03-a3 remington

Any help here would be greatly appreciated. In possession of a Remington 03-a3, made in 1943. This rifle appears to be in new parkerized condition, Has a 16 in barrel, looks original non cut, stock has also been modified, it is not a "bushmaster" as pictured on internet and most would say it is privately modified but one reliable source says these were made for the Philippine campaign with 16in barrels. Does anyone have any info on this? Could this be an experimental version? It came from a very highend gun collector who recently passed away. Thank You Mark

Got pics of this one? What one thinks is original often isn't and it will appear when looked at by others...verbal is hard to determine.

Would very much like to see pictures of this. Sounds pretty cool.

Thank You will try to download some pics

With a flash and report like an anti tank gun...

---------- Post added at 03:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:56 PM ----------

We already did a thread about these some time ago. I wouldn't get a bank account ready yet for this one's gleanings... https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=4607

I would not like to be beside that rifle when it went off would be deafened from the report then burnt by the great flash from the muzzle.......!

Thanks for the info Jim, already aware of the previous thread you refer to, however....info received on this rifle never said to be a "bushmaster" but one that was specifically made for the Philippine campaign with a 16 in. 4 twist barrel. Was this info totally bogus? Can you redirect to a more knowledgeable source? Thank You Mark

I think perhaps the more pertinent question would be who is the "reliable source" that said, "these were made for the Philippine campaign with 16in barrels?"

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Originally Posted by 03a3carbine

Can you redirect to a more knowledgeable source?

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Matter of fact with a statement like that I'll just bow out. Have fun...

U.S. military Parkerizing was manganese based for one. That'd be black. And whoever did it some how missed the last half inch of the barrel too. With a 16" barrel I suspect it was done by 'some guy'. One of the guys on another forum says all of the "bushmasters" were recalled and dumped in the ocean in 1945. There were an unauthorised modification.
No chance the U.S. Ordnance Dept. would make a special run of barrels in the middle of a war. Especially as the Filipino troopies had been using the 1903 with its 24" barrel and 16" bayonet long before there was such a thing as an '03A3. Plus BAR's, Pattern 17 rifles and Thompson SMG's. Philippine Scouts had '03s from 1907.

The info came from another site, but it was a posted 8yrs ago, the gentleman seemed to be quite knowledgeable

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Originally Posted by 03a3carbine

The info came from another site, but it was a posted 8yrs ago, the gentleman seemed to be quite knowledgeable

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I kinda thought you’d say that. I found the same post. That was just some dude on some forum saying some thing he thinks is fact. I wouldn’t take it to the bank. Nobody even replied to his revelatory “information” on that forum.

Well according to everyone here looks like it's just another POS, that said Thank You all for your input; will hang on to it just in case some new info emerges.

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Originally Posted by 03a3carbine

Well according to everyone here looks like it's just another POS, that said Thank You all for your input; will hang on to it just in case some new info emerges.

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Not a POS at all! Just a sporter. “Good bones” as they say. If it were mine, I’d search for parts as time goes on. You just need a stock, a barrel, and some miscellaneous hardware. Nice little project.

Already picked up a 24in. barrel for 5$ from the same source, is this the right size or has it been cut? Will the remington 03a3 hardware fit into any springfield stock? any experince with the damaged stocks numrich is selling for 80$ are they worth it?

24" should be correct, yes. Are you saying you bought it for 5 bucks? That's a hell of a steal if the bore is good.
The handguard of the 03A3 is held on differently and that requires a small recess cut into the 1903 stock. It's a common sight and if you can get a regular 03 stock for cheap, that's the way I'd go.
No experience with the Numrich stock but I did just read their description. Sounds more like cosmetic damage than anything else. I'd go for it at that price.

Thank You for the info rcathey, yes it was 5 bucks in the bargain bin at the local range,the smith said to use it as a pry bar lol, they don't have much interest in anything old and picked up an estate collection and let it go at a very good prices. The barrel seems to be in new condition same as the 03a3 "carbine" purchased there; the markings on the muzzle end are R.A. 2-44 with what looks like a fireball on top of a circle with a dot. would you know anything about this marking or barrel? Trying to get some info from the remington people on this rifle before restoring it to stock if it is not a proto or one off.

That would mean it’s a barrel made by Remington Arms in February of 1944. Perfect for your rifle.
The other icon you describe is what’s known as a “flaming bomb.” It’s an ordanance mark and appropriate on this.
The barrel isn’t bent from being a pry bar, is it?

Never used as a prybar just a joke the smith made, it is like new

My two o3a3s have barrel dates 7-43 and 8-43. The 7-43 rifle has a two
Groove barrel and the 8-43 has a four groove one.
Is this common. Both are Remington.

Is it common for two 03A3s supposedly built a year apart to have different barrels?
Both Remington’s , 7-43 has a two groove barrel, 8-43 has a four groove barrel.
Thanks for any information

See post 5. Mr Beard inspections 1903 and 1903A3s for the CMP prior to sale.

2 Groove 1903A3 Barrels Assist - CMP Forums

Want to thank everyone for their input, though nothing conclusive have a feeling this is a one off and may never properly be identified. Knew it came from a highend gun collection and just found out a krag from the same collection was from san juan hill so will continue to research, thank again Mark FYI the Remington forum was useless....

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Originally Posted by 03a3carbine

Want to thank everyone for their input, though nothing conclusive have a feeling this is a one off and may never properly be identified. Knew it came from a highend gun collection and just found out a krag from the same collection was from san juan hill so will continue to research, thank again Mark FYI the Remington forum was useless....

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Would love to see some pics of that Krag! Any documentation to back up that story to go with it?