no marks on the stock....

Hello. I recently fulfilled a dream several years in the making. I am now the proud owner of a very nice Remington 03-A3 rifle. Serial 3768044. Sharp and shiny 2-groove barrel dated 4-43 with R.A. and the flaming shell (with 2 punch marks in it). However, there are no markings whatsoever on the stock that I can see. The rifle is in excellent condition. It has some everyday wear but no signs of it being used on the battlefield. The dark gray parkerising looks to be a good 95% at least. The butt plate does look pretty rough, however.

I got to shoot it 3 times before i bought it. Was shooting at a 3 inch orange circle with a 1/2 inch black bullseye in the center at about 100 yds using old remington hunting rounds. First shot was at 11 o'clock 3 inches...the second down an inch from that(the primer blew out of the back of the shell on that one o.0)...for my last shot, I aimed off a bit and caught the bottom edge of the black bullseye. WOW! I was sold.

I got this from my girlfriend's uncle, and he got it from his uncle sometime in the 60s. He said his uncle had a basement gun shop and was very into all aspects of guns and shooting. He got several springfields in one time and my gf's uncle bought one. Now I have it. :D

I was told that the lack of markings on the stock meant that it was never issued, and from the condition of the rifle I do not find this very hard to believe. Of course, I suppose it could have just as easily been restocked after the war. Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

Thanks,
Chunga

Absence of stock markings indicates:

(1) the stock has been heavily sanded or scraped, or

(2) the stock has been replaced.

'03-A3 stocks were covered with an assortment of markings before the rifles left the factory.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

Thanks for the reply. :)

I am far from an expert, but the metal does not look refinished to me and is in very good shape. The sanding is probably what happened. The main part of the stock is a little rougher(smoothness) than the handguards and doesnt seem to have any finish that the handguards do seem to have. Looks great anyways. This gun has been in my gf's uncle's possession since he was a teen in the 60s. Says he took it hunting a couple times then put it away. Back then this was just an old gun, and could have been sanded by someone(maybe even his uncle) to make it more appealing as a civilian gun without markings all over. Doesnt hurt my feelings all that much, as i bought it as a shooter and at a very good price.

Thanks again,
Chunga

It's difficult to sand the markings off of a stock without altering the contour. That's especially so with the manufacturers mark in the mag cutoff (K or S). Many rifles from the '60s had the stocks sporterized, but a number are showing up with replacement stocks, now that the rifles are becoming collectible. Photos would help.

We can usually tell if the metal finish is original or repark. But, again, we need photos.

Not sure which areas would be the most helpful, but here are a few shots:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...SC002031-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...SC002041-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00184-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00196-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00199-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00198-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00188-1.jpg

This is about as far in as I can zoom. This is an old camera and doesn't have a macro setting, let alone manual controls. If there are any other areas that you need to see better, I can give it a try.

Thanks again,
Chunga

Chunga;
Are you sure it has a 2 groove barrel? I have a '03A3, barrel dated 6-43, (receiver serial number starts with 385) clearly made after yours, and has a 4 groove barrel...just wondering..

Your stock doesn't appear to have been sanded; I would say it's a replacement stock.

But, it really doesn't matter. Your rifle has been rebuilt or is a parts gun. I think if you disassemble the bolt, & examine all the small parts, you will find some that are not "R" marked.

An original finish Remington should look closer to this:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...03A3bolt-1.jpg

But, you got it as a shooter, & it sounds like you are satisfied with what you got.

Neal

Your stock is a "scant style". These were used as replacements, not on originals. It would not have any cartouches. It wasn't sanded.

I've got a S-type with the flaming shell on the tip. It's actually a Smith Corona, pinned. No other markings except for a couple of E's in the barrel channel, and I think a G, too. Yours might have some stamps there, too.

Looks like your gun has been re-parked. Looks like they dipped the barrel and receiver with the rear sight still on there. Bolt body w/extractor has been parked, too.

Chunga, your bolt is straight-handled, for an early '03. Almost all of these had the same heat treatment as low numbered receivers, and not considered good to use for shooting. Are there any stamps on the bolt? (top/bottom of the bolt handle, top/bottom of the safety lug)

Chunga - The most likely scenario is that the original stock was simply replaced with a nicer looking one at some time after it entered into civilian service. The original stock would have had an FJA cartouche on the left side, a P in a circle on the wrist, as well as several subinspector/assembly marks in front of the triggerguard. Hard to believe now, but 40 years ago, both pistol grip and straight 03A3 replacement stocks were readily and cheaply available by the pallet load. A brand new "C" stock was purchased at a yard sale for $5 !! No shame in what you have as none of the replacement stocks had markings unless a government facility did the replacement.

P.S. Due to my unfamiliarity with this forum I didn't realize I had to scroll down to see the replys already made in response. Subject was well and thoroughly covered before my entry. Good on ya!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ralph

Chunga;
Are you sure it has a 2 groove barrel? I have a '03A3, barrel dated 6-43, (receiver serial number starts with 385) clearly made after yours, and has a 4 groove barrel...just wondering..

---

Positive. ;)

So, it's been restocked and refinished...hmmmm...maybe $450 wasnt the world's greatest price after all...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mike D

Chunga, your bolt is straight-handled, for an early '03. Almost all of these had the same heat treatment as low numbered receivers, and not considered good to use for shooting. Are there any stamps on the bolt? (top/bottom of the bolt handle, top/bottom of the safety lug)

---

This concerns me. What do you mean by straight-handled? The 2nd shot I fired was an overcharge or something, as the primer blew out of the brass. Also, there are little bits and a fairly clear impression of the brass around the firing pin area. Seems like if the reciever was weak, this would have blew me out along with the primer. The only markings on the bolt that I can see are an "R", a mispressed symbol that I cant make out and a simple punchmark under the bolt handle.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00206-1.jpg

Thanks for all the replies, everyone :)

-Chunga

For $450, you did very well. You have a fine shooter.

If there is an impression on the boltface, you could have a headspace issue. Some of the more experienced shooters here could tell more about that and the primer blowout.

Can you take a pic of the impression on the boltface?

Here is a pic of an 03A3 bolt. Notice the handle is slightly swept back. Straight handles like yours are not recommended for shooting.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/imported/deleted.gif[/QUOTE][/IMG]

You could have done a hell of a lot worse,looks to be a nice shooter.Finding the correct bolt body for that weapon is no problem, 03A3 bolts are everywhere. Check headspace,fill 'er with M2 ball and let 'er rip. Congrats, have fun.

Best I can do with my camera. Can definitely see the impression, though. That shot kicked like a mule...

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00210-1.jpg

Some of the more experienced shooters could probably tell you more, but I'll bet you need a new bolt body. Sending PM.

"old remington hunting rounds. First shot was at 11 o'clock 3 inches...the second down an inch from that(the primer blew out of the back of the shell on that one o.0)...for my last shot, I aimed off a bit and caught the bottom edge of the black bullseye. WOW"

For a primer to blow out the pressure is excessive or there is some other defect in the ammunition. Is it possible these are reloads? maybe put back in a factory box?
In any case:
1. Have a competent gunsmith check the headspace.
2. Discard the remaining ammo or if you reload, break it down to components and discard the propellant and primers. Inspect the cases closely. Do they have Remington headstamps or something else?
3. If you still have any of the fired cases from your trip to the range you might want to take them along when you go to the gunsmith. Excessive pressure usually leaves certain signs.

Regards,

Jim