1903A3 Rear Site Dovetail

Hi all, this is my first post here. I have an 03A3 that my grandfather sporterized many years ago that I'm converting back to mostly original parts. I purchased a replacement front sight assembly and rear peep sight assembly, but can't seem to find the dovetail that the rear sight base slides onto anywhere. Do any of you know where I can get one (along with the screws to mount it)? I'm starting to wonder if it the dovetail was originally a milled part of the receiver and my grandfather had it milled off. Any help would be great! Thank in advance.

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Originally Posted by smcnally

Hi all, this is my first post here. I have an 03A3 that my grandfather sporterized many years ago that I'm converting back to mostly original parts. I purchased a replacement front sight assembly and rear peep sight assembly, but can't seem to find the dovetail that the rear sight base slides onto anywhere. Do any of you know where I can get one (along with the screws to mount it)? I'm starting to wonder if it the dovetail was originally a milled part of the receiver and my grandfather had it milled off. Any help would be great! Thank in advance.

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smcnally,

It sounds as if your grandfather did indeed mill off the rear sight dovetail, it should be obvious, located on the rear receiver bridge of a 1903A3, near the bolt handle. If it's not there, someone took it off. I don't know whether another dovetail can be welded on to the receiver or not, or even if it is an affordable modification. You would have to check with a competent gunsmith to hear their expert opinion, and get an estimate. There are several gunsmiths on this site, I'm sure that one or more will chime in with their opinions.

I think that you have reached a decision point, whether to enjoy your grandfather's rifle as he modified it, or continue to restore it to military configuration. If you choose the latter however, adding the rear dovetail and reparking the receiver will not restore the value to that of a correct U.S. G.I. rifle, IMO. HTH, KarlKW

Thanks for the help, Karl. I'm not too concerned about restoring it fully since it has had many modifications throughout the years that would make that impossible. The sporter stock my grandfather had made for it years ago has cracked and instead of replacing it with another I thought I would make it look more military than sporter. I've gone far enough with it that I will probably just have a dovetail made and welded to the receiver, or if possible, made to screw to the threaded holes that are on the receiver where the dovetail once was.

I have a nice 03-A3 upstairs with the dovetail milled off. No idea why as the Redfield Jr. base works right on. Everybody love to "Play" with their milsurp.

I'm going away for business but will check with the local gunsmiths when I get back. Here's a shot of how I've made it look in the last week. I got an old cut back stock off ebay for cheap and took the varnish off of it, re-stained and gave it an oil finish. Then I re-blu'd the bolt, receiver, and barrel and mounted the old front sight. Now I just need to mount the rear sight (It's just sitting on there now) :D for it to be complete. I wasn't looking at bringing it back to spec, but more or less give it more of an old military look rather than the deer rifle look it had for many years.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC04847-1.jpg

id like to meet the {smith} that can weld a reverse dove tail..

Couldn't it have two holes drilled in the dovetail and then welded in the holes? I've never done any gunsmithing, but I've done a fair amount of welding so I think it 'should' be possible. If not, then there are 3 threaded holes in the center line of where the dovetail should be so screwing it in place would be possible, but probably less solid than a couple spot welds.

let me know how that works out.
id like to think im a pretty fair welder, and have done some things with rifles that was said couldnt or shouldnt be done..
even i couldnt or wouldnt try this..
i vote for a scope base, and a small scope..a fake sniper rifle is ok in my books.
once that much has been removed, hard to put it back.. or at least make it look right.

Find a damaged M1 Carbine rear sight. Cut off the male dovetail. Shape it and silver solder it to the 03A3 receiver.

an M1 carbine has a standard style dovetail, an A3 has a reverse type dovetail,
i know of no other rifle that uses that type of mounting.

Chuck's scope idea sounds like a neat idea, a Weaver K4 or Lyman Alaskan? If you want to stay with an iron sight, why not try a Lyman? Tons of 03's and 03A3's used them. How about a faux Sporter?

Chuck, If you take, and I did, an 03A3 rear sight and a M1 Carbine rear sight and put the bases together, you will see that with a little filing they will fit together. In otherwords, the male dovetail of the M1 Carbine sight will slide into the female dovetail of the 03A3 sight.

Very interesting ideas! I'll be playing around with these when I get home next week and will report back with what I end up doing.