Possibly all original 1903A3?

Yesterday I picked up a nice Remington 1903A3 (35197XX) for $650. With a beautiful bore, and cartouches, I figured I couldn't go wrong. Well after dismantling her, it seems I may have gotten a better deal than I thought! She was incredibly dirty and grimy. What should I do to clean up the little bit of surface rust? I'll see what you boys think:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ta7etepy-1.jpg

First the stock:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...rede9ege-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...agytedep-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...epamubap-1.jpg

Magazine push: R
[attachment=0]ImageUploadedByTapatalk1369699373.090176.jpg[/attachment]

Trigger Guard:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...aguzesyr-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...eturegu3-1.jpg

Bolt markings:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...agy9a8yt-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...e3ehujer-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ba3ateny-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...unudaseq-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...7e5e7aqy-1.jpg

Trigger
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...re9y8uqe-1.jpg

Reciever:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...6aqyne8e-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...y2uvyjam-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...mysuzymy-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ava8upup-1.jpg

Barrel: 3-43 RA Flaming bomb
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...8ybebupe-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...a2atu7ev-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...pepe9ude-1.jpg

Barrel bands:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...gy7y4e8a-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...eryhehyz-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ededu7yg-1.jpg

Grimy oiler and contents stuck (literally stuck) inside the stock:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...sysyzava-1.jpg



M1/M3 Carbine: late '44 Inland
M1 Garand: late '44 Springfield

Looks good to me. Can't read the barrel date month....should be about a 2-43. Take it apart very carefully and clean it with gun oil or Blue wonder....don't use steel wool just an abrasive pad. Clean the stock with DA and give it a few coats of Raw Linseed oil. Put it back together carefully and use the proper screwdrivers on all screws. If you use an improper screwdriver, you will bugger the screws badly. If you raise the rear sight you should see the R, the buttplate or cubby door will have an R on the inside and the band spring has one also. . The follower and spring are also R marked. Regards, Rick.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sakorick

Looks good to me. Can't read the barrel date month....should be about a 2-43. Take it apart very carefully and clean it with gun oil or Blue wonder....don't use steel wool just an abrasive pad. Clean the stock with DA and give it a few coats of Raw Linseed oil. Put it back together carefully and use the proper screwdrivers on all screws. If you use an improper screwdriver, you will bugger the screws badly. If you raise the rear sight you should see the R, the buttplate or cubby door will have an R on the inside and the band spring has one also. . The follower and spring are also R marked. Regards, Rick.

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The barrel date is a 3-43! Thank you so much for your input! I'll check those areas! Do you have any idea what the cartouches near the trigger guard stand for?


M1/M3 Carbine: late '44 Inland
M1 Garand: late '44 Springfield

Quote:

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Originally Posted by garrettbragg12

The barrel date is a 3-43! Thank you so much for your input! I'll check those areas! Do you have any idea what the cartouches near the trigger guard stand for?


M1/M3 Carbine: late '44 Inland
M1 Garand: late '44 Springfield

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Those are Technical Inspectors marks. From what I've gleaned, Inspectors were assigned numbers and squares, triangles or circles. I noticed that inspector 77's mark is in the wood and on the action of your rifle. He was a square! The FJA cartouche is the final acceptance by LTC Frank J Atwood the Ordnance District Commander at the time(he really never inspected anything) and the Ordnance cartouche is the Army's acceptance mark. The circle P on the wrist is the proof mark that shows it was test fired and passed. On German Mausers these are called Waffenamts and were a real fancy WaA with the inspector's number under a stylized eagle. The British proof marks are also fancy letters under a crown. Inspection marks are interesting pieces of the rifle's history and a study unto itself. Regards, Rick.

The metal finish looks uniform to me, so it may have been refinished a some point, which would only take place in an overhaul. The stock, for an early M1903A3 is in very good shape and I think you $650 you got a good deal.

To remove the lite rust use WD40 or Kriol whichever and LIGHLY rub it out with 0000 steel wool or even a rag an the tip of your finger.
For the heavy rust use our search function and look for Electrolysis. There was a good discussion alittle while ago on the subject.
Unfortunately you will have speckling left when the rust is removed .
The cleaning kit in the stock is a nice bonus....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sakorick

Looks good to me. Can't read the barrel date month....should be about a 2-43. Take it apart very carefully and clean it with gun oil or Blue wonder....don't use steel wool just an abrasive pad. Clean the stock with DA and give it a few coats of Raw Linseed oil. Put it back together carefully and use the proper screwdrivers on all screws. If you use an improper screwdriver, you will bugger the screws badly. If you raise the rear sight you should see the R, the buttplate or cubby door will have an R on the inside and the band spring has one also. . The follower and spring are also R marked. Regards, Rick.

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Forgot to ask! What is DA?


M1/M3 Carbine: late '44 Inland
M1 Garand: late '44 Springfield

Denatured Alcohol...:)