Found a 1943 03A3 in a pawn shop

I did not make it to the gun show this time so I was bummed out and went to check out the local pawn shops. First one I walked into I find this in the rack
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...c9gzthfh-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...lahc6iw3-1.jpg
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From what I have researched it appears to be mostly original. A few mis-matched parts on the bolt but still marked "R". Bolt is made of both blued and parkerized parts. I'm still researching and coming up with different results. A very nice find in a pawnshop. The leather sling is dated 1918 and stamped Lawrence L.S. Any help in pointing out which parts are original will be helpful. I'm hoping I did not buy a reproduction rifle.

It looks good, we'd need lots of close up clear pics to be able to tell whether it's original or not...

At least some of the parts have been replaced or refinished, possibly the whole rifle. The barrel is original. The area around the cutoff doesn't appear to be distended, so I don't think it is a recovered drill rifle. The receiver dates to about November, 1943, so I'd except the trigger guard is an earlier one.

The finish is a light gray, like ones I've seen that were overhauled very late WWII or early postwar.

Is there an "RA" stamp on the stock?

Well, so how much did you pay for this beauty?

I could not find the RA stamp anywhere on the stock. For some reason the finish looks grey in the pics but it's actually a light green. I probably paid way too much at $700 due to my lack of 1903A3 knowledge

As a Canadian, if I could find THAT rifle and providing it has a nice bore, I'd easily pry $700 bills out for it. I'm pretty sure it's still worth that in US $...

I don't think you got a bargain, but I don't think you got "taken", either, especially if the bore is good.

Curious about the lack of an RA stamp. Can you take the action out of the stock and look for the handguard retainer "slot", or is the stock "crushed" at that point? Either a late Remington M1903 adopted for the later rifle or maybe some sort of "transition" stock.

When I disassembled the rifle the was a heavy boiled linseed oil smell. It has been cut for the ring to hold down the hand guard. According to my research it's a Smith Corona stock because of the FJA and ordnance wheel stamp minus the RA Unless Remington sub contracted a number of stocks and did not stamp the RA it the subcontracts . I'm beginning to think it's a post war rebuild probably sold through the CMP.

I didn't think of the possibility of a Smith-Corona stock! Among the sub-inspection markings forward of the trigger guard, is one in a "diamond"?

Here are some more pics. sorry for the low lighting.

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https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...mdrrs5fj-1.jpg

Hmmm.... I don't see a subinspector mark within a "diamond" after I enhanced the picture. Could I see a picture of them lower band retaining spring area?

The front " tip " of the cutout for the band spring is what he needs to see . If it is straight like the back leg of a "R" , it's Remington , if it's curved like the lower half of a "S" , it's Smith . Remington had no need to stamp " RA " on their stocks till after Smith came on line .
Chris

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...psinv8r3-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...dldbgww4-1.jpg

That's a Remington stock - note the squared-off front of the lower band recess. As I recall, it has stock bolts, which is a bit of the mystery. Those Remington stocks having just an FJA usually had stock pins. Maybe some sort of transition stock or a redone Rem. 1903 stock?

I'm not sure . Has anyone seen a pin type A3 stock stamped with the RA ? If so , then this would have to be a reworked '03 ( ie. , the groove for the handguard ring added ) or a modified pin A3 ( a hole saw used to remove the pins and stock bolts inserted ) . If one has not been seen , then a short period of time could exist between the ending of the pins (and restart of the bolts ) and the start of the RA stamp.
Chris

That's what I was wondering. I know the replacement of pins with bolts and the addition of the RA stamp occurred very close to each other, but, like a lot of what Remington did, there may have been a "transition" period.

Very Nice A3 labrat1469. As Rick said, I believe it's been refinished postwar as the majority were. This link may be useful for comparison:

Remington 1903A3 (displaying original configuration and finish)

BTW, Welcome to 1903 forum. I don't think you can find a nicer and knowledgeable group of gentlemen anywhere!

Best regards,
~ Harlan