Original/Refurbished/Restored? (Remington 1903A3)

Hey everyone, first time poster here. I recently acquired a Remington 1903A3 from my grandfather (he did serve in WWII as part of a BAR team) but I don't know much of anything about it. I'm hoping most of it is original, but you can never be too sure with these things. When I received the rifle, it was contained in a hunting stock but I was able to find what I think is the original stock pieces and most of the original hardware in his "spares" box up in the attic. What I'm most concerned about are the finishes on the Bolt body and the barrel as they don't appear to be parkerized as a 1903A3 should be? Also, I'll have to order a lower band. The stock looks to be in good condition at least.

Pictures are worth a thousand words, so here goes:

Overall Rifle (missing middle/lower band and upper band not installed)
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...fae88d96-1.jpg

S/N (3988262) and CC stamp on Extractor
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...b1fe411c-1.jpg

RA stamp (5-43)
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...49385327-1.jpg

Bolt
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...eec09515-1.jpg

BP mark on Bolt Sleeve
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...d55e6227-1.jpg

Bolt
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...5767e9a4-1.jpg

Upper Band
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...7ad7d6b7-1.jpg

Magazine well and trigger guard
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...d9bf9bd3-1.jpg

K stamp on Stock
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...a2c27092-1.jpg

R stamp on lower/mid band spring
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...f106f3a1-1.jpg

Butt Plate
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1b8e1efe-1.jpg

So, it looks like I have a mix of blued and parkerized parts. Hoping this forum can lend some of their expertise to identify what exactly I inherited.

No expert here but let me point out some things I see "wrong"
Polished and blued barrel and receiver.
Polished bolt.
Bubba goo i.e. Truoil or equivalent finish on the stock.
Get the parts you need and take her out and have a blast!!
Others with more to offer will be along....

The front band is off of a 1903 not an 03/A3. The barrel and receiver appear to have refinished in a commercial bluing of some kind. The bolt has been heavily polished and then forged or ground down to clear a scope. I wouldn't spend a whole lot of money and time on it if it were me because to make it look original the receiver and barrel would need to be re-parked and I expect that the process would further wash out the markings. I would just buy a new bolt body, an 03/A3 front band and strip the varnish from the stock.

I agree with twh. Also, the front band that is shown is actually a Krag band and with the screws and swivel is worth about $75 on Ebay or Gunbroker. The bolt body is very sellable as well. The bolt sleeve looks to be from a Smith Corona so could be sold to fund the correct parts too. Salt Flat

Thanks guys for the replies. You've just confirmed my fears...

So, do I need a new bolt to safely shoot it? Or will it be safe as is if I get the right bands for it? If it's that far out of "original" I'm planning on just getting the front bands and then using it as a shooter. No sense in making it "more correct" seems to me. The scope would make sense since I pulled the "guts" of the rifle off a hunting stock.

SaltFlat - What do you mean by a "Krag" band?

I also inherited a Mauser K98 and Enfield MkIII* from my grandfather. The Mauser appears to be in good condition, but the stock has been sporterized and the bolt is white. The Enfield might be the closest of the three to original. I'll see about posting pictures in the relevant forums.

Thanks again, Chris

It appears to me that the bolt handle is hitting the stock before the bolt is fully seated. The "sporter" stock was probably cut for the modified bolt handle. The safety lug should lie on the receiver rail when the bolt is fully closed. If the bolt is not fully closed, the firig pin may strike the cocking cam causing a misfire. The butt plate is off M1903 instead of an 03A3.
FWIW

BC The bolt itself is likely fine as is, but as Cosine states you can't really use it with the original stock. Also, it just wouldn't be right to modify the stock to fit that bolt. Unaltered bolt bodies can be had for $20. Look at the sticky threads at the top of the 1903 forum page for a thread on what a correct 03a3 should look like. Have the headspace checked though by a gunsmith. A Krag is the U.S. service rifle that was used before the 1903 Springfield. Salt Flat

some observations.
rifle itself was polished and blued...should be parkerized..bolt,,,well, the obvious...a replacement Remington A3 bolt can be found easy enough..buttplate is a 1903 type and not an A3..those can be found as well.
the bayonet lug you have pictured is from a Krag and not a 1903 variant...wont work on your rifle.. rear sling swivle is from a 1903 as well, and not a 1903A3
all these parts are available via Ebay or Bill Ricca...
your missing.
R marked A3 bolt
buttplate,
lower band,
stacking swivle band,
bayonet lug and screw.
handguard ring.
lower swivle,
correct finish on those parts would be black oxide {blue}

Thanks everyone for helping to educate me on this rifle!

I agree with the above.
Because you have $0 in the rifle and have already acquired the most expensive part ( the stock ) , I'd go ahead and get the rest and restore it as a shooter. You might be able to do some gunshow trading of parts or list the parts you replace for sale. You can always redo the bbl and reciever finish down the road if you choose to.
A lot of fun is in the hunt of proper parts and stock refinishing .
Chris

i have just about every part that rifle needs...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chuckindenver

i have just about every part that rifle needs...

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Hey Chuck, that sounds interesting. I'll send you an email shortly and see about getting this ball rolling.

Here are links to the other two rifles I've inherited from my grandfather...

Enfield MkIII*
Mauser K98

I'd agree with Chuck. He's done lots of these and if you send it to him, it'll come back like it should look. End result? Nice clean refurbished looking Springfield...that you can shoot without conscience. Now, a bayonet and sling!

FYI: stock and handguard are Smith Corona..not that big a deal..but just an observation/

I may add to the comments, that the bolt has been altered, the stock inletted for the bolt handle,and safety shroud is for an S.C. (BP) marked.....Mike

Quote:

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Originally Posted by michael pollack

the stock inletted for the bolt handle

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Where do you see that?

rifle left my hands last week. reparked, correct parts applied..he wants to do the stock himself...nothing wrong with the stock, other then being a SC stock..
should be good to go.

I hope he comes back with a photo display...

Don't worry, there will be pics... of all three rifles.

Stocks are getting close, just a few more coats of linseed oil.

I know it really doesn't matter, but dang it looked nice blued. But yeah, not original. I think I would've left it as is and enjoyed it. But I also know what it's like to want it to be original. Either way, fine rifle. And probably a lot of fun to shoot.