1903-A3 questions?

[50of4064]

I thank you for all your hard work!

I am Dennis and am new to the site.

I have a project: a 1903-A3 ( I think. ) After reading the sticky's on Remington serial #'s I am still a little ( lot ) confused. There are barrel marks and codes, I get that part, but the receiver is marked with a serial # also, so which would determine the date of manufacture on this military 1903?

Receiver marked:

U.S.
REMINGTON
MODEL 1903
31957XX

I have been supplied with a new C type stock, as the original was sporterized (straight stock without the pistol grip.)

The new top fore-end wood does not have the Hump and Notch, as it were, that I have seen on all the photo's in the site threads. Is this because it is a C type? ( the rifle has a flip up rear site with yardage gradations) or just the way the stock manufacture made it?

I hope you do not find this annoying, as I am sending you this PM out of frustration with all the conflicting info that I have gathered thus far. After reading some of your threads I decided to ship this off to you in an attempt to get it sorted out.

I want to thank you for your consideration with this matter and can use all the insight I can get.

Thank you
Dennis Butt

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.

[Mike D]

Dennis, welcome!

Your rifle is a M1903, NOT a M1903A3. Approximate manufacture date for you serial # is August, 1942.

It sounds like you may have a handguard for an A3. The A3 had a different rear sight mounted on the rear receiver bridge, not in front of the receiver like the '03, therefor using a longer handguard without the "hump", which was to help protect the '03's rear sight. Hope this makes sense. A quick google search will turn up photos of each model.

Maybe you can trade handguards with who you got the stock from? You might also need some stock metal (bayo lug/upper band).

If you can, post some pics of what you have, and some guys here will help you out.

[JGaynor]

Dennis, at the top of the first page of this springfield subforum there are several resources you may find useful:

One sticky is a link to the full text of TM 9-1270 Ordnance maintenance for the 1903A1, 03A1, 03A3 and 03A4. it has photographs and descriptions of each model. It doesn't have the nitpicking detail of some collectors books but its an essential publication to have either in hard copy or online.

Another sticky will take you to the serial number list published by the Remington Society. Just open the page and scroll down you'll see a couple of lines of text in red. These are the links to the serial numbers charts. BUT don't stop with the chart. Read the explantory notes at the end of the chart. One of the most important thing to note is that originally on these WW2 contract rifles no records of serial numbers were maintained (the contract didn't call for it) the lists we have today are the result of some painstaking calculations taking into account shiiping records and estiamted scrap rates.

As Mike pointed out pictures would help. Usually m1903's have a milled trigger guard but during the transition some 03's were made with the Stamped metal A3 Trigger guard/magazine box so at first glance in profile they look like an A3. The receiver markings and rear sight will be the telltales. of course if you install a pistol grip stock (full C or scant) then you'll have an m1903A1! Clear?

Regards,
jim

[50of4064]

Thanks for the help, there are times the forest is obscured by the tree's so to speak. What I need to do is research this thing and get a grip on it! When I do and if there are ?'s still, I will be knocking on this door again!!

I am indebted to you for your help and instruction

God bless:
Dennis