Newb needs help with 03-A3 identity. (PIC HEAVY)

[RaginCajun]

I have an opportunity to get what I consider to be a really good condition rifle. As it turns out, these 03's seem to give a newb like myself a lot confusion as to authenticity. Any help from the gurus here would be greatly appreciated. Seems the serial number (339029*) and the barrel marking (1-43) don't match. Everything is stamper with the Remington R, Stock has boxed FJA and crossed cannons and a "s" at the wedge. The stock has very small pins holding it together. Here are a couple pics, I can provide any needed for id, Thanks from a new guy.

Information

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[Chuckindenver]

barrel is likely the original , why do you think its not?

[Emri]

Very Nice !! Serial number, barrel date, and stock description all match perfectly. A fairly early A3 rifle. Thanks for sharing.
Stick around, look at the older postings, you'll learn a lot. Be sure to check out Vi-shooters web page. A link to it is at the top in a "sticky" note.

Welcome aboard,

Emri

[emmagee1917]

...3350XXX and 3357XXX , both with pined stocks and 12-42 bbls , both built in Jan '43. Yours dates from Feb '43. I can see that someone took a file to your peep and opened her up. Someone here should have a spare peep slide. Nice looking rifle. It wil prob'ly have a small bow triggerguard with the straight line aft the front screw , and the underside of the bolt handle root will have an "R" and a "42" mark , I believe.
Chris

[Neal Myers]

Unfortunately, someone has heavily sanded the wood & lovingly applied many coats of finish. Great for furniture, bad for those who want an original USGI finish.

Neal

[Rick the Librarian]

RaginCajun, did you get the idea on the "mismatched" barrel by looking at Oldguns.com? They list ALL M1903A3s as "1942" and ALL Remington M1903s as "1941". Both are incorrect. As was stated, your barrel is probably original.

[RaginCajun]

Thanks for all the help so far guys, in response to your replies, emmagee1917

I have ...
...3350XXX and 3357XXX , both with pined stocks and 12-42 bbls , both built in Jan '43. Yours dates from Feb '43. I can see that someone took a file to your peep and opened her up. Someone here should have a spare peep slide. Nice looking rifle. It wil prob'ly have a small bow triggerguard with the straight line aft the front screw , and the underside of the bolt handle root will have an "R" and a "42" mark , I believe.
Chris

Everything seems to match your description, aside from the "42" stamp. I will have to find some photos of the peep to understand what it should look like. Thanks Chris.

Neal Myers

Unfortunately, someone has heavily sanded the wood & lovingly applied many coats of finish. Great for furniture, bad for those who want an original USGI finish.

Thanks for the heads up on the finish, gonna have to look into what the USGI finish should look like.

Rick the Librarian

RaginCajun, did you get the idea on the "mismatched" barrel by looking at Oldguns.com?
Yes, thank you for the info.

Lastly, I did purchase the rifle with the intentions of it being a part of my collection and possibly a shooter indefinitely, The deal was to sweet for me to pass up, with this rifle I also got a few other goodies for a steal. Take a look
Top to Bottom: Carl Gustafs 1906 mauser, A3-03, and an Egyptian FN-49.

[Emri]

The stock looks OK to me. They get smooth and shiney over time from handling and use. If it had been heavily sanded, the little marks in front of the trigger guard wouldn't be visible, and the proof "P" would not look as good as it does. I'm not sure where Mr. Myers got that idea from looking at the pics you posted.

FWIW,

Emri

[delloro]

I agree; the stock may have been refinished, but if it was, it looks to have been with a light touch. a strip and light stain (with chestnut ridge) followed with BLO would make it look more original and cut the shine, but does not strike me as necessary.

[emmagee1917]

It looks , in your photo , that someone took a triangular file and filed away the metal over the top of the peep hole , turning it into a "V" . I could be wrong , but that's what I see. If the underside of your bolt root has only a "R" and a punch mark "." , that is ok. The "42" mark is very limited around that time period. Both of my Jan. rifles have it , so I thought yours might. Often times it appears as a squarish smudge mark. I didn't know mine had them till a member here educated me on them.
Chris