1903A3 Remington CMP Greek Rtn. question

Have asked questions on this rifle before so please bear w/me. R#4004498. Appears in Vi Shooters listing. Pinned stock. and what is described by Vi Shooter as Remington Parkerizing. Rifle in excellent Condition. "ALL" finish the same. FJK'S initals in block on stock. Other than a few dings in stock placed by time and handling rifle is MINT. Serial # on stock and top of bolt handle. All parts remington except Bolt Assy. which has a faint cross which is not an X ,more like crossed rifles on top of bolt handle and a 2 w/dot on bottom of handle. "All" other parts of bolt are remington. RIA w/ EB in block on left side of stock to rear. Two P's on stock. Barrel date 9/43. Rifle exhibits no wear anywhere,does not appear to have been issued to troops. Questions: Did Smith Corona and Remington exchange parts in the assembly of these rifles. thus accounting for a strange bolt and were these rifles shipped to Greece new? Have been offered a Remington bolt but believe the rifle is original as is. The Greeks took very good care of this one. Thanks in advance for any info. No photo capability.

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Originally Posted by SUB VET 11

Have asked questions on this rifle before so please bear w/me. R#4004498. Appears in Vi Shooters listing. Pinned stock. and what is described by Vi Shooter as Remington Parkerizing. Rifle in excellent Condition. "ALL" finish the same. FJK'S initals in block on stock. Other than a few dings in stock placed by time and handling rifle is MINT. Serial # on stock and top of bolt handle. All parts remington except Bolt Assy. which has a faint cross which is not an X ,more like crossed rifles on top of bolt handle and a 2 w/dot on bottom of handle. "All" other parts of bolt are remington. RIA w/ EB in block on left side of stock to rear. Two P's on stock. Barrel date 9/43. Rifle exhibits no wear anywhere,does not appear to have been issued to troops. Questions: Did Smith Corona and Remington exchange parts in the assembly of these rifles. thus accounting for a strange bolt and were these rifles shipped to Greece new? Have been offered a Remington bolt but believe the rifle is original as is. The Greeks took very good care of this one. Thanks in advance for any info. No photo capability.

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(1) Your rifle's bolt is a replacement and is not original to it. No evidence has been found to indicate that Remington received bolts from Smith-Corona.

(2) Most '03-A3's shipped to Greece were arsenal overhauls. A very high percentage of them had "RIA/EB" overhaul inspection stamps in the stocks.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

Thanks for the info. John.

If "All the finish is the same" , It is certainly a rebuilt rifle.