New 1903A3 - Would appreciate your knowledge/input on the rifle

[NDVermin]

Hi Folks - I'm new to the forum and just picked up my first 1903A3 and would love to have you experts tell me what you can about it? I think it's pretty clear the stock as been sanded and re-stained because it's way too smooth and the stamps have clearly lost some of their edge.

With that said I'd love to get your thoughts on this history of this particular rifle and how correct it is (I wouldn't know a Remington part from a SC at this point).

I was also surprised at the site picture with the hood on there - the front post almost touches the site hood - is this normal? Finally, I don't seem to see a lot of these rifles with "US" stamped near the butt. Was that normal?

Scott

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[pickax]

Welcome and thanks for sharing pics of a nice A3.
Remington marked most of the small parts with an R, which I see in your pics, but there are more to be found.
Stock also looks Remington from the rear band holder cut out squared at the end. Butt plate looks correct too.
Here is a great site to compare Rem/SC parts. Also you can date your rifle from the serialization and barrel date lists. Spend some time there and enjoy!
http://www.vishooter.net/m1903.html

What part of Maine? That is my home state and I spend summers at Moosehead lake.

[NDVermin]

Thanks Pickax! I will definitely check out that site and learn some more. I live in Hampden, which is right near Bangor. As you know - Summers are great, but right now it's about 2 below....not so great :-)

[pickax]

Yes, I saw 15 below in Greenville this AM with 45 below wind chill. No range time for you now!
As far as the US stamping, my recollection is It was used by an armory as "unservicable surplus" prior to sending to DCM for civilian sales.
Not that the rifle is actually unservicable , but that was how they did it. My memory might not be exactly correct on this, Rick or other true experts
may be along to help.

[Tom in N.J.]

The "U.S." stamped on the butt near the butt plate goes back to the D.C.M. sales days. Early DCM sales were broken into two grades, Serviceable and Un-serviceable. The "US" denotes that the stock was at one time on a rifle graded as un-serviceable by the Army for sale through the DCM. All were deemed safe to fire service ammunition.

[NDVermin]

Thanks Tom. Would you happen to know why a stock would typically be rated unserviceable? Curious if it was an actual defect or more of a paperwork situation. It certainly appears to be in perfect shape.

[Mike Haas]

Thanks Tom. Would you happen to know why a stock would typically be rated unserviceable? Curious if it was an actual defect or more of a paperwork situation. It certainly appears to be in perfect shape.

US didn't mean the stock was unserviceable. Nor did it mean the rifle was. It was simply a grading/pricing ID for DCM to use to fulfill pricing/ordering requests at the time of sale.

[pickax]

NDV
If you read Toms reply again, he leaves open the possibility the stock on your rifle might not be original to the rifle. Possible, but I tend to think it is original to rifle, and the refinishing was done by a previous owner. Remember these have been "in the wild" for quite a while, and anything is possible.
I've seen other pics of these DCM rifles with bone dry wood, and the last guy gave it his version of TLC.
Not to worry, it's a good one, hardly used by your pics.
Let us know what else you find, these early DCM guns were pretty much un molested and hard to find today.
Did you find locally, or auction?

[NDVermin]

Thanks Pickax. I live up in Maine but had been looking for one of these for a few months. I stopped in a MA gun store that I happened to be driving by and found it down there. The only milsurp they had amongst all the new AR types. She was definitely the prettiest in room :-)

[rcathey]

I stopped in a MA gun store that I happened to be driving by and found it down there. The only milsurp they had amongst all the new AR types. She was definitely the prettiest in room :-)

The time to buy is when you see it! I bought a Smith and Wesson 1917 today that way.
Nice buy on your part! (Not so nice on mine...but I wanted it haha).