My buddy inherited a 1903/A3 with an RA barrel 12-43 but the receiver just has U.S. and the serial number 48xxxx. I am trying to help ID the manufacturer. Any ideas?
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My buddy inherited a 1903/A3 with an RA barrel 12-43 but the receiver just has U.S. and the serial number 48xxxx. I am trying to help ID the manufacturer. Any ideas?
There doesn't appear to be enough digits in ser no.
Pics of all of this will help immensely.
If the receiver has 6 numbers than it is most likely a M1903 Springfield. It was not uncommon to use a M1903A3 barrel if it was sportirized. Is the receiver drilled and tapped?
If the barrel has the rear sight base it could be a SA receiver with a bubba barrel where someone welded the front part of a 1903A3 barrel to a 1903 barrel.
If the only markings are US and the serial number someone could have removed the markings and re stamped it. Pictures will be of a great help.
If the serial number has seven digits, then it's Smith-Corona receiver. That, of course, assumes whoever removed the markings didn't make up and re-stamp a serial number.
J.B.
Remington? Smith Corona? or National Ord, Santa Fe Arms?
Ok, I just picked up the rifle so I could provide pictures. In looking at the rifle I noticed a few things; missing manufacturers stamp, lack of a gas port on the receiver, smoothed edges on top left of receiver, follower looks like it has been replaced to allow bolt to close regardless of cut-off position, bolt has some interesting stamps, last digit of serial number is not in line with rest of numbers and is partially covered by top of hand guard. Hopefully I've provide a good starting point. Thanks everyone. Michael
Might be a good candidate for a complete strip and photo heavy thread to help solve this. Things don't look right, for sure.
More pictures
Looks like the barrel ring was polished clean and hand stamped while the receiver looks to have been cold blued after...
The O.P. seems to have a 1903 receiver that a hobbyist altered and re-stamped to look somewhat like a M-1903A3 receiver.
An '03A3 stock, hand-guard, and barrel made into a 'shooter', using a (Springfield, Rock Island, or Remington) 1903 receiver, barrel bands, and trigger-guard?
The receiver is an M1903 receiver, not an M'03-A3 receiver, and one that's been boogered up at that. The serial number has been re-stamped and is probably the original serial number. The receiver is a low-number casehardened receiver. Under the circumstances, I would not recommend shooting it on a recurring basis.
Stay safe!
J.B.
Thank you for all the information. I have one last question regarding cartouche symbol markings in front of the magazine well. They are; 8 with a Circle around it, 4 with triangle around it, 4 with square around it and a 3 with a diamond around it. Thanks
The markings you describe are Smith-Corona M'03-A3 subinspection marks. The markings are authentic and pertain to the Smith-Corona rifle that once resided in the stock.Quote:
Originally Posted by Robinsom
J.B.