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Gents,
Was in conversation earlier about Remington 1903s v 03a3s. Is there any definitive proof (aside from the many examples still in circulation) of 1903 rifles having been build with a3 parts such as trigger guards, barrel bands, stocks, butt plates, etc - generally non-milled parts?
Rick, John??
Regards
as i answered on FB...as milled parts ran thin, stamped parts were indeed used, to a point.. mostly trigger guards, and upper bands. bayonet lugs, followers, and buttplates would be milled all the way through production.
use stamped trigger guards and bands was more to do the quality and fitment, the band broke very easy, as well as the trigger guards, the band springs would be milled type through 1903 production,
Stamped parts started being introduced at about the 3,220,000 range. Generally, stamped trigger guards and lower bands were most common earlier, and stamped buttplates a little after that. I've never seen a legitimate Remington M1903 with a 1903A3 upper band.
Well , my 1903 , which came from a ex-medical unit vet and was the rifle he carried through the ETO and never fired except for qualification , ser # 3357818 , and one of my 1903A3s , ser # 3350702 , are , except for the rear sights and some small parts finish ( the A3 has a couple of clear park'd parts ) , mirror images of each other .
So yes , 1903s had A3 " type " parts ( as you would call them ) on them as those parts were developed and produced and put into the system . Stamped large bow triggerguards , for example , came about several months after 03 production stopped , so should not be on an '03 . BTW , my 'A3 above has the '03 type front sight assmly on it but the little screw in front of the sight has a nail or pin pounded in . Shoots true , however .
Chris
I was looking at "Hatchers Notes" last week. He claims the very early Remington M1903's were made on Nickel Steel. But was quickly switched over to the regular production steel. Anybody know more? I thought all Nickel Steel was reserved for submarines and aircraft production. Any thoughts from the Board?