M1903A3

[Ponder_MD]

I just inherited a nice Springfield. The magazine cutoff switch threw me for a loop.
It came with a box of cartridges bearing a K 70 headstamp. I looked this up and they seem to be from Kynoch munitions in England and possibly tracers but the tips aren't red. I have a sufficient supply of .30-06 so I'll hang on to it.

 

[Doco Overboard]

The switch is neat and reminiscent of other military arms.
It acts as the bolt stop too.
The 03’s at the back of the magazine well were equipped with a little spring actuated detent that corresponded to a dimple on the bolt head designed to keep the bolt from riding shut. Known as the bolt stop spring.
Remington and Smith Corona manufactured the A3’s out of nickle steel.
Their great to shoot , collect etc.

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

That Kynoch ammunition might be corrosive primed.

Is your 03A3 Remington or Smith-Corona made? Plus...drum roll...pictures or it didn't happen!

 

[Ponder_MD]

That Kynoch ammunition might be corrosive primed.

Is your 03A3 Remington or Smith-Corona made? Plus...drum roll...pictures or it didn't happen!

Pics tonight. How can I tell who made it?

 

[Doco Overboard]

It’ll be maker stamped right on the front ring just above the serial number.
Right on top, unless you’re extremely lucky for which the maker will be on the port side above the gas escape hole.
And only then at that point it will indicate Remington only.

 

[ken792]

Pics tonight. How can I tell who made it?

Receiver ring has the manufacturer name on it. For identifying the rest of the parts, Remington marked just about everything with an R. There are also some subtle differences between the parts.

 

[ted76]

It’ll be maker stamped right on the front ring just above the serial number.
Right on top, unless you’re extremely lucky for which the maker will be on the port side above the gas escape hole.
And only then at that point it will indicate

It’ll be maker stamped right on the front ring just above the serial number.
Right on top, unless you’re extremely lucky for which the maker will be on the port side above the gas escape hole.
And only then at that point it will indicate Remington only.

And in that case, you have 1903A4 and the receiver will be drilled and tapped for a scope mount.

 

[Ponder_MD]

Sorry for the lack of photos. I had to take the wife's car to the mechanic last night. I'll try again this afternoon.

 

[easy]

You're late...

 

[Ponder_MD]

OK, it's a Remington. There are R stamps all over it. Of interest are 2 cartouches- USAA and F1-A.

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

The “FJA” is for Frank J. Atwood…the military inspector in charge of the ordnance district where it was built. The others is an Arsenal rebuild mark.

When any rifle goes through an arsenal rebuild it usually doesn’t end up with the stock it left the factory with…so the inspector mark could be from a different time period or even be from a Smith-Corona built rifle.

 

[Doco Overboard]

Looks like a small Ordnance Wheel mark next to the inspector.
I have a rifle similarly marked but I think its a differing inspector based on memory only.
Its been a while since I looked at it.

 

[Ponder_MD]

Neat! Thanks for the history lesson. I'm taking it to the range today for a checkout.

 

[ken792]

The “FJA” is for Frank J. Atwood…the military inspector in charge of the ordnance district where it was built. The others is an Arsenal rebuild mark.

When any rifle goes through an arsenal rebuild it usually doesn’t end up with the stock it left the factory with…so the inspector mark could be from a different time period or even be from a Smith-Corona built rifle.

The inspector marks can also be inspection only, no rebuild necessary, in many cases.

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

1903A3 rifles were less likely to require factory rebuilds as fewer of them saw heavy use than the original 1903 rifle. They were built during the war as a supplementary weapon so more M1 Garands could be shipped for front line combat duty. Not that many weren’t shipped to combat zones…they were…just not in huge numbers.

 

[Red1917]

Need more pics and a range report, looks nice. Usually good shooters

 

[Ponder_MD]

OK- rearsenaled 11/43. USAA is the San Antonio depot. Rifling is still excellent. 5 hurried shots at 100yds, never touched the sights.

 

[Trepang]

Nice!!
I love old MilSurps

 

[ken792]

OK- rearsenaled 11/43. USAA is the San Antonio depot. Rifling is still excellent. 5 hurried shots at 100yds, never touched the sights.

That’s just the barrel date, but it’s likely the original barrel.

 

[Ponder_MD]

I think I'm going to do the AAFG vintage rifle match tomorrow. This thing kicks like a government mule.