Unissued Remington 03a3 / value?

[46indian]

A local GS has what is being described to me as an "unissued" Remington 03a3. It has a 1942 SN (based upon the information that I have collected). It has a pinned stock. The front band is parkerized and not blue. The sight, bolt and barrel still have cosmoline residue. As far as I can tell, it has all of the correct attributes otherwise.

The GS does not know anything about the rifle other than the information given to them by the seller. That information is: it was the seller's grandfathers rifle and the grandfather obtained it over 50 years ago. The GS is not aware of any paperwork.

I am mainly interested in it as an "as-is" collectible if it is unissued. If not, I might try to bargain for it.

So, my questions are:
1. Is it unissued or a rebuild?
2. What do the forum members feel the estimated value of the rifle to be?

Attached are some pictures that I was able to get at the GS.

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.

[bczandm]

That's a pretty nice looking rifle. I'm not an expert but know a little about these, I'd guess $1500-$1800 based upon what I've seen at the recent collector show...but I'll be interested to see what the experts say.

[martin08]

It's an entirely rebuilt rifle. Almost too many refinished parts to list, but begin with the light colored re-parked barreled receiver. Far from unissued condition.

Value being a subjective thing, but many of these conditioned examples will trade in the $4-550 range.

[burb1989]

In my area if they ever show up at a show the ones that sell do so in the $700-$750 range. It's the ones above that in price that never sell and sit on their tables show after show before it's all of a sudden gone either because the sellers finally dropped the price, they found a dupe to overpay for it, or they simply kept it for their own.

[martin08]

Though also not an unissued gun, here are some pics of one which I picked up recently, with the original receiver finish (dark green park). General value would be right in the range which is stated from burb19189.

Note that this one has a Smith Corona stock from a rebuild, but the small parts are blued (bayonet collar, barrel bands, handguard retainer ring, trigger guard, rear sight, cut-off switch, buttplate, rear sling swivel, bolt body, extractor, sleeve, safety, striker). A parkerized finish on any of these parts indicate that they have been replaced/refinished.












The gun shown in the OP also has a rebuild cartouche from RIA, Rock Island Arsenal. An original finished Remington stock will not have a rebuild cartouche. It will have an RA, crossed cannons, and FJA (boxed or not) just in front of the left wrist, as the one below.






Edit to add: Realized prices for any milsurp can be influenced by supply and demand within the region. Some really nice 03-A3's can sell in the $1,500 range in certain areas of the U.S. If from Southern California as in the case of the OP, one might expect to find premium pricing compared to a region such as the East Coast where supplies are more plentiful.

[Rick the Librarian]

I would disagree with Martin08 about the barreled receiver being refinished, but agree a few of the parts are. Definitely not "unissued" unless "unissued since rebuild".

[martin08]

Rick may be right on the receiver finish, as all of the pictures seem to have a light yellowish "wash" to them.

[kruffe]

You guys are *******s :-D Over here in Europe a rebuilt/NOS 03A3 will cost me 1500$... Ask me how I know :-(

[46indian]

Thanks for all of the replies.

A couple of comments that may be pertinent:
1. The pictures were taken in the back of the gunshop and the flash went off which might lighten the colors.
2. I realized that there were no pictures of a barrel date so I called the GS and was told there was no date on the barrel. (That is probably why I did not take a picture in my haste - I was on my lunch hour and the shop is 45 minutes away.)
3. I have found references to a parked front band and one reference on the CMP forum that an undated barrel is possible though unlikely.

[burb1989]

From my understanding all military accepted barrels would have a date on them as well as the flaming bomb stamp so that definitely shows it isn't "unissued". That barrel is probably a commercial barrel that an owner put on it. What does your GS want for it? If the price seems reasonable make him an offer, if not just walk away. No harm no foul.