Pictures of another "Correct" Near Mint Remington 1903A3... A little different.

[Roadkingtrax]

Just keep her out of the dirt...I picked one up not long ago in similar condition. I think a nice 1903a3 is a good buy right now at about 750-850 in original or stamped through overhaul. There are just not many other types of rifles from that period in that price range, and so close to original condition as built, at some albeit climbing price... K31's might be the only other rifle.

You have a Fine looking rifle,...

not to hijack...but I'm having the same shoot/not shoot debate with mine.

[oneshot onekill]

shoot it...it has been shot more then you think, the rail on the follower has wear, as does the bolt body, rust on the buttplate.. ect...its nice,, but not really crispy collector nice.
if it were unissued with the box and papers then i would agree to not shoot... iv owned and shot nicer...these were made to be shot....like have a hot babe...man,,i dont wanna mess her up, i let some other guy do that...heck man..get some!!

With all due respect... Wear on the rail is from the bolt body scraping it. The bolt body only has wear where it rubs the receiver or itself. The bolt face still has almost all of its original blueing and that's where it matters with regard to how much it's been shot. A little rust on the buttplate means nothing... Except that it has been rested on the buttplate on a hard surface. It still retains over 80% blueing. Pictures don't do it justice. I've collected firearms for around 40 years and I can tell the difference between wear from firing and wear from working the action. I've just never specifically collected or researched the 1903A3. Thanks for the thoughts! I'm still debating whether to shoot her or not.

[Johnny Peppers]

Shoot them enough, and they will soon all look alike. Original finish can't be put back.

[oneshot onekill]

That is a Beauty Roadkingtrax! Looks very similar to mine from the pics. What Cartouches are on the wood? Mine only has: "RA", "Crossed Cannons" (Hard to see) and "FJA" on the side. One circled "P" on the bottom of the wrist and a few small stamps in front of the floorplate. From what I've gathered the lack of any others, like "OG" or "RIA" means it has not been Re-Built or at least run back through an Arsenal and re-Proofed.

[Chuckindenver]

iv owned 3 in the DCM shipping box, original A3,s with no wear, no rust, and shot all 3, one was a SC with 6groove barrel, all 3 came from the same guy, he got them in the 1960,s through the NRA, i cleaned them. and sold them..not one person ever asked about or thought about if they had been fired.
i did use a spare bolt on the SC. as the original had no wear marks at all.
FYI: i can blue a A3 part, and you wouldnt be able to tell if it were refinished or not.. not bragging...just stating a fact.
now.
if that were a early A3, say first 1000, in mint all correct, no rust, no wear, ect. then yes,..i would agree. sell it make the money and dont shoot it... but that rifle needs to be shot..just sayin..who you saving it for? the Dems will take em anyway...enjoy them.. shoot em, play with em. i dont have a museum..
best example i can use..
over the last 5 years a old man up the street gets his check on the 15th, and like many old guys, loves football and trashy women at the local bar, and like to by the house a round or 2...so by the 18th he,s broke..and usually pulls in my driveway, with a few guns..so far he,s sold me 5 1903,s 4 1903A3,s 3 1911A1,s and a few Winchesters, all of them he never shot, and got them through the NRA or other programs back in the 1960,s likely paid no more then 57.00 for any of the military weapons.. and no more then 120.00 for the model 70,s , he,s always told me...i wish id taken the time when i was younger to shoot all those guns..but i was busy workin and savin..now im too old to give a Sh%t.
he tells me how much he wants, i hand him the cash...i never try and wheel him down,
last rifle i got was a in the box Remington Rand 1911A1, never been out of the paper wrap, still full of grease, with the paperwork from Peublo dept. 550.00 , he paid 32.00 ,
same time, i picked up a pre war M70, in 30-06, mint 450.00. he paid 120.00 from a coworker..non had ever been shot..be him or anyone else for that matter.. iv shot all but the 1911A1..it was sold to a local collector and he uses it for his display.. so...SHOOT EM..thats what they are made for.

[oneshot onekill]

Fair enough!... Will do!

[Roadkingtrax]

That is a Beauty Roadkingtrax! Looks very similar to mine from the pics. What Cartouches are on the wood? Mine only has: "RA", "Crossed Cannons" (Hard to see) and "FJA" on the side. One circled "P" on the bottom of the wrist and a few small stamps in front of the floorplate. From what I've gathered the lack of any others, like "OG" or "RIA" means it has not been Re-Built or at least run back through an Arsenal and re-Proofed.

My rifle ( and a close cousin to it) both have an OG stamp, as you know for Ogden. That rifle also has an SS stamped on the left lower side. Both rifles also have an RA/Wheel/FJA, sub inspection symbols and the Circle P firing proof.

It still amazes me, how many of these fairly unmolested 1903a3's exist and are for sale across the country.

[Johnny Peppers]

True enough they were originally made to shoot, but their value in unissued original condition has far surpassed their value as a shooter. An unissued $20 Double Eagle was made to be spent, but it's monetary value today far exceeds it's original $20 face value. No matter how you try to doll up the worn shooter, it is easy enough to tell the restorations from the originals.

The Singer 1911A1 was made to shoot just like all the others, though it was terribly expensive when the government had them made. If I remember correctly the Singers cost the government just shy of $560 each in 1941, where all the others averaged about $35.00 each. Today a 98% Singer would easily sell in the $150,000 range. Though it was made to shoot, and for some reason needs to be shot, that would be an expensive shooter.

[Chuckindenver]

well, i agree, however,...this isnt a Double eagle, or a Singer.. its a Remington 1903A3..more then a few were made, though its nice, its not rare..no way this rifle will ever be worth 6 figures.. ever.
real retail money is about 750.00 maybe 800.00 even in a few years shot or not..maybe 1000.00 an A3 is always easier to sell but they guys buying are wanting a shooter that easy to sight and shoot...and the A3 is much easier to use with over 40 year old eyeballs,
collectable? sure...but not the same value ect as a double eagle, or Singer, Johnson ect... comparing a Remington A3 to any of them is miss leading.. even a SC A3 in nice shape isnt that rare...nice, but not rare.....shoot it.. i personally dont and wont own a firearm that i cant shoot..it doesnt make since. other then the investment aspect...i enjoy collecting and shooting.. if it was just the collecting..i would be a stamp collector..Guns, Motorcycles, Trucks doesnt matter..if you cant enjoy it...why own it..
by the way,...i have owned and shot a Singer, a SA 1911, a Norway made Colt, a Mexican Colt 1911 a 1941Johnson, serial number 3 1922 in .22Hornet, killed an Antelope with a real A4, race a one of likely less then 20 left 1967 Husky 360 Viking, compete on a 1985 HOnda TLR 250, one of less then 30 in the USA, and have dropped it in the rocks hard from 20 feet in the air...why? cuz i own them, and i want to enjoy every bit of them, i live my life with no regrets...and live like every day may be my last, and like i would live forever. if i died...then any of these guns, bikes, trucks ect...wont matter anymore...and someone else will do whatever they like...:} lifes to short...live it

[Johnny Peppers]

Would you care to volunteer the serial number of your Singer? There is a data base with every known Singer that has turned up over the last 40 years.