WWII Remington 03 A3 questions

[Todd Reynolds]

Gentlemen, I am new to this site and have a few questions about a gun my father received recently. My father received a WWII Remington 03 A3 from his deceased brother in law. He was a full bird Colonel in the Army and a paratrooper. The gun looks in NEW condition right down to the sling. We know for a fact that my uncle never messed with the gun and told us it was issued to him during WWII. Anyway we were wondering what the value of this gun was. We took it to a gunsmith and he doesn't think the gun was ever fired. There are zero wear marks anywhere on the gun. The gun cleaning rods etc are not in the butt of the stock. I do not know why. Also on another note concerning the gun, the wood stock that normally extends up to a few inches from the end of the barrel is shorter than any I have seen. It is approximately 11.5 inches from the end of the barrel. I was told that Officers and paratroopers stocks were shorter????? Again I am almost positive my Uncle never had any work done on the gun including shortening of the stock. The serial number is: REMINGTON
MODEL 03-A3
3714437
Any info or approx. value would be greatly appreciated. My father is forwarding me pictures should you need them. The gun honestly looks like it was never even handled.

Thanks for your time,

Todd

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Calif-Steve]

It sounds like a sporterized '03-A3. I hate to tell you but sporterizing really hurts its value. It might be tough to get $450.00 for it. However, need a picture.

[Mike D]

No offense, but I think the story has gotten a little twisted as it has been passed along by word of mouth.

I can't think of why a Colonel would be "issued" an A3. M1 carbines used by paras had a different style, folding stock, but A3's never had a shorter version stock.

The serial # dates to June, 1943.

Can't help you on value, photos are a must for that.

[Todd Reynolds]

I am familiar with sporterized, but honstly do not think it was. My Uncle never hunted or shot any of his guns that I know of. This was his original weapon from WWII, from what I understand and he never shot it since the war anyway. I am not sure he ever shot it during the war. I would be shocked to find out it was sporterized, but I cannot explain the shortened stock. I was also shocked to not see any stamps or markings on the stock. Some stocks I have seen have different stampings on them.

I do appreciate your comments and will include any pix when I receive them. Thanks again

---------- Post added at 11:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:45 PM ----------

I don't think so, but I am not at all knowlegable about this stuff. My father and his brother in Law were very close and he told my father it was issued to him ?????? Again he is not a fun guy or hunter, so I really do not know why it would have ever been sporterized. I value your knowlege and will certainly ask my father some more questions.
Thanks

[Mike D]

Forgot to say welcome to the forum! I would love to see some photos of the rifle.

[John Beard]

Gentlemen, I am new to this site and have a few questions about a gun my father received recently. My father received a WWII Remington 03 A3 from his deceased brother in law. He was a full bird Colonel in the Army and a paratrooper. The gun looks in NEW condition right down to the sling. We know for a fact that my uncle never messed with the gun and told us it was issued to him during WWII. Anyway we were wondering what the value of this gun was. We took it to a gunsmith and he doesn't think the gun was ever fired. There are zero wear marks anywhere on the gun. The gun cleaning rods etc are not in the butt of the stock. I do not know why. Also on another note concerning the gun, the wood stock that normally extends up to a few inches from the end of the barrel is shorter than any I have seen. It is approximately 11.5 inches from the end of the barrel. I was told that Officers and paratroopers stocks were shorter????? Again I am almost positive my Uncle never had any work done on the gun including shortening of the stock. The serial number is: REMINGTON
MODEL 03-A3
3714437
Any info or approx. value would be greatly appreciated. My father is forwarding me pictures should you need them. The gun honestly looks like it was never even handled.

Thanks for your time,

Todd

Thanks for your posting! And welcome to the forum!

Your father's rifle has received some type of non-standard stock modification, perhaps rendered in the field for paratrooper use. You further mention that the stock is devoid of markings, which indicates that the stock has been either heavily sanded or replaced.

The rifle should have substantial sentimental value. But, as a collector's item, the rifle has lost substantial value. Based on your description, the rifle is worth about $500.

Hope this helps. Happy New Year!

J.B.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Hi Todd,

Welcome to our forum!

As said above, it sounds as if the 1903A3 you describe has been altered, at least some from original.

Many were rebuilt by the military and then put away and never used again. Most of the ones put through arsenal rebuilds were refinished in an overall gray-green parkerized finish.

As a reference that may help, below are some details of a Remington 1903A3 as it would have been configured and finished as manufactured.
(They had a mix of blued and parked parts when new)










There are also several more photos to the 1903A3 configuration link at the top of this forum's page in the 'sticky' section:
Remington 1903A3 (displaying original configuration and finish)

I hope this helps, and looking forward to learning more about your uncle's rifle.

~Harlan

[Todd Reynolds]

Thank you all for your information. My father i sending me pictures as we speak so I will try to attach them to help out with identification of the gun.

[Todd Reynolds]

For some reason I cannot get pix to upload. I will keep trying.

[Todd Reynolds]

Alright, figured it out. I appreciate your efforts gentlemen.