Early RA M1903-A3 in details

[snipershot1944]

Wonder if it could have been a restored sporter? Many rifles just had the stock cut, maybe sight changed, bands taken off, etc. It could have been restored with original parts, correct but from mixed period.

Or perhaps a rifle that saw use, and then was repaired at the depot level, without rebuild.

snipershot1944

[Garandrew]

Dave, this rifles been together along time.
I dont think its restored.
Andy

[Chilly]

Is the assumption that the parkerized upper band marked "R" could not be original? Ive heard otherwise..and with the transitional 03 front sight, was RA never in the business of parking upper bands? Anyone else have an early RA like this, besides the pinned front sight?
Andy

When you say "front band" what are you talking about? The cap with the bayo lug? My 4-43 RA bayo lug cap/band thing is blued. On closer inspection I wonder if the handguard rings might be parked? Too crusty with dried BLO to tell right now. Handguard rings have no letters but the stacking swivel and front sling swivel are "R" marked. The screws are heavily staked so I don't think they've been removed ever.

[Garandrew]

Yes Chilly, the upper band, [bayonet stud], on mine is parked.
Andy

[Chilly]

OK, my front band is blued. And after a good hosing with carb cleaner I'd say the handguard bands are parked. The park didn't look light gray so I scrubbed it quite a lot with carb cleaner and a scotchbrite pad. Started to look kind of gray but then I realized it was just bare metal starting to show through, not gray park. Fortunately I only did that to the barrel, receiver and bolt before I stopped. The upside: no more ugly tool marks on my barrel. The bad news: I can just barely see the flaming bomb and barrel date on the barrel anymore.

[USSR]

Yes Chilly, the upper band, [bayonet stud], on mine is parked.
Andy

While I cannot say for early Remington manufactured 03-A3's, my early, unissued Smith-Corona has a parked upper band.

Don

[Chuckindenver]

ok.
reciever, barrel, safety, and front sight base are grey phosphate, the rest is black oxide, {blue} any other would be replacement, or repaired.
on Remington A3,s start to end of production.
the barrels will always be darker then the receiver, they are not hardened, and not Nickle steel,
soft C steel will always turn out darker.
example.
if i put a barreled receiver in my tank that has been stripped and prepped in the white.
the barrel always turns out darker then the receiver...
as for the cocking rod, its a replacement, plain and simple.
front sight??maybe, i have seen some 1903 Remington barrels on early A3,s Jan to March dates. i have a couple from drill rifles, ill loook and see of they have 03 sights.
my only sugestion is,
if it is indeed a 1903 barrel, why modify the base pin? it would work fine the way it is.
only if you put a A3 sight on an 03 barrel would you need to modify the key.
its very common for the cocking rod, bayonet lug, and front sight to be replaced on a rifle, bayonet training is hard on them.
and a cocking rod is a normal part to wear.

[David]

I recently acquired an early Remington 03-A3 with barrel date of 1-43 and serial number in the 33382xx (Yes, I know a lot of folks hate the dreaded "x") range which puts it very close to the rifle being discussed. My rifle also has what appears to be a modified 1903 front sight base (fixed and moveable) that is pinned in place exactly like the one shown. Given that the rifle shows no sign of having been refinished , and given that the pin and both parts of the based have not been disturbed and since the blade is blue and it's pin has not been moved nothing seems to be a replacement. And like the rifle pictured, my rifle has all parts (furniture) blued except for the bayonet lug which is "R" marked and never appears to have been replaced.

The rifle had not been apart for many, many years prior to my obtaining it and from my observation I do not think that any parts are replaced given their matching wear and condition. Overall condition of the two rifles is remarkably similiar except that mine has a blued "R" marked front sight cover that had lots of filth under it where it had gathered dust and dirt for years.

So, we may have some indication that Remington used up some 1903 front sight parts and perhaps all furniture was not blued on these very early 03A3 rifles. For now, at least, that's my vote on the subject. Perhaps John Beard has some insights here!

[John Beard]

I recently acquired an early Remington 03-A3 with barrel date of 1-43 and serial number in the 33382xx (Yes, I know a lot of folks hate the dreaded "x") range which puts it very close to the rifle being discussed. My rifle also has what appears to be a modified 1903 front sight base (fixed and moveable) that is pinned in place exactly like the one shown. Given that the rifle shows no sign of having been refinished , and given that the pin and both parts of the based have not been disturbed and since the blade is blue and it's pin has not been moved nothing seems to be a replacement. And like the rifle pictured, my rifle has all parts (furniture) blued except for the bayonet lug which is "R" marked and never appears to have been replaced.

The rifle had not been apart for many, many years prior to my obtaining it and from my observation I do not think that any parts are replaced given their matching wear and condition. Overall condition of the two rifles is remarkably similiar except that mine has a blued "R" marked front sight cover that had lots of filth under it where it had gathered dust and dirt for years.

So, we may have some indication that Remington used up some 1903 front sight parts and perhaps all furniture was not blued on these very early 03A3 rifles. For now, at least, that's my vote on the subject. Perhaps John Beard has some insights here!

Early Remington '03-A3's were indeed fitted with olive parkerized bayonet bands. The blued bayonet band didn't appear until much later.

Also, early Remington '03-A3's were indeed fitted with 3-piece '03 front sights (base, stud, and blade). But, not the first ones. The first '03-A3's were fitted with 2-piece '03-A3 front sights. The 3-piece front sight appeared very briefly upon cessation of '03 production (using up leftover parts).

Your rifle, S/N 33382xx is a bit early for a 3-piece '03 front sight. Please double-check the serial number. Thanks!

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[Garandrew]

Thank you JB, I guess it sort of makes my rifle that much better.
Plus, it was my wifes 18th anniversery gift to me, we bumped into it at Kittery Trading Post..in Maine about 5 years ago...$750.00