[Chipperman]

Got a Remington 1903A3 at a show yesterday. SN #3888xxx,
4 groove barrel RA 07-43
S stock.
Receiver is in nice shape, and bore looks good. Wood dark, but in pretty nice shape. Got it for $450, so I think I did ok. Not a steal, but not bad.

Anyway, here are my questions:

1. There is no hood on the front site. Did all A3's have hoods, or did mine possibly not have one from the factory?

2. The trigger guard/floor plate is painted black. Where the paint is scratched off, the metal appears not to be blued or parkerized. Is this original?

3. I would like to clean up the stock (Walnut, right?). Is Simple Green ok to do this, or would Mineral Spirits be better?

Thanks for your input. Can't wait to shoot it. :cool:

[Ledbetter]

1. The sight cover is easily removed and lost. Most rifles I have seen don't have one. They are obtainable.

2. I believe the original triggerguards were blued. In any event, not painted black.

3. Does your stock have any stamps or emblems in the wood? Crossed cannons, "FJA," little shapes in front of the trigger guard? These should not be disturbed if they are present. Mineral spirits is best to start with and may be all you need.

Go to the 1903 forum at www.jouster.com for more info.

[gino]

I use Murphy's Oil Soap for cleaning stocks. WOrks great at taking off the dirt, but won't ruin the stock's original finish. Just be careful not to overdo it around the stamps/cartouches.

[Chipperman]

Thanks for the help. :)

The front site cover and base plate seem to be easily purchased.

Could someone direct me to an online 1903 manual? I did not see one at Jouster or Fulton.

[telewinz]

I have a Rem 03/A3 also. I think just the Rem 03 had the front site hood. They were parkerizedn not blued, should be close to a greenish gray by now.

[Ledbetter]

Is

TM 9-1270

War Department Technical Manual
U.S. Rifles, Cal. 30, M1903, M1903A1, M1903A3 and M1903A4.

Published by the War Department, 20 January 1944

[Chipperman]

Do you know anywhere that manual can be found online?

[Khornet]

I thought all Rem 03A3 had 2-groove barrels. Triggerguard was stamped and parked or blued, not painted. There was an intermediate type made by rem before 03A3 was fully developed; saw one last fall, but I don't think it was called 03A3. Maybe you have a rebarreled rifle? My 03A3 was built 11/43, has 2 grooves...and drives tacks, BTW.

[Chipperman]

The receiver says 1903A3 right on it. The barrel sure looks like 4 grooves, unless I'm counting them wrong.

[Ledbetter]

Can you post a picture of just the stamped area on the receiver? Does it say "1903A3" or "03A3?"

[Chipperman]

"Does it say "1903A3" or "03A3?"
:confused:

Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuummm...

I'll have to look tonight when I get home. I know the A3 is there. Not sure about the "19"

Did they come both ways?

[Ledbetter]

I think they all say 03A3.

Some 03A3 rifles with four groove barrels are rifles that were not quite good enough to be 03A4 "Sniper" rifles. The markings on these rifles is different so that serial numbers can be read with the scope mounted, in my recollection.

Jouster.com may have an article on this.

[Chipperman]

OK--
It says:

U.S.
Remington
Model 03-A3

3888xxx

[Khornet]

is William Brophy's 'The 1903 Springfield Rifles'. I checked, and I'm wrong. There were a few Rem, 03A3s with 4-groove barrels.

03A4s have SN and lettering on the sides of reciever ring near the wood to leave space for scope mount holes. 03A3 are in the center.

Great rifles. Get the book-Brownells has it.

[Chipperman]

Nope- the lettering is right on the top front of the receiver.

[Khornet]

is a gen-ew-wine Remington 03A3. Don't ever part with it, boy!

[Chipperman]

Not until it goes to one of my sons. :cool: