1942 Remington 1903

[2A-Jay]

I inherited Remington 1903 from my Uncle recently. Serial Number 3253444. Barrel Date is 10-42 which matches the manufacture date associated with the serial number. I am trying to research just how much of this rifle is original. On the top of the barrel just behind the front sight is stamped R A (the R is the stylized Remington R. Aft of that is the Army Ordinance Flaming Bomb, aft of that is Stamped the date 10-42. The front sight is stamped with the Stylized R. Just forward of the Hand Guard is stamped with the Capitol Letter P on the bottom of the barrel. The Rear Sight Base is stamped with the stylized R. I cant find any stampings anywhere on the Bolt, Trigger Guard has what appears to be the letter U stamped on the left side near the base. Butt Plate (which has the fine checkering). The stock has the Army Ordinance Corp cartouche, a rectangle with the Capitol letters FJA in it on the left side under the rear of the bolt area. on the Bottom of the stock there are 4 stamps a triangle, a Square with some lower case letters I can't quite make out and 2 circle stamps (I am assuming inspector stamps) Just Aft of the Trigger Guard the is a Circle with the letter P in it. The Stock has 2 Stock Screws.

I am assuming that the Bolt is not original. I have not done any other disassembly other than pulling the Floor Plate Mag Spring and follower for cleaning, these had a bit of old Comsmoline on them so I am assuming that further disassembly will reveal more. I am waiting for the delivery of an armorers Assembly Disassembly guide before continuing. The Barrel is bright and shiny with very good rifling.

A little family history on this gun, my uncle bought 4 of them through an NRA sale in the Late 50's for $10 each. He received them they were covered in cosmoline and Paper wrap.

My Questions are, is there a possibility that the Bolt could be original even without stamps? Does the Letter P on the barrel stand for Proofed as the letter P in the circle on the Stock means Re-Proofed?

I can't as yet post pictures until I get my Camera Back.

Thanks for any help in advance.

Information

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[Rick the Librarian]

Welcome to our forum!

1) You are correct - the barrel and receiver are original to each other.

2) The stock MAY be original if there are not any 03A3 handguard retainer ring "slots.

3) The bolt is probably a replacement. All Remington bolts had an "R" under the bolt handle. First see if the bolt handle is "straight" or "swept". Also look carefully on the top of the bolt handle and on ALL sides of the bolt safety lug (near the middle of the bolt body)

4) The buttplate is a replacement. Remington M1903 buttplates were "smooth".

5) Does the rifle have stamped or milled parts - look on the upper and lower bands, the trigger guard and swivels. Answer that and I can tell you where to look next.

6) Look on the rear sight - right side. There should be R markings on the windage knob, rear sight leaf and rear sight moveable base - also possible on the sight binding screw.

7) Assuming the upper band is milled - there should be an R on the right side.

[2A-Jay]

4) The buttplate is a replacement. Remington M1903 buttplates were "smooth".

Actually the Butt Plate is Stamped on the inner surface with Remington "R" so may be original to the rifle, though that is an assumption of course.

I have been detail cleaning a bit at a time. I have not yet pulled the Barrel and the action.

[2A-Jay]

The upper band is milled and does have the R stamped on it, There Is the R on both the rear sight base and Leaf, there is an incomplete stamp of some sort on the windage knob the lower band appears to be stamped not milled. The Stacking Swivel, Front sling swivel are milled as is the rear swivel plate. I found the R on the Bolt it is on the bottom Barely in view. The Bolt Handle is straight. There is an R on the rear side of the Safety lever.

I do have a lot more cleaning to do on this rifle, I am still finding old cosmoline in crevasses. Lucky for me a rag dampened with WD-40 is working to remove that.

---------- Post added at 07:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:34 PM ----------

By the way thank you for the welcome. The '03 is the first rifle I shot in my life, way back in boot camp in '71. The '03 is kind of dear to my heart. As is the Garand which is the second rifle I ever shot (also in boot camp. My uncle has 2 more rifles with my name on them, one is his Garand the other is his M1 Carbine.

[2A-Jay]

What I originally thought was the letter U on the trigger guard actually is the Letter R but the top part of the R is partially hidden in the Stock Recess. The Rifle also has a Time Frame proper Leather Sling on it, Stamped BOYT with Steel Hooks held on with Brass Rivets.

[2A-Jay]

There is also an R stamp on the Front Face of the Stock.

[2A-Jay]

I just pulled the floor plate, it too has the R stamp, but the follower has a W stamped on it.

[Rick the Librarian]

Pictures would help. If there is an R on the underside of the bolt handle, the handle should be "swept".

[2A-Jay]

I will try to get some pictures today. I can use my Windows Phone, it has a Hi Def Camera. Maybe I can get some details

[browningautorifle]

my Windows Phone

Phone pics sometimes aren't the best.