My dad gave me a Sante Fe 1903A3 with s/n # 5,005,375. He didn't know much about it.

[JGaynor]

Jeff Remington was assigned a large block of serial numbers which was to encompass the last of M1903A3 and M1903A4(sniper's) production. Shortly after the serail number range was established further orders of the M1903A3 were cancelled (February 1944). The only portion of the serial number range that was actually used was for the second part of the second M1903A4 order (sn 4992001 to 499859X - the exact end point is unknown but this is a pretty fair calculatiuon.)

In the 50's and 60's some enterprising souls in the surplus gun business realized there were mountains of brand new spare parts for A3's. Everything you needed except for receivers. So they had their own made and assembled the new commercial cast receivers to the surplus GI parts. The rifles are seen marked "National Ordnance", "Golden State" and "Santa Fe". The receivers have been reported to have come from just about everywhere - Spain, Yugoslavia, etc. etc. Apparently the story is simpler. If you google National Ordnance you will find a history of the guns, the company and the players. they made M1 Carbines as well. According to the site the receivers were made by Rimer Casting in Ohio.


Some companies (Sturm Ruger) have successfully used investment cast receivers on high power rifles. With the cast A3'a you find some owners who swear by them and others who condemn them as potentially unsafe.

Regards,
JIm

[Jeffrimerman]

Wow, thank you so much for the information and thank you everyone else. I talked to my Dad about it today about it. He was happy to hear there was some history. He didn't think it was worth much either way. I'm sure it is fine. I'm just going to take it target shooting so I don't need any hot loads. I need to find scope mounts for the holes I imagine. I did a search but the ones I see don't seem to have a curve that matches where the front mount will go. Does anyone recommend a decent site that is a couple hundred.

[Rick the Librarian]

M1903A3s were authorized through 5,700,000, but were never made past 4,208,000 or so for service rifles and 4,990,000 or so for M1903A4 sniper rifles. The website you consulted is inaccurate, at least for Remington M1903s and M1903A3s. No military M1903s were made in the 5,000,000 serial range.

Use this website - much more accurate.

http://www.vishooter.net/ra_serialization.txt

[Chuckindenver]

id advise against shooting that rifle...

[barbarossa]

Over the course of my forty plus years of gun collecting, I have owned three of the Natonal Ordnance manufacture M/1903A3 rifles. All were quite accurate and trouble free in operation. I had zero complaint with quality control on any of these rifles and would not be frightened in the least to shoot the living hell outta one of them should I ever happen onto another example. Nope, it's not the real McCoy but it served as an entry level military lookalike back in the 1960's, much like the commercial M-1 carbines of that era which were likewise built up utilizing the vast stores of surplus parts available cheaply on the market in those days. Supply could definitely not meet consumer demand for these rifles back in the day. I'm willing to wager money that one day they will be a necessary addition to any M/1903A3 collection.

[Jeffrimerman]

Over the course of my forty plus years of gun collecting, I have owned three of the Natonal Ordnance manufacture M/1903A3 rifles. All were quite accurate and trouble free in operation. I had zero complaint with quality control on any of these rifles and would not be frightened in the least to shoot the living hell outta one of them should I ever happen onto another example. Nope, it's not the real McCoy but it served as an entry level military lookalike back in the 1960's, much like the commercial M-1 carbines of that era which were likewise built up utilizing the vast stores of surplus parts available cheaply on the market in those days. Supply could definitely not meet consumer demand for these rifles back in the day. I'm willing to wager money that one day they will be a necessary addition to any M/1903A3 collection.

Thanks Barbarosa,

Another person mentioned they have never heard of any action exploding ever, but for some reason you get people who are afraid of them. It's not a new gun and it's almost 50 years from the 60s so I would venture a guess it's been shot once or twice, hehe. I'm gonna look for some site mounts and take it for a test drive. I'll post with pictures of my half blown away face in case that happens Do you know where I can get site mounts? At Turner's the guys said he thinks I need mauser mounts.

[Calif-Steve]

Actually, I've heard the receivers were made in Spain. Also heard they were made in East Los Angeles around 1964. Surplus parts were dirt cheap in 1964, barrels at $.98, bolts at $.15, stocks at $1.99. With a cheap, cast receiver you easily build a rifle for under $25.00 and retail it for $199.00. That is exactly what happened. That is exactly what you have, good luck.

[Johnny Peppers]

Francis Bannerman made ersatz Trapdoor and 1903 Springfields, and I don't think they are a must have for a collection yet.

[Rick the Librarian]

Actually, I've heard the receivers were made in Spain. Also heard they were made in East Los Angeles around 1964. Surplus parts were dirt cheap in 1964, barrels at $.98, bolts at $.15, stocks at $1.99. With a cheap, cast receiver you easily build a rifle for under $25.00 and retail it for $199.00. That is exactly what happened. That is exactly what you have, good luck.

I used to see N.O. 1903A3s for sale at a hardware store in my town in the late 1960s - $49.95 - about $10 more than the going price for M1903s at the time.

[barbarossa]

Francis Bannerman made ersatz Trapdoor and 1903 Springfields, and I don't think they are a must have for a collection yet.

Well, Johnny Peppers, have you checked the price of a 1960's commercial manufacture M-1 carbine lately? Bought them for 100 dollars apiece in newish condition all day long back in the 1970's. How many would you like to buy for that price now? SOMEBODY is certainly finding them collectible now! Same phenomena with the Nat. Ord made M/1903A3 rifle. Bought my first one for eighty dollars in 1979 and they sell for 300-400 dollars nowadays and easily find purchasers at gun shows. Just a fact of life whether you agree or not. Watch the money trail....