My barrel has heart.....

[Bionicback321]

Ok. This is a new one on me. I bought a Feb 1944 1903a3 at a local gun show last weekend, took it to the range today and shot it for the first time (kicks like a mule, but in a nice way). I completely disassembled it when I got home to clean it and found a heart stamped on the barrel just in front of the receiver. If anyone has any info about it I'd really like to know. This is my first 03a3 and I'm still learning.

Information

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[Claven2]

Yep, there it is right new to an SS rune... (just kidding). No idea personally, but someone will know.

[Rick the Librarian]

Your barrel was made on Valentine's Day???

Probably a subinspection "symbol".

If a Feb. 1944 barrel, it is a replacement. The last "production" barrels were December, 1943, and maybe Jan., 1944.

[Bionicback321]

It's stamped 2-44 just to the rear of the front sight.

[Chuckindenver]

thats a gallery stamp. common on Remington made barrels. used clear up through the 1980,s..i have a couple 700 Remingtons with that stamp.

[Bionicback321]

Pardon my ignorance. Are you referring to the 2-44 or the heart. Also I'm not familiar with the term "gallery stamp". Perhaps you could enlighten me.

[DeputyBill]

As CiD stated, it's a common Remington mark. I've seen a few examples, as well.

My Remington Model 512 has that stamp, too; it's date-coded March 1947 ("A S S" -not an insult; that's the date code).

[Chuckindenver]

gallery stamp..sup inpector that worked on the line.. could be quality control, finish. conture?? maybe someone else knows...even my Remington 700 book calls it a callery stamp.

[Rick the Librarian]

Early Remington M1903s had similiar markings just ahead of the trigger guard on the stock - they used symbols intead of the later numbers inside geometric symbols.

[Bionicback321]

I love it when I learn something