M1903A3 rifle I picked up on the cheap... for shooter or parts

[GS_Geoff]

No pics yet, sorry.

I picked this up yesterday.

It has all Remington parts, dated 5-44 under the bomb. However, where the manufacture/info is normally stamped on the receiver, it has been visibly filed down and stamped over by NATL ORD. One of the gunsmiths from where I got it thinks it may be a case where National Ordnance perhaps bought receivers from Remington or another company, and then restamped them with their name. So he says anyway.

It has a very good condition stock (straight), no major dings or scrapes, but one little pinhole. At some point, somebody painted the top grips black. Bore is nice and bright, 2 groove rifling. Overall it's in great shape for a shooter... just want to find out a little more about the receiver before I go put any rounds through it. Worst case scenario, I'll find a nice Remington receiver and have a great gun.

Hopefully after work tonight I can get some pics up of the stampings/etc.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Calif-Steve]

Nat Ord had these thing built up from parts in Los Angeles, CA around 1966(?). I have heard the receivers were cast in Spain and put together in LA. They are not very good shooters as they will let loose at times. I have seen some that looked safe to me and have seen some that looked like bombs to be. I would hunt high and low for a real Remington receiver and swap out all the parts. Basically you have a very nice parts kit, good luck.

[Jeff L]

National Ordinance rifles are not safe to shoot. chuckindenver will attest to this.

-Jeff L

[GS_Geoff]

Here are some of the markings...











And it has bayonnet lug too... forgot to take picture of that.

[Rick the Librarian]

That is an "original" (so to speak) National Ordnance receiver. It appears to have been polished/buffed to eliminate the usual roughness found on these receivers. The rest are the usual mixture of parts.

[Chuckindenver]

parts only, do not shoot that rifle....

[Orsogato]

Definitely try to find an 03a3 receiver. I would be wary of shooting that rifle as well.

[bb1]

Yep. That serial number could have only come from Nat'l Ord.
Bill