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  1. #1
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    Remington 1903A3

    So I was lucky to pick up a nice 1903A3 at my local gun store. I took her a part and stripped the nasty wax and junk whatever the previous owner had on it. It had a nice C stock on it and was marked RR-P in a rectangular box (Raritan Arsenal.) but tons of handling marks on it.

    After stripping it, it looked pretty respectable!! So I used two coats of boiled linseed oilicon on her and that was it. The wood is VERY dark walnut, actually the darkest I have ever seen and I am 58 so I have seen tons of milsurp rifles. Nice straight grain and it is not socked with oil or grease, believe me when I say it was down to the nice clean wood before the linseed oilicon!



    The gun gave me 1 inch groups at 50 yards and the bore is like glass it is nice!

    All of the parts are correct except the complete bolt. It has an "X" on top of the bolt on the flat which I believe is a Smith Corona bolt mark. All of the rest of the bolt appears to be Smith Corona as well.

    So she obviously went through a rebuild are Raritan. Since it was war time. Is there a possibility she left he Remington factory with a Smith Corona bolt?

    I know it is well known they all traded parts and helped each other get guns out. It was war!

    I just don't want to trade out bolts if there is any possibility.

    What are your thoughts?
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    Last edited by neorebel; 10-25-2015 at 05:54 PM.

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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Love those "C" stock rifles. It's a bit strange to see an 03-A3 with one...I'd love to come wring it out...
    Regards, Jim

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    Quote Originally Posted by browningautorifleicon View Post
    Love those "C" stock rifles. It's a bit strange to see an 03-A3 with one...I'd love to come wring it out...
    Thanks for the reply Jim. She has been a lot of fun to shoot. From what I read over the years on 1903A3's they were supposed to have the C stocks but production never could keep up, so many were put on them after the war. I wish I could find the article but it did say the C stock was standard.

    Found it!

    http://www.trfindley.com/pgm1903stkid.html

    The "scant" stock came about in late 1941 when the Ordnance wanted to standardize on a pistol-grip stock for all M1903 rifles. There were already many thousands of stock blanks on hand that were sized for the old straight stock. They were not deep enough to get the full pistol grip of the Type C (modified) stock that had been standardized in 1929, so the drawing was modified to allow a "scant" grip to be used. This was the largest grip that could be formed from the old stock blanks. This all occurred before the 1903A3 was standardized, and early "scant" stocks will only fit on a 1903, and will not fit an 03A3. They were made by Springfield in early 1942, and will be marked with a small "s" in the cut-off seat. Scant stocks were made for rebuilds: no "new manufacture" M1903 or 1903A3 rifles ever left the factory in a "scant" stock. There is some question about M1903A4's. 03A4's were supposed to be supplied in the WW II version of the full "C" stock, some may have been provided in scant stocks as-built. AKAIK, Remington did not make the "scant" stocks or the slab-side C stock: those used in 03A4 production were provided from Keystone or American Bowling & Billiard.

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    The last part I knew, not the first. Still, I've never owned a type "C" stock. I'd love one.
    Regards, Jim

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    Legacy Member emmagee1917's Avatar
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    Remington's all left with Remington parts in them . No interchange cross shipments like carbines . I believe all SC left with SC parts in them , too . They might of had start up help , but I don't think so .
    Chris

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    Yep I would think so but there are no detailed records. I will probably just switch it out with a complete Remington bolt.

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    I've never seen a "she" 03-A3. All Remington & Smith Corona 03-A3's were originally produced with the straight grip stock. Factory fresh, all had only parts produced by the company that made it. (Remington or Smith Corona). If you have an 03-A3 with a "Scant" or "C" stock on it then its a replacement stock that was installed after the rifle left the factory.

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    Personally I would leave the bolt alone, as it is closer to how it was used in service then it would be if you changed it.

    To me trying to get the 'correct' drawing numbers and parts by exchanging them on legitimate examples of military rifles (i.e. not sporterized) is altering the history of the rifle. This is just my thoughts on the matter, and I know many 'collectors' have fallen down that rabbit hole, trying to make there rifles 'correct' (when in reality it is bringing them farther away from it).

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    Isn't RR-P Red River Arsenal? Raritan would be RA-P correct?

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    Wondering if that is a USMC front sight cover? Looks tall, from the photo, but hard to tell for sure.

    Mike

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