1903a3

[chuck_w]

I'm new to milsurps and especially the 1903a3. I'm considering buying my first 1903 but know little to nothing about these rifles and was hoping to get an experts opinion on this rifle. I was able to get the seller to send me some pics. The seller says he thinks this is an un-issued rifle from 1943. Do you think this story adds up? Could it be rearsenaled? Is it a fake? Thank you for having a look and giving me your thoughts, opinions, and possible value of this rifle.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Looks like re-arsenal markings...

[rcathey]

Looks like re-arsenal markings...

A couple of them.
It's small potatoes, but that front sight protector looks off as well. People throw the flaming bomb on everything they reproduce so it's something that makes me take a second look.
In this case, with the re-arsenal stamps and the potentially fake sight protector, I'd be very careful.

I'd value it at about $700. The sling could be worth $75 by itself if it's real.

[chuck_w]

Thanks guys. I feel like this guy might be a little fishy and your insight confirms what I'm feeling. The price seems low also at $550. I'm going to pass on this rifle.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Unissued- O natch! Highly likely in that peaceful time in 1943 when the USA didn't have a care in the world, and was making guns just for the enjoyment of collectors 7 decades later!
(That was sarcasm, just in case nobody noticed.)

Re-arsenaled? Yes - as shown by the stamps on the butt.
Fake? No, it is a real 1903-A3, not an imitation.
but
Falsified? Quite possibly, if the sight protector is dodgy.

BTW, over here you could stick a 1 in front of the price in Euros. Please read my latest post on the Enfield forum and think again. Here in Mauserland I would buy it faster than you could say flaming bomb, sight protector or not.

[rcathey]

How easy is importing? I'd be happy to sell ya some. Cut you a real good deal!

[Patrick Chadwick]

"How easy is importing?"

That, rcathey, is the problem. These days it seems that one cannot, as a private person, even buy cartridge cases direct from the US. Getting hold of something like an '03 or a Garand is almost a case of dead man's shoes. The market makes the prices, and the market is very, very tight.

[rcathey]

That's how it goes. Same goes for Canada and the US. I've heard prices on some stuff in Canada that astounded me...but because they're so cheap! Import regulations apparently allow some Chinese stuff to be cheaper there.

[enbloc8]

Unissued- O natch! Highly likely in that peaceful time in 1943 when the USA didn't have a care in the world, and was making guns just for the enjoyment of collectors 7 decades later!
(That was sarcasm, just in case nobody noticed.)

Re-arsenaled? Yes - as shown by the stamps on the butt.
Fake? No, it is a real 1903-A3, not an imitation.
but
Falsified? Quite possibly, if the sight protector is dodgy.

BTW, over here you could stick a 1 in front of the price in Euros. Please read my latest post on the Enfield forum and think again. Here in Mauserland I would buy it faster than you could say flaming bomb, sight protector or not.

And yet there are very few pictures of M1903A3s in actual service overseas during WW2. So help me, I've seen more pictures of A3s in the Vietnam theater 20+ years later. If the seller meant that it probably never went overseas, instead spent the war on recruits' shoulders in boot camp or guarding a defense plant, I could easily believe that.

If I saw that rifle at a show, for that price, I'd be inclined to buy it were I in the market for one. Tons of 03A3s were sold off through the NRA in the 50s and 60s, and sent overseas as MAP aid. They're not scarce at all, especially in VG-plus condition.

As to the arsenal markings...keep in mind a weapon that came through an arsenal rebuild program, but was inspected and found within spec, would be stamped with the arsenal mark (merely indicating "it's been here and we approved it for service") and put on the outgoing rack.