New Remington 03A3

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Originally Posted by chuckindenver

so,
if a gunsmith rebarrels a rifle that has a shot out, damaged, or ruined barrel, and does the job right, its still a bubba job?
however.
if the same guy had a job for the military, and did a half azzed job, barrel out of index, or to deap of ream on the finish, its ok being done by the military??
that just doesnt add up.
personally.
i have repaired 1903,s that had been rebuilt by the military, and found.
over, under indexed barrels.
under and over reamed chambers, effecting headspace.
poorly installed rear sight bases, and other rear sight damage.
bent screws, cracked stocks, bent front sights, and the list goes on and on.
all done by military.
that being said, ill be proud to carry the bubba gunsmith name tag..
and if done right, how in the world could one tell if i did it, or the military did it.??

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Please re-read my last posting.

I made no comment about quality of workmanship. And I certainly do not consider you a Bubba gunsmith.

J.B.

nodda big issue, just wondered were i stood in the relm of things..
maybe i read it wrong,
in my observations, 90% of the 1903 varaints in collector hands have been changed, worked on ect, by someone at sometime.
a unmollested example is a rare bird to say the least.
every time i see the term {unfired} in a discription of any US WW2 weapon, i cant help but doubt it.
as for the Bubba thing,
when a see a rifle that has had the barrel pipe wrenched on, had the bolt ground on ect,
that would be more of a bubba job.
then one repaired, restored or rebarreled by a craftsman, by the military or not.
and iv seen both.

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Originally Posted by chuckindenver

every time i see the term {unfired} in a discription of any US WW2 weapon, i cant help but doubt it.

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There's quite a few unfired, unissued 03-A3's out there.

Don

ALL U.S. military rifles are "fired" - they would have to be to pass proof-testing and get accepted. I would also suggest it takes quite a few rounds fired before it shows.

to leave small marks on the bolt face. I bought an A3 decades ago that was advertised as unfired. Asked how he knew , he replied " the bbl band is still in the white , the sargents would park them when issued." :rofl: , right , I'm still looking for the " Parking kit , 1 , back pocket unit". Anyway , I bought it. Looked new for sure , but some parts were parked , some blue , and a couple in the white. After I fire it the first time , I noticed little marks from the case base and primers on the what was perfect bolt face. I do believe it was proofed only when I got it. Chris

PS , I think the in the white parts are examples of "clear park" . The cosmoline or age have given them a "blotchy" look over time.

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Originally Posted by Rick the Librarian

ALL U.S. military rifles are "fired" - they would have to be to pass proof-testing and get accepted. I would also suggest it takes quite a few rounds fired before it shows.

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They were also targeted to get a rough sight alignment. 03's with the front sight, A3's with the rear. M1 rifles and carbines the same thing. They weren't proof fired and sent out without further firing.

FWIW,

Emri

There is simply NO way to prove unissued and unfired. "Appears" is a great word to provide accuracy to a description and analysis of "evidence".

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Originally Posted by Arisaka99

There is simply NO way to prove unissued and unfired. "Appears" is a great word to provide accuracy to a description and analysis of "evidence".

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While I agree that there is no way to prove unissued/unfired condition, there are certain physical factors of the rifle that can give clues which I agree with you. I have a mint Remington M1903-A3 which is an old DCM gun that I just acquired still full of cosmo. The ME is .5 and the throat is 1.5. The month/year mark on the barrel matches the receiver date and she still has the original wood. Just based on the barrel readings/original R marked parts and presence of cosmo it's safe to say she is unissued and other than proof fired........unfired since it left Remington. I also have a collector grade M1 and M1D from the CMP both with ME's less than 1 and throats in the same range. Were these issued..........maybe at armory/depot level but with the barrel readings, most likely unfired since leaving the factory.