Another 1903/A3 cartouche question

[oldmartins]

I've looked at as many posts as I can find and am starting to see cross-eyed so thought I'd post this one myself.
I saw what seems to me to be an early A3, serial number 3039863, seems correct, should it
have FJA's cartouch? It seems to be a transitional rifle in that it was early enough to have some features of the '03 and others associated with the A3. I'm assuming that all A3's were FJA's responsibility but wanted to check. This one just made me think. It's clean but sanded
off all markings. I have no problem with that as it's not a collector rifle but curiosity got the
best of me and I thought I'd ask.
I've owned 03's, this seems like a much lighter gun, I expect it would feel like it when firing it as well.
Thanks for all the good information here. If I missed this information posted previously, please point me in the right direction.
Thanks
Bruce "Oldmartins"

Information

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[Johnny Peppers]

If an 03-A3, you have the serial number (3039863) wrong. Col. Frank J. Atwood took command of the Rochester Ordnance district in June of 1942, so if it is an 03-A3, it will have FJA on it.

[oldmartins]

Well, I have an 03/A3 and read the serial number off the rifle, not sure how it could be wrong... I do have lousy eyesight these days but that's big enough to read pretty easily.
I assumed the FJA would be correct but hate to assume so thanks. Can't give you any other serial number, that's the one.

One interesting thing about the barrel band where the serial number, arsenal and model type is stamped, mine starts "outboard" from the muzzle area, as if it was offset so part of the
number is covered by the barrel band, seems odd. Assuming the band should fit up against
the protruding notch, where I've seen most all of them fit, it does cover some of the imprint
on that identifying band....

[Johnny Peppers]

I can only tell you what it should be from the information you gave. If a 1903 Remington, which the serial number given is, it should be RLB. If an 03-A3, which the serial number given isn't, it will be FJA.

The receiver will have the maker, model, and serial number. The barrel will have the barrel maker's initials, and date of manufacture.

[Rick the Librarian]

If you have the serial number right, the rifle is an earlier Remington M1903, recognizable because of the folding leaf-type rear sight. The stock would have been a "straight" stock with stock bolts and a RLB stamp. RLB was Roy L. Bowlin, Atwood's predecessor as commander of the Rochester Ordnance District.

[oldmartins]

In the past I've owned some 03's, shot a bunch of them and used that folding sight but not well. It's also pretty hard to miss, this one has the rear sight of an A3 and all features of
an A3, it was re-barreled with an RA flaming bomb 7-45 that specs out as new with gauges.
Can't explain the serial number but that's what is stamped on the barrel ring, right below the
"model 03-A3" designation.

[Dad]

How about some pictures, we love pictures.....

D.

[oldmartins]

[Johnny Peppers]

Whoa! That is a fake serial number which has been pantographed on the receiver. It is too out of focus to tell for sure, but the other markings may be fake as well.

This is an 03-A3 in the correct serial number range. Notice that the 3's in 03-A3 are flat top, while the 3 in the serial number has a round top. In the fake number the numbers in the serial number are flat top also. The mechanic didn't realize they were the wrong font.

[oldmartins]