Cartouche questions

[sakorick]

Is there a reference that shows the various Ordnance acceptance marks for Remington 1903 rifles? Was more than one RLB or FJA stamp/s used? Does this look like embellished stamps to you? Note the very faint RA between the Ord stamp and the lug. Regards, Rick.

Information

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[Rick the Librarian]

It's pretty easy, actually ...

1) Early Remington M1903s had boxed RLB stamps; later in production, "bare" RLB and "spread" RLB stamps started to be used.

2) About 3,200,000 or so, boxed FJA stamps were introduced. There were some with stock bolts but the stock pins were more common.

3) The boxed FJA continued until the end of Remington M1903 production - NO Remington M1903s had a stock with FJA and RA - that didn't happen until well into M1903A3 production.

The FJA stamp on the above rifle does look like it was "enhanced -maybe with a jackknife!

[sakorick]

Hello Rick. Gosh, I must be getting old....I meant 1903A3. I agree, the Atwood cartouche has been humped IMHO. There is no reason for the RA to be so faint while the Ord cannons and Atwood are bold beyond bold. I like the stylized flame on the ord cartouche too. Regards, Rick.

[Rick the Librarian]

You're better than me - I didn't even SEE the "RA", but then, I was focusing on the FJA and the fact that you said you were interested in M1903 information. I do agree the FJA has been enhanced and not very well, either.

[JGaynor]

Hello Rick. Gosh, I must be getting old....I meant 1903A3. I agree, the Atwood cartouche has been humped IMHO. There is no reason for the RA to be so faint while the Ord cannons and Atwood are bold beyond bold. I like the stylized flame on the ord cartouche too. Regards, Rick.

Rick I know this thread is a few weeks old but is there a stamp in the magazine cutoff notch? As to the lack of uniformity between the "RA", Ordnance Escutcheon and [FJA] keep in mind the stamps were most likely applied by different people at different times. They may not have struck the stamps with the same authority. Usually the Ordnance escutcheon seems to come out lighter. Also these stamps tended to be applied right in an area wher the rifle would be grasped or carried so wear was a factor. One other point worth noting. A rifle can have all manner of dings scrapes and wear but usually the edges of the cutoff notch, and on A4's, the bolt handle notch, will remain sharp. If they are rounded over someone has probably been at the stock with sandpaper.

Regards,
Jim

[sakorick]

Rick I know this thread is a few weeks old but is there a stamp in the magazine cutoff notch? As to the lack of uniformity between the "RA", Ordnance Escutcheon and [FJA] keep in mind the stamps were most likely applied by different people at different times. They may not have struck the stamps with the same authority. Usually the Ordnance escutcheon seems to come out lighter. Also these stamps tended to be applied right in an area wher the rifle would be grasped or carried so wear was a factor. One other point worth noting. A rifle can have all manner of dings scrapes and wear but usually the edges of the cutoff notch, and on A4's, the bolt handle notch, will remain sharp. If they are rounded over someone has probably been at the stock with sandpaper.

Regards,
Jim

I agree with that. Regards, Rick.

[Mike D]

The FJA in Rick's photo is a "stamp-over". The second stamp was angled counter clock-wise, slightly, from the original and more "weight" was applied to the bottom.

Maybe the crossed cannons was done the same?

Mike