I just received a 1903 Modified

Looks like a nice Remington 1903 from WW2 era. It's serial range is 330xxxx, with barrel rollmarked 4-42. The replacement stock is stamped faintly with "RA" and Inspection stamp of "FJA" in a square box. It should have been stamped with another inspector initials. The stock was sanded down in a previous life, but still looks very nice today. Here are some photos....https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...aa810545-1.jpghttps://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...97e16f1b-1.jpghttps://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ec9f6758-1.jpghttps://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...a5ace3c2-1.jpghttps://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ac305689-1.jpghttps://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...c230a052-1.jpghttps://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...608b2d2f-1.jpg

Very faint stock markings.https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1919f011-1.jpghttps://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...4ed73d42-1.jpg

That's a fine looking rifle! The stock refinishing looks well done.

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Originally Posted by Mike_S

That's a fine looking rifle! The stock refinishing looks well done.

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Thank you for the comment. I have found that I really have a fascination with these bolt rifles. Like most of you. I learned marksmanship while in the Marines and later spent some time as a instructor on the rifle range. I tend to want that experience of shooting wood and steel military firearms. I am filling my safe with shooters to use on my rifle range. The more I learn about them, the more I want them.

Originally destined to be an 03a3 but due to a shortage of rear sights the rear bridge was milled down to mostly remove the sight base and the rifle was completed as a regular 03. Nice rifle and I’m not sure that’s the wrong stock.

Thanks for pointing out the recvr bridge, never seen that done before. Interesting rifle.

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Originally Posted by twh

Originally destined to be an 03a3 but due to a shortage of rear sights the rear bridge was milled down to mostly remove the sight base and the rifle was completed as a regular 03. Nice rifle and I’m not sure that’s the wrong stock.

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I have one of these "transition" 03's as well. Curious what parts are on it. Is your lower and upper band stamped with an "R"? Mine had a Springfield replacement barrel on it one month behind the serial number of the rifle.

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Originally Posted by ssgross

I have one of these "transition" 03's as well. Curious what parts are on it. Is your lower and upper band stamped with an "R"? Mine had a Springfield replacement barrel on it one month behind the serial number of the rifle.

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Yes "R" stamps are present.

If it has a 4/42 RA barrel, the barrel was probably replaced at some point. A more correct barrel would have been in the 11/42 or 12/42 range. The stock is a replacement - the markings are for a later M1903A3.

Nice looking rifle!

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Originally Posted by Rick the Librarian

If it has a 4/42 RA barrel, the barrel was probably replaced at some point. A more correct barrel would have been in the 11/42 or 12/42 range. The stock is a replacement - the markings are for a later M1903A3.

Nice looking rifle!

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The barrel is rollmarked as a 10/42,

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Originally Posted by SFC Higgins

The barrel is rollmarked as a 10/42,

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You said in the original post it was 4/42 - a 10/42 barrel is still a little outside the manufacture range, but may be original.

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Originally Posted by Rick the Librarian

You said in the original post it was 4/42 - a 10/42 barrel is still a little outside the manufacture range, but may be original.

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Yep I sure did type 4 - 42, I must have been too excited. Sorry for that mistake. I went back and looked at my other 1903A3 to check the numbers....I don't even know how I posted the mistake.

Sure glad **I** never made that mistake. Now, excuse me while I seek cover before the lightning bolt strikes! :madsmile:

---------- Post added at 09:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:25 AM ----------

The handguard appears to be a later replacement. Does the lower band and trigger guard have an "R" stamp? By that point of production, most Remington M1903s had stamped parts.

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Originally Posted by Rick the Librarian

Sure glad **I** never made that mistake. Now, excuse me while I seek cover before the lightning bolt strikes! :madsmile:

---------- Post added at 09:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:25 AM ----------

The handguard appears to be a later replacement. Does the lower band and trigger guard have an "R" stamp? By that point of production, most Remington M1903s had stamped parts.

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The Trigger guard has "R" stamp and is a milled part, however the lower band on the stock handguard is stamped with a "U". I'm sure this is a mixmaster after being refurbished. Though it is a wonderful rifle, it's not all original as it is today.

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Originally Posted by SFC Higgins

lower band on the stock handguard is stamped with a "U"

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The U is not a manufacture identification. It's for "up" and indicates the direction of the band. Milled bands are gently sloped to match the contour. Remington made band should also have an R...but these are very, very hard to find!

Remington milled lower bands have an R stamp somewhere above the U.

is that an '03 Stock, or an A3 S Stock? Werent earlier '42 M1903 (modified) rifles mounted on an RA S stock with no finger grooves and no handguard band inlet? If so, tht may not be a replacement stock at all, but an original 1903 (modified) stock boned when serviced at an arsenal. In any case, it looks like a very nice stock!

You mentioned a 4-42 barrel in the OP.

The stock is a replacement from a later M1903A3. There were no RA stamps on M1903 stocks and you can see the "notches" for the M1903A3 retaining clip.

Nice rifle!

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Originally Posted by Rick the Librarian

You mentioned a 4-42 barrel in the OP.

The stock is a replacement from a later M1903A3. There were no RA stamps on M1903 stocks and you can see the "notches" for the M1903A3 retaining clip.

Nice rifle!

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I'm not any where as knowledgeable as you fine folks. But I feel very lucky to have found this rifle in it's current condition. The gentleman I purchased it from was very gracious and a pleasure to deal with. I now have two of his 03's and love their great looking condition and enjoy firing them,

Semper Fidelis! Nice transition 03 to 03A3 Rifle!

SFC Higgins-- Nice rifle, it looks like the rifle has been though at least least one rebuild at the Raritan Arsenal. RA stamp in stock probably the reason for the later stock. I look the old steel and wood .30-06 US bolt rifles. Of course due to my age I down load the cartridges to shoot them.