Springfield 1903 info needed

[waynes1861]

Hi guy, I'm trying to find out some info on this rifle. The reciever is stamped US REMINGTON 1903, the seriel number is 3087XXX. The barrel is stamped RA 4-42 with the flaming bomb, on several other parts like the front sight blade, bolt, and safety there is a R. On the stock there is a circle with crossed cannons in it and a rectangle with FGA in it. The front sight cover doesn't have any stampings in it, IIRC didn't the originals? This was another flea market find. The guy I got the mauser action from introduced me to the guy who had this, it wasn't even out he had it in his car. The bayonet is a M1905 dated 1906 in a leather scabbard. I picked up the bayonet about 6 years ago and the scabbard about a year later. That felt good to be able to unite them all after how many years since there military service. Thanks in advance.

[Randy A]

Your rifle was probably built in May of 42, I suspect the barrel is correct to it, (even though it's a month earlier) I believe the pinned stock is also. Most of the unmarked front sight covers have been claimed to be Springfield (pre-war). As far as I know, all others were marked, G in a triangle was Gotham, R Remington and others that had a letter and numbers. I haven't studied the sight covers much, maybe someone will respond with info.

[Kirk]

Congratulations on a nice find! Your receiver was made in May, 1942. A fellow who goes by ViShooter has an excellent M1903 reference site, http://www.vishooter.net/m1903.html

[Rick the Librarian]

The barrel is original; the stock is a replacement. The original stock would have been a non-grasping groove with an RLB. Hard to tell for sure, but the handguard is probably a replacement, as well. The "FGA" stock is an FJA, in actuality. The stock (assuming it doesn't have cuts for an 03A3 handguard ring) was originally on a late Remington M1903.

[waynes1861]

Thanks for the info guys. After I turned the computer off yesterday I was reading guns&ammo surplus firearms articale about the 1903A3 and they acturally talked about these early war remington 03's. Rick as far as the handguard ring I'm not to sure if I know what you're refering to. Here's a pic, is this what you're talking about. I also noticed some marks on the bottom of the stock that I didn't see before. In front of the floor plate there is a 5 in a circle, a 13 in a circle, a 10 in a box and a triangle. Behind the trigger gaurd there is a P in a circle and a D. It's also missing the screw that holds the piece with the bayonet lug on. If anyone has a spare and wants to sell it please let me know. I only recently started to get into these old rifles so thanks for putting up with me.

[Rick the Librarian]

The stock is a replacement, as I said. Judging by the latest pictures, the handguard is, as well.