CMP A3 info quest for newbie

[Traveler]

I bought a rack grade A3 Rem low 4 million, a few years ago, I believe it to have been rebuilt one or more times. The metal is all uniform fresh blackish park with crisp clear stampings with 'R' stamped on every piece visible on assembled rifle except the front sight blade marked 'A'.

barrel is dated 9-43 with center punched flaming bomb and RA. (Rock Island Arsenal?) guages just under 2 on my nifty CMP bullet MW guage, no way to measure TE. bore looks decent to me with no visible pits but doesn't have sharpness to the lands/grooves.

flat machined area on bolt has last 4 digits of sn# etched on it, possible Greek return?

straight stock is uniform walnut with the following stampings many barely visible due to staining, dents obstructing them or like they were lightly struck.

boxed FJA and RA on left side of receiver, two seperate circle P's on bottom but different sizes, an X and XP along with 3 very small and faint stamps one a triangle, a square 98, and circle with 6 or G, all located on bottom forward of reciever. also misc deeper rack #'s on side of butt.

I'm thinking this was maybe a Greek return rebuilt and stored until it landed at CMP, it looks like it was parked yesterday, but with original stock set. it's void of cracks or repairs with patina my CMP garands have of wood floating around the world doing the business it was meant to but I didn't want to disturb this wood by refinishing to look pretty so I have a CMP C stock on the way. with this and the nice metal, it will be a looker.

anyway, I'm looking for any info to date or I.D. my rifle and it's history of rebuild ect. also need to know where to get a good manual for stripping/cleaning this and recommended extras for maint. thanks, Matt

Information

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[Rick the Librarian]

Matt, could you list the serial number, or at least the first few digits?

A 9-43 barrel would indicate a serial number in the 3.9M to 4.2M range. The RA is seen on later Remington stocks and stands for "Remnington", not Rock Island. The markings you mention, especially the stched ones on the bolt, sound like the rifle is one of the Greek returns, all right.

FJA is Col. Frank J. Atwood, who commanded the Rochester Ordnance Distict, whick contained Remington and other arms manufacturers. The small markings ahead of the trigger guard are subinspection markings, seen on Remington M190s and M1903A3s (as well as SC M1903A3s).

[Traveler]

Rick, sent you PM with info.

[Kirk]

The CMP did not grade 1903s like the Garands. A s/n above 4M is nearly at the end of production. They hit 4.0 in Oct 1943 & finished up at 4.2 in Feb 1944. Barrel dates usually preceded S/N dates by several months. Sounds like your rifle has the original barrel & could well be a Greek return.

A fellow who goes by ViShooter has a wonderful website http://vishooter.home.att.net/m1903.html with lots of reference info & photos. Open the Remington A3/A4 links.

[Traveler]

thanks for the reply and the link Kirk, I'll check it out.