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Do I have a valuable A3?
My first post:
I acquired an A3 from the CMP a few years ago, shot it twice and put it away. I want to have it reparked and restocked (keeping everything military-no sporterizing). But, I thought I would post some particulars to find out if I have an original that I shouldn't touch or if I have a mixmaster.
It is a Remington, "SN 4111XXX", barrel stamped "RA 9/43". The bolt does not have an engraved SN, but instead has the last four of the rifle SN etched onto the bolt handle where it is also engraved with "R1". The selector is marked "R". I see no markings on the trigger housing, buttplate, bands or sights. The stock is marked "RA" just behind the left rear recoil lug, and just behind that are the letters "FJA" inside a square box. Marking at left rear of buttstock shows on the first line "RIA" and second line "EB" inside a square box. The circle "P" is just behind the triggerguard and the last four digits of the SN are stamped into the right side of the buttstock.
I am not an avid collector having a couple of Garands and this one 03. But, I know enough to check out something like this before I change it in anyway. Any info anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
daveboy
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From your description, the rifle sounds like one of those that was used in Greece post-WWII. If you can post some pictures, we could tell for sure, but I doubt it is a collector. Most of the markings do sound correct. The RIA/EB is a post-WWII inspection or overhaul stamp from Rock Island.
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I also recently bought a 1903 that the previous owner had bought from CMP. The last 4 digits of the serial number are engraved on the flat of the bolt handle. The engraving is fairly recent and I understand that is a CMP practice, Is that true?
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No, it was done by the Greeks. I never heard of CMP doing it. Probably "etched" is a better term than "engraved".
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was done by the Greeks as Rick says, with a arc engraving tool. very tough to remove.
the ghost will usually come back, if parkerized after its removed.
but, iv blued, usually it will not show..
My M40 was stamped US PROPERTY and arc engraved as well,
i tried to remove the arc engraved, and it came back as soon as i reparked..
still cant figure out why they had to mark it 2 times.
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I wouldn't do anything with it. Nice stamps on stock. Park looks fine to me. Maybe not a rare one, but any refinishing will lower it's value in my opinion.
Jim
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I agree - while the rifle appears to have been refinished at some point, it was a "correct" refinish done at an arsenal. I would also leave it alone. One of the nicer Greek returns I have seen IMHO.
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Nice rifle in my humble opinion.
Jim
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I agree with the others,That is a fine looking rifle.I would not touch the stock as it is a nice example of a genuine USGI stock that has "been around the World"with your rifle, and I don't think it needs to be reparked.You have a Nice old girl,ultimately it's your choice.Enjoy her and shoot her :thup:
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Give The Dealers Warehouse a call for mint Remington bolts. I would not "play" this this one. You have a keeper there.
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Hey Dave,
Think you do have a valuable M1903A3. You are presently the only civilian to have ever owned it. Remington made it, it served somewhere, in the states...and then it was loaned to the Greek military. Guess they didn't use or abuse it too much as the wood and metal are very fine.
The barreled receiver might have been refinished by a US arsenal, but probably not by the Greeks. They refinished the metal with a black something.
All of the markings on the metal and stock are very sharp and deep. Maybe the rifle has it's original finish on both the metal and wood. All of the parts appear to be correct for an M1903A3.
Did a little research on Vishooter's site. Your receiver was made in December '43, and your barrel in August of '43. Could be an original Remington match.
Your stock is Remington, don't know about Remington stock markings as to a period of manufacture that matches your barreled receiver, but maybe that matches also (The real experts will chime in on that).
An original, hard to find Remington 03A3 will have all parts blued except for the barrel and receiver, I think. Your rifle doesn't fit that description but...though re-arsenaled you have a very fine rifle, specially if the bore and crown are fine.
Anyway, thought you needed a little more info. Don't touch a screw on that rifle or the wood unless you want to take it down and do a detail cleaning of everything, I love to do that. You find some interesting things that you might have missed sometimes.
To me re-arsenaled '03's of any type are collectibles, long as Bubba hasn't entered the picture. Think the only thing that the Greeks did to your rifle was to put the markings on the bolt root and the stock, part of the original military history of your rifle.
Bet if we walked around our local show with your rifle...you would get nine hundred or more easy. Good '03's are hard to come by down here and sell for very good prices.
By the way, your bolt is a Springfield made in early to mid '42, that info is courtesy of Vishooter and John Beard.
Another anyway, you have a fine rifle. Disassemble it and check the triggerguard, bands and sights, you might find some R's. Maybe not.
Keep it just the way it is, shoot it and give us a range report.
Regards and death to bad guys,
Lancebear
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Thanks for all the replies. I was really surprised to find that my rifle is more "correct" than I assumed. As a result, I have decided NOT to refinish it. I will probably take it apart soon and clean all the cosmoline off it and shoot it. Didn't realize it until I posted this, but I have never fired this rifle.
Two final questions--(1) Is it POSSIBLE that my stock is original? (2) What markings did the Greeks put on the stocks?
Thanks again. I see now that you forum members are full of information and willing to share.
daveboy
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1. It is possible that the stock may be the same one, but no way to know for sure. The markings on the stock were the same as those applied to (literally) hundreds of thousands of other M1903A3s.
2. The Greeks would usually stamp the last four digits of the serial number on the buttstock and often an "X" near the trigger guard, if memory serves me correctly.
