally have been date stamped? Or if there is a company that would have used the symbol.

Fun project to try to find out. I passed on selling it a few times today just to learn more.

[John Beard]

I know of no compelling reason to date-stamp a commercial barrel except, perhaps, to make it more merchantable. The 10-45 date essentially denotes the end of WWII, the Japanese having surrendered in late August.

J.B.

[Allen Humphrey]

Anything unusual about the rest of the rifle? Any other markings on the barrel? Is the barrel profile the same as a typical 03A3 barrel?

[Mkastning]

Anything unusual about the rest of the rifle? Any other markings on the barrel? Is the barrel profile the same as a typical 03A3 barrel?

Not much of anythibg else odd about the rifle. Some tally mark type scratches on the side of the receiver rear. My guess would be it's killed a few deer. I just returned home, will get more pictures up after some rest.

[musketshooter]

It appears to be a rebuild with a Sedgley barrel. I have 1903 number 1328227 with a 2-45 Sedgley barrel. It is stamped with the CSAA arsenal stamp. I have never seen an A3 Sedgley barrel. I would guess it is a 1903 barrel on an A3 action.

[chuckindenver]

looks to be a polished and cold blued barrel, and hand stamped or engraved with a pantograph engraver..

[Mkastning]

Removed from the stock, not much more info. Smoother for sure, just marked at index mark when installed.

Need to go back to work, definitely needs cleaned up. Plenty of grease on it.

[chuckindenver]

looks like a 1903 barrel, id bet a rear sight base would fit as well

[Mkastning]

looks like a 1903 barrel, id bet a rear sight base would fit as well That explains the scratches in that area. I did not have a 1903 to compare to, but that helps.

With some help from a crayon, the symbol is easier to see.

Still not sure what it's from, but here's that pic.35060

[chuckindenver]

China made... iv seen it before,, id check the rifle out real good,..might have other China made bits

[MikeS]

I have run the photos by a few fellow collectors and the symbol of marking was believed to possibly be a chakram type marking suggesting the barrel may have been made or marked in Thailand. I tried looking really hard and have seen numerous similar or not exact markings on other rifles. 1903 MarkI, 1903 Remington and a 1903A3 Remington. Each one was different. Just food for thought.

Mike

[John Beard]

Chuckindenver may be right. I believe that is a modern Chinese trade mark.

J.B.

[chuckindenver]

i had 3 1903s come in my shop last year, one had the same type of barrel, smooth finish, same color, same markings...

[MikeS]

John,

Beings it is a modern Chinese maker mark is it safe to assume the month and date on the barrel are faked?

Mike

[chuckindenver]

heres the rifles that were in my shop last year

[chuckindenver]

they arent modern.. these were lend lease rifles to China, some used by the China police.. barrels were made in China, and installed by them

[MikeS]

Thanks Chuck for the info and photos.

Mike

[Mkastning]

Thanks! Hoping to see how it shoots this weekend. Bore looks perfect, 4 groove.