My new find a 1903 A4 sniper
- Thread starter Mendozaco
- Start date
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Mendozaco
Active Member
SKIP
Ultimate Member
Below is a list to confirm you have an original.
The site base should be Redfield
Look for stock markings or traces:
Left side roughly above trigger and behind rear cross bolt.
ordnance escutcheon & FJA (boxed or unboxed)
letter in cutoff notch
Five small symbols letters or numbers underside of stock just forward of
the magazine box.
Small letter adjacent to Circle "P"
Count the number of grooves in the barrel. Should be 4
Check the underside of the barrel. Look for punch mark under front sight
base cuts and a "P" about 2" further back.
On an original rifle the bolt, magazine/guard assembly, butt plate, bands
and swivels should be blued. Receiver, barrel and scope base will be
parkerized.
The site base should be Redfield
Look for stock markings or traces:
Left side roughly above trigger and behind rear cross bolt.
ordnance escutcheon & FJA (boxed or unboxed)
letter in cutoff notch
Five small symbols letters or numbers underside of stock just forward of
the magazine box.
Small letter adjacent to Circle "P"
Count the number of grooves in the barrel. Should be 4
Check the underside of the barrel. Look for punch mark under front sight
base cuts and a "P" about 2" further back.
On an original rifle the bolt, magazine/guard assembly, butt plate, bands
and swivels should be blued. Receiver, barrel and scope base will be
parkerized.
Mendozaco
Active Member
Skip. Wise info... I checked with your list and it matches. Thanks
Lou45
R.I.P.
From what the pics show, the gun appears to be right. Is it in the 3.4 million serial # range?
303_enfield
Ultimate Member
Receiver is real. Only the A4 is marked A3 sideways. Scope, doesn't matter much that it's not marked with a data plate or electric pencil. Would be better if it was.
Nice rifle now go shoot her!
Nice rifle now go shoot her!
Mendozaco
Active Member
Serial # 499267X. Hope this helps. Thanks guys for all your comments.
Lou45
R.I.P.
Are you sure that the first three digits are 499 and not 400 or 409? and possibly a Z prefix???
Maverick0313
Retired and loving it
Even if it's not all original, it's a sweet rifle!
Mendozaco
Active Member
The serial number and period are correct. This is an original item. I did my due diligence before I purchased it. Thanks for your support.
http://www.bowersweapons.com/US MODEL 1903 RIFLE SERIAL NUMBER RANGES.htm
1942‑3000001‑3348085 (M1903)
1942‑3348086‑3607999 (M1903A3)
1942‑3708000‑4707999 (M1903A3)
1942‑4992001‑5784000 (M1903A3)
1943‑3407088‑3427087 (M1903A4)
1943‑4992001‑4997045 (M1903A4)
1943‑Z4000000‑Z4002920 (M1903A4)
TOTAL: 1084079
On 18 January 1943 Remington directed to divert from production 20,000 M1903A3 rifles for conversion to the U.S. Rifle M1903A4 (Sniper's). Rifles #3407088‑3427087 (from the first "block" of numbers) were diverted, and the first "03‑A3" converted was delivered in February 1943.
On 20 June 1943 an additional 8,365 M1909A4 rifles were ordered. "Block" for these rifles and possible future orders were 4922001‑5784000. After this block had been used to 4997045, receiver marking was changed to "03‑A4" and a new series of numbers begun with Z4000000.
The second "block" of "03‑A3" numbers was used only to about 4168800 before cancellation of contract ended "03‑A3" production 28 February 1944.
In March 1944, with receiver Z4002290, production of the M1903A4 was ended. Total production was 1,056,276 rifles, which included about 345,000 M1903 and M1903 (modified), about 711,276 M1903A3, and just 26,653 M1903A4 (short of the 28,365 ordered)
http://www.bowersweapons.com/US MODEL 1903 RIFLE SERIAL NUMBER RANGES.htm
1942‑3000001‑3348085 (M1903)
1942‑3348086‑3607999 (M1903A3)
1942‑3708000‑4707999 (M1903A3)
1942‑4992001‑5784000 (M1903A3)
1943‑3407088‑3427087 (M1903A4)
1943‑4992001‑4997045 (M1903A4)
1943‑Z4000000‑Z4002920 (M1903A4)
TOTAL: 1084079
On 18 January 1943 Remington directed to divert from production 20,000 M1903A3 rifles for conversion to the U.S. Rifle M1903A4 (Sniper's). Rifles #3407088‑3427087 (from the first "block" of numbers) were diverted, and the first "03‑A3" converted was delivered in February 1943.
On 20 June 1943 an additional 8,365 M1909A4 rifles were ordered. "Block" for these rifles and possible future orders were 4922001‑5784000. After this block had been used to 4997045, receiver marking was changed to "03‑A4" and a new series of numbers begun with Z4000000.
The second "block" of "03‑A3" numbers was used only to about 4168800 before cancellation of contract ended "03‑A3" production 28 February 1944.
In March 1944, with receiver Z4002290, production of the M1903A4 was ended. Total production was 1,056,276 rifles, which included about 345,000 M1903 and M1903 (modified), about 711,276 M1903A3, and just 26,653 M1903A4 (short of the 28,365 ordered)
dist1646
Ultimate Member
VERY NICE!! Hope you got it for a good price.
- Dec 20, 2013
- 12,340
One word: gorgeous!
The mixed metals is a bit of a downer, but those cartouches on the nice scant stock more than make up for that. I'll bet she'll be a lot o' fun to shoot (not to mention drawing admiring stares at the range!).
The mixed metals is a bit of a downer, but those cartouches on the nice scant stock more than make up for that. I'll bet she'll be a lot o' fun to shoot (not to mention drawing admiring stares at the range!).
dist1646
Ultimate Member
The blue and park appear to be original and make it much more desirable than one that has been rebuilt and all parked.
- Dec 20, 2013
- 12,340
I don't think it left the armory with that mixture of coloured metals. That, to me, indicates parts replacements after the fact. To be clear, that's not necessarily a negative, as most of these rifles were used and, therefore, would've had parts replaced along the way. It just would've been nice(er) if all the metals matched. But, again, the rifle's a stunner and the new owner's a very lucky guy.
Lou45
R.I.P.
Most of the metal parts were blued but the receiver and barrel were parkerized as per factory production. Most of the arsenal rebuilds were parked throughout.
- Dec 20, 2013
- 12,340
Is that mixing of blued receiver/barrel and parkerized everything else limited to A4s?
I was just at the NRA museum yesterday and their A4 appeared to be all blued. I didn't think to ask, but presumed it was all OEM. The metals (excepting the scope parts) were pretty monochromatic, colour-wise.
I was just at the NRA museum yesterday and their A4 appeared to be all blued. I didn't think to ask, but presumed it was all OEM. The metals (excepting the scope parts) were pretty monochromatic, colour-wise.
Lou45
R.I.P.
Receivers and barrels - parked.
Just about all the other metal parts - blued.
This was standard practice on Smith Corona 1903-A3's and Remington 1903-A3's and 1903-A4's.
Just about all the other metal parts - blued.
This was standard practice on Smith Corona 1903-A3's and Remington 1903-A3's and 1903-A4's.
SKIP
Ultimate Member
screamingeagle
Active Member
- Mar 7, 2010
- 507
I stand corrected, this IS correct with the mixed blueing , park combo. typically this sets off alarm bells on rifles that have been " put together" . not in this case .A great rifle thanks for sharing.
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