Rifle ?

[Engine4]

Is this a Remington 03?

 

[Doco Overboard]

Looks like an A3-03

 

[Inigoes]

I do not see the tell-tale safety on the left had side for it to be an 03.

 

[HiStandards]

Looks like an A3-03

03-A3 FIFY

 

[Doco Overboard]

03-A3 FIFY

Thanks!
I was expecting to see a o3 A1 at first.

 

[Inigoes]

Verify your serial number:

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY US MODEL 1903 RIFLE SERIAL NUMBER RANGES
(Including Rock Island Arsenal, Remington, and Smith-Corona production)

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY PRODUCTION OF MODEL 1903
[Dated by calendar year: January – December]

1903 1 16000
1904 16001 67000
1905 67001 119000
1906 119001 269450
1907 269451 337861
1908 337862 358084
1909 358085 398275
1910 398276 456375
1911 456376 502045
1912 502046 531520
1913 531521 570560
1914 570561 595600
1915 595601 620120
1916 620121 632825
1917 632826 761757
1918 761758 1055091
1919 1055092 1162500
1920 1162501 1211299
1921 1211300 1239640
1922 1239641 1252386
1923 1252387 1261486
1924 1261487 1267100
1925 1267101 1270300
1926 1270301 1274764
1927 1274765 1285265
1928 1285266 1305900
1929 1305901 1338405
1930 1338406 1369760
1931 1369761 1404025
1932 1404026 1425933
1933 1425934 1441811
1934 1441812 1491531
1935 1491532 1496022
1936 PRODUCTION TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
1937 1496023 1510387
1938 1939 1510388 1532878
Total: 1340000.
Introduction of improved heat treatment at SN800000
Introduction of nickel steel at SN1275767.

•RIA PRODUCTION OF MODEL 1903

1903 1 7500
1904 7501 16000
1905 16001 28000
1906 28001 75000
1907 75001 130000
1908 130001 165000
1909 165001 178000
1910 178001 201000
1911 201001 210634
1912 210635 217801
1913 217802 234830
1914 PRODUCTION TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
1915 PRODUCTION TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
1916 PRODUCTION TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
1917 234831 257061
1918 257062 326935
1919 326936 348414
TOTAL: 346000

Introduction of improved heat treatment at SN285507.
Introduction of nickel steel at SN319921.

•REMINGTON ARMS PRODUCTION OF M1903, 1903A3, 1903A4

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

•SMITH CORONA PRODUCTION OF M1903A3

1943 3608000 3707999
1944 4708000 4992000
TOTAL: 234000

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)

https://www.nps.gov/spar/learn/historyculture/upload/US MODEL 1903 RIFLE SERIAL NUMBER RANGES.doc

 

[Engine4]

Thanks! Does it look like it was sporterized or did they make a custom rifle?

 

[HiStandards]

Looks like serial number may be under front scope mount. Sporterized into custom rifle. I don't think Remington made factory customs. After market safety on bolt. I can't remember if 03-A3 still had mag cut-off.

 

[ken792]

Definitely was an A3. You can see the dovetail for the rear sight.

Does it still have a serial number on the front right of the receiver ring? It’s likely partially obscured by the mount of it’s still there.

Verify your serial number:



https://www.nps.gov/spar/learn/historyculture/upload/US MODEL 1903 RIFLE SERIAL NUMBER RANGES.doc

All USGI A3 receivers are nickel steel and the safety was not in question.

Looks like serial number may be under front scope mount. Sporterized into custom rifle. I don't think Remington made factory customs. After market safety on bolt. I can't remember if 03-A3 still had mag cut-off.

They did have the cutoff, but the aftermarket stock lacks the cutout for it. You can see the lever peeking out from above the stock in the “ON” position.

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

Definitely an 03A3 that has some Remington parts. Most likely a Remington receiver as they made the majority of 03A3 rifles but could still be a Smith-Corona.

 

[John from MD]

Looks like serial number may be under front scope mount. Sporterized into custom rifle. I don't think Remington made factory customs. After market safety on bolt. I can't remember if 03-A3 still had mag cut-off.

Remington did make a civilian model of the M1917. I believe it was called a Model 30.

 

[HiStandards]

Remington did make a civilian model of the M1917. I believe it was called a Model 30.

Yes, Model 30 and Model 720 were based on M1917 and sold between the wars.. But Remington was working on Model 721 and 722 for the civilian market post- WWII and didn't make civilian 03's.

Fun fact: The Model 720 was introduced in 1941. After Pearl Harbor almost the entire production run was bought up by the Navy. After the Navy had them they didn't know what to do with them so they were issued as trophy rifles to match winners at least through the 1980's.

 

[TheOriginalMexicanBob]

The Remington 720 is extremely rare in the civilian market and go for big dollars when one comes available.