M1903A3 rifle I picked up on the cheap... for shooter or parts

GS_Geoff · 11-06-2009, 12:20 PM

No pics yet, sorry.

I picked this up yesterday.

It has all Remington parts, dated 5-44 under the bomb. However, where the manufacture/info is normally stamped on the receiver, it has been visibly filed down and stamped over by NATL ORD. One of the gunsmiths from where I got it thinks it may be a case where National Ordnance perhaps bought receivers from Remington or another company, and then restamped them with their name. So he says anyway.

It has a very good condition stock (straight), no major dings or scrapes, but one little pinhole. At some point, somebody painted the top grips black. Bore is nice and bright, 2 groove rifling. Overall it's in great shape for a shooter... just want to find out a little more about the receiver before I go put any rounds through it. Worst case scenario, I'll find a nice Remington receiver and have a great gun.

Hopefully after work tonight I can get some pics up of the stampings/etc.

Calif-Steve · 11-06-2009, 12:43 PM

Nat Ord had these thing built up from parts in Los Angeles, CA around 1966(?). I have heard the receivers were cast in Spain and put together in LA. They are not very good shooters as they will let loose at times. I have seen some that looked safe to me and have seen some that looked like bombs to be. I would hunt high and low for a real Remington receiver and swap out all the parts. Basically you have a very nice parts kit, good luck.

Jeff L · 11-06-2009, 01:43 PM

National Ordinance rifles are not safe to shoot. chuckindenver will attest to this.

-Jeff L

GS_Geoff · 11-07-2009, 12:39 AM

Here are some of the markings...

And it has bayonnet lug too... forgot to take picture of that.

Rick the Librarian · 11-07-2009, 09:20 AM

That is an "original" (so to speak) National Ordnance receiver. It appears to have been polished/buffed to eliminate the usual roughness found on these receivers. The rest are the usual mixture of parts.

chuckindenver · 11-07-2009, 09:54 AM

parts only, do not shoot that rifle....

Orsogato · 11-16-2009, 08:40 PM

Definitely try to find an 03a3 receiver. I would be wary of shooting that rifle as well.

bb1 · 11-18-2009, 03:22 AM

Yep. That serial number could have only come from Nat'l Ord.
Bill

11-06-2009, 12:20 PM	#1
GS_Geoff Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 6 QM Rating: 0% (0)	M1903A3 rifle I picked up on the cheap... for shooter or parts No pics yet, sorry. I picked this up yesterday. It has all Remington parts, dated 5-44 under the bomb. However, where the manufacture/info is normally stamped on the receiver, it has been visibly filed down and stamped over by NATL ORD. One of the gunsmiths from where I got it thinks it may be a case where National Ordnance perhaps bought receivers from Remington or another company, and then restamped them with their name. So he says anyway. It has a very good condition stock (straight), no major dings or scrapes, but one little pinhole. At some point, somebody painted the top grips black. Bore is nice and bright, 2 groove rifling. Overall it's in great shape for a shooter... just want to find out a little more about the receiver before I go put any rounds through it. Worst case scenario, I'll find a nice Remington receiver and have a great gun. Hopefully after work tonight I can get some pics up of the stampings/etc. Last edited by GS_Geoff : 11-06-2009 at 12:22 PM.

11-07-2009, 12:39 AM	#4
GS_Geoff Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 6 QM Rating: 0% (0)	Here are some of the markings... And it has bayonnet lug too... forgot to take picture of that. Last edited by GS_Geoff : 11-07-2009 at 01:26 AM.

11-07-2009, 09:20 AM	#5
Rick the Librarian Advisory Panel Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: NW Washington State Posts: 548 QM Rating: 0% (0)	That is an "original" (so to speak) National Ordnance receiver. It appears to have been polished/buffed to eliminate the usual roughness found on these receivers. The rest are the usual mixture of parts. __________________ People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. --George Orwell

11-18-2009, 03:22 AM	#8
bb1 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 53 QM Rating: 0% (0)	Yep. That serial number could have only come from Nat'l Ord. Bill Last edited by bb1 : 11-18-2009 at 03:47 AM. Reason: Issue covered in other thread

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11-06-2009, 12:43 PM	#2
Calif-Steve Really Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 484 QM Rating: 0% (0)	Nat Ord had these thing built up from parts in Los Angeles, CA around 1966(?). I have heard the receivers were cast in Spain and put together in LA. They are not very good shooters as they will let loose at times. I have seen some that looked safe to me and have seen some that looked like bombs to be. I would hunt high and low for a real Remington receiver and swap out all the parts. Basically you have a very nice parts kit, good luck.

11-06-2009, 01:43 PM	#3
Jeff L Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 133 QM Rating: 0% (0)	National Ordinance rifles are not safe to shoot. chuckindenver will attest to this. -Jeff L

11-07-2009, 09:54 AM	#6
chuckindenver Advisory Panel Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Denver Co Posts: 992 QM Rating: 0% (0)	parts only, do not shoot that rifle....

11-16-2009, 08:40 PM	#7
Orsogato Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 13 QM Rating: 0% (0)	Definitely try to find an 03a3 receiver. I would be wary of shooting that rifle as well.

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