Springfield 03a3

[Dr.Rob]

Just curious...

I have a 1903a3 made by Remington..

Had some questions about the marks on the stock.

In front of magazine: "8" in triangle, "9" in circle, "7" in square, "2" in diamond.

Behind tigger guard: Small "G" stamped, Large "P" stamped in circle 1/2" dia.

Left side of Stock: bbetween trigger guard and safety "FJA" in a rectangle, crossed cannons seal.

Left side of stock at wrist: "OG"

Reciever marked US Remington Model 03-A3

SSN 3535***


So any idea what all thoise codes mean and or when it was made? I'm guessing the 30's.

Thanks gang!

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Well, if nobody here can answer your questions, the people here can:

http://www.jouster.com/cgi-bin/03/03config.pl?

I think there is a serial number register in there somewhere, but I couldn't find it.

 

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

So any idea what all thoise codes mean and or when it was made? I'm guessing the 30's.

03a3's are WWII wartime manufacture. Check the exposed part of the barrel, between the front sight and the end of the stock. Barrel manufacture date (month and year: mm-yy) is always stamped there. That's usually a month or three prior to the date the rifle was fully assembled.

The circle P behind the trigger is the proof mark; some inspecter test fired the rifle at the factor and decided it worked properly.

The FJA is a rebuild mark (I think). These are stamped after the refinished stocks passed inspection.

I dunno about the others.

Just out of curiousity, how many grooves does the barrel have?

-John

 

[Dr.Rob]

Ah ha!

You can clearly see the RA (Remington Arms) Flaming Bomb ordinance mark and 3-43. March 1943. (Boy you'd think Remington was making M-1's or machine guns by then.)

So... that leaves a few more marks.

And its a 4 groove barrel.

 

[JackM]

FJA is the mark of Inspector Lt. Col Frank J. Atwood on Remington-Rand 1911A1 pistols. I don't know if his stamp is on 1903A3s.

Bye
Jack

 

[BADSBSNF81]

Marks in front of the magazine are various factory inspector marks.

OG means it went through arsenal rebuild/inspection at Ogden, Utah arsenal.

The FJA is usually not enclosed by a rectangle. There should also be an "RA" mark and an Ordnance Department "wheel" escutcheon mark near the FJA (might be very faint).


Virtually all of the parts should have an "R" stamped on them.

 

[BonesofGa.]

www.armscollectors.com is a real good site. They can tell you when it was made, what the different marks mean, and sometimes where it was sent to. Go check it out!

 

[Jim K]

Col. Frank J. Atwood was commanding officer of the Rochester Ordnance District; he personally inspected nothing, but as CO he was responsible for all the ordnance material accepted by the Army from that region. His initials appear on rifles and shotguns by Remington and Ithaca, as well as pistols by Ithaca and Remington Rand and military vehicles.

The "FJA" stamp is NOT a rebuild mark; it was put on only at the original maker's factory. The crossed cannons were the official Army Ordnance Department acceptance stamp. The "P" is the proof mark, meaning that the rifle was fired with an overloaded "proof" cartridge and did not fail. The markings on the bottom of the stock are various Remington inspector's marks; the persons who used the various stamps are no longer known.

Some "rebuild marks" are not indicative of rebuild at all. One common mark often confused with Remington marks is "RA-P" (Raritan Arsenal - Proof), which was put on by Raritan Arsenal after an additional inspection and proof before sale through the DCM. Some people insist that those marks indicate a rebuild, but that is often not the case. Production of the M1903A3 continued after production of the M1 rifle exceeded needs and thousands of the later M1903A3's went from factory to depot and were never issued. They were later given to U.S. allies or sold through DCM.

Jim

 

[Dr.Rob]

Ok so it looks like I have a 3-43/4-43 mfg'd rifle that has an S series stock, likely by Smith Corona that may have been supplied in Utah as a replacement, that or Smith Corona sent Remington a truck load of stocks at some point.

Just got a delivery of 20 stripper clips... off to the range this week.

 

[Bobby Brennan JR]

I Have a Question

I just bought a cherry Springfeild 03-A3 and it a Smith Cornia #3620436 and between the front site and front of the stock it has S-C the flameing bomb then 12-42 and I wonder if any body know's what this means

 

[Jim Watson]

SC = Smith Corona, so they were making their own barrels by then.
12-42 - So "then" was December 1942.