REMINGTON 1903A3 OFFSET SERIAL NUMBER and OG stamp?!?!?!?

I am committed to purchasing a Remington M1903A3 and may have "jumped the gun" (no pun intended) too soon on this one. From the research I've done the gun looks all legit from the stampings/cartouches, wear, finish, etc., etc. HOWEVER, the serial number is 3,381,238 which if I'm correct would put it at a manufacture date of right at the end of December 1942 into January 1943 and the barrel date is 1-43. Does this seem correct to you guys??? I've got conflicting information of the OG stamp on the stock does this mean that it's a import or a rebuild or both? As I've stated the gun is very clean. Maybe it was a rebuild that was put in storage at the armory??

The other BIG HOWEVER is the 8 at the end of the serial number is VERY offset as you can see in the pictures, I'm concerned about this because all the serial numbers I've seen up to this point were crisp and straight. Any insight would be helpful.

Please reference the pictures I've attached.

I am pretty certain this has been through a rebuild. My M1903A3 is similar in that it has three test fire proof stamps.

Edit: I am certain they did test fire proof marks when it was finished being refurbished. They are the big "P"s that you see. One from when it was built and accepted into service and another when it went through rebuild.

OG is a Ogden Arsenal rebuild stamp. My 03A3 has an OG stamp too. You appear to have a nice USGI re-arsenaled 03A3. I don't see anything out of place by the numbers or stampings.

You can see the OG stamp on mine below. Mine also has a CSAA stamp like Snowman's too in the same location.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...cfOsT7oh-1.jpg

Any idea from anyone on the offset number 8 in the serial number and if it's a problem or if it means anything significant???

I'VE ADDED MORE PICTURES

It doesn't look like it's been altered or anything wrong. Looks like the die was a bit out of index and just dropped the last number...an oddity...

Jim,
Thank you for the input, my concern was that maybe there was something phony about the serial number like someone maybe tried to add the 8 after the fact or repair part of the serial number??

No, I think you are just fine an M1 of mine has a number in its serial stamped lighter than the rest of it. I don't think anybode has tried to pull any funny business with your rifle.

Looks like a legitimate M1903A3 to me - the 3,381,000 serial number would translate to @ 1-43 to me. The stock is a later M1903A3, though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by farcyde40

something phony about the serial number

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I don't think so...

Rick how can you tell the stock is off of a later 03A3? And from what everyone has commented on so far it's looking like this is a arsenal rebuild am I correct in saying this?