Got this in the store and would like an estimate to value, I have never seen one this clean before. Any help would be appreciated.
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Got this in the store and would like an estimate to value, I have never seen one this clean before. Any help would be appreciated.
It appears to have original finish (receiver & a few other parts parkerized & rest blued) & to have been inspected at Ogden Arsenal at the end of WWII. The "FJA/RA/Ord Wheel" markings are probably Remington. To tell for sure, what does the lower band retaining spring cutout look like? Remington’s cut will have a square ends while a Smith Corona has round ends . Another way is the proof "Circle P". SC is larger, approx. 1/2"diameter circle, RA is smaller, approx 3/8".
I can't see the s/n or other receiver markings - are they Remington? You have a late triggerguard but can't see enough detail to know if it is a Remington or Smith Corona. Is the profile behind the front guard screw straight (Remington) or curved (SC)? Any markings in front of TG? Behind TG? Behind the front sight? See http://www.vishooter.net/m1903.html to date your receiver/barrel.
Wow, that is clean! My buddy has told me Remingtons go anywhere from $600-$750, but from what I have been seeing by searching, prices seem to range across the country.
It looks very nice Bobwire, and it has what would be the original mix of blue and parked finishes. It's quite possibly original and was only inspected and passed through OG.
The markings on your stock indicate it's an original Remington A3 stock. Is the receiver stamped Remington?
A Remington barrel will have an 'RA' with the date. It has a larger trigger guard used on the later A3's.
There's a photo essay of an all original later Remington 1903A3 here that shows all markings etc -
Remington 1903A3 (displaying original configuration and finish)
Check the pattern on the butt plate and the front of the trigger guard to see if they look the same as the photos.
* A Smith-Corona has a semi circle ridge behind the front TG screw and a Remington has a straight ridge behind the screw.
* A Smith-Corona has larger checkered pattern on the buttplate than the Remington in the photo.
* Many of the components on Remingtons are marked with an 'R' as seen in the photos, and Smith-Corona didn't mark many of the parts they made.
I really have no idea what they're worth these days, if there is a set value. I paid $700 for the one in the photos about four years ago, and I think as usual it's how much how much someone is willing to pay. From what I've been told there were quite a few Remington A3's that were used very little and remained in better condition than many other types of weapons in WWII.
I hope this helps,
~ Harlan
Looks good. If someone were to buy it for $900, they would not be getting ripped off.