1903 Remington Questions!

[jerrbear]

Do you think the FJA stamp on this rifle is legit?

[John Beard]

The "FJA" stamp on your rifle appears legitimate.

J.B.

[Dick Hosmer]

Looking at the FJA reminded me of a question I've had for years regarding the small ordnance crest, which also shows up on Krags, sometimes adjacent to a pair of large (larger than the FJA here) letters deeply stamped - "HH" and "JJ" have been noted.

Does anyone know when use of that stamp for marking stocks originated? Thanks.

[John Beard]

Looking at the FJA reminded me of a question I've had for years regarding the small ordnance crest, which also shows up on Krags, sometimes adjacent to a pair of large (larger than the FJA here) letters deeply stamped - "HH" and "JJ" have been noted.

Does anyone know when use of that stamp for marking stocks originated? Thanks.

As I recall, my earliest observation of a crossed-cannons Ordnance Escutcheon was on an M1903A1 rifle exhibiting a boxed "S.A./G.H.S." inspection stamp. But, I don't recall that the Ordnance Escutcheon was small (there are at least two different sizes). I think it was the larger escutcheon.

The early Remington M1903 rifles assembled in late 1941 exhibited the small Ordnance Escutcheon.

Hope this helps. Merry Christmas!

J.B.

[Dick Hosmer]

Thanks, John - Merry Christmas to you as well.

It would seem, then, to be a mark that was applied for some official purpose, but well after the 'active' Krag era. Perhaps stateside Coast Guard, or dock/warehouse protection? I believe there are records of .45-70s being used in the Great Lakes area.

[John Beard]

Thanks, John - Merry Christmas to you as well.

It would seem, then, to be a mark that was applied for some official purpose, but well after the 'active' Krag era. Perhaps stateside Coast Guard, or dock/warehouse protection? I believe there are records of .45-70s being used in the Great Lakes area.

The crossed-cannons Ordnance Escutcheon was an official "trademark" of the U.S. Army Ordnance Dept. I am not aware of any other service branches using it. I believe the crossed-cannons Ordnance Escutcheon significantly pre-dates WWI. But its appearance on small arms didn't begin until about 1941.

Hope this helps.

J.B.