Remington 1903A3 opinions

[John Gelotti]

I want to buy a Remington 1903a3 serial nr 4100xxx, barrel date 6-43.The stock has the "FJA" and "RIA" in a box on the left side, P stamped on the grip, some little stamps in front of the mag..I am not such an expert on those rifles so I am looking for some opinions concerning originality etc...I have added 4 pics with 4 rifles , the one I have marked with the arrow is the only one for sale.I know it's not easy to give opinions on those pics but I hope the "experts" can tell me soon on their first sight what is good or wrong.
Thanks!

Information

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[Johnny Peppers]

The rifle sounds like November/December 1943 production, so the barrel was changed during rebuild. More than likely the small parts were changed also. If you are looking for an original rifle, that is not it.

[John Gelotti]

I am not 100% about the month (6) in the barrel-date, but the marking RIA indicates the rifle was a rebuilt if I understand well.

[emmagee1917]

Yes , really hard to tell without more and closer pics. The reciever/bbl looks parked and the rest blued. That would be orig. finish , so maybe the rifle just passed through RIA on a cleaning/inspection and was not rebuilt and parkerized , or maybe it was and someone has replaced the small parts , or maybe this rifle didn't but now wears a stock from one that did , or.....??? See... too many varables without more pics. we can't tell if this is a $400 or a $700 rifle. The devil is in the details.
Chris

[John Beard]

From what little I can see in the pictures, the rifle appears completely original. I see nothing wrong with it, except that the front sight cover is a non-Remington replacement.

Hope this helps. Good Luck!

J.B.

[John Gelotti]

Thanks for the advice, but I am a little suprised about the value and prices. I live in Belgium (Europe) and looking already more then 5 years to buy a complete original springfield or remington 1903A3.Here in Belgium the 1903a3 rifles are very scarce, so the seller asks a very high price. I want to spend a lot of money (1500 $ or perhaps more ) to buy a 100% original 1903A3 so it is very difficult decide.

[Rick the Librarian]

John, isn't the 6-43 barrel a little "early" for a 4,100,000 receiver?

[Johnny Peppers]

Could it be a "parts queen"? Hard to tell hiding behind three other rifles.

[bulldog_mack13]

Wow, im looking for a WW1 03' seems like 03A3's here in the US are real common , really around my area at shows and such. A real nice correct 03A3 Remington here... 750 or so ... and over in Belgium they are at least double the price?

[John Beard]

John, isn't the 6-43 barrel a little "early" for a 4,100,000 receiver?

I concur that a 6-43 barrel is a little early for a S/N 4100000 receiver. But, I see no evidence that the barrel has been replaced. And Remington was notorious for slipping in an earlier barrel on occasion. So, I am in no position to suggest that the barrel is a replacement.

J.B.