Originally Posted by
ArtPahl
I am one of the old guys who actually bought 03A3 rifles from the DCM for $10.00 + $4.50 inspection and packing. When the notice appeared in the American Rifleman magazine, (I think around 1960) the guys I hunted with all sent in for one. We got 5 of them. We bought them to use as hunting rifles, and so, converted them to sporters very much like yours. I now own 4 of the original 5. My friend left me his in his will and I bought my brother's from his estate. Over the years, I've purchased other 03A3 sporters as I've found them. I now own a total of 8.
Your rifle looks very nicely done. Of course it did start out as military surplus but many of these rifles were never issued. There was a whole industry centered around converting these surplus rifles to hunting use in the 1960's. One of my rifles has a trigger guard/magazine box like yours (they were advertised as made by Sako). We commonly ditched the stamped guards and replaced them with milled 1903 guards. The stocks were replaced with a Fajen or Bishop, etc. Sights were replaced, scopes mounted, bolts forged, barrels replaced, shortened, re-bored, or re-chambered. I don't recognize the stock manufacturer on your rifle. The metal parts were polished and blued--some of the late 03A3's were pretty rough (they were made from Dec., 1942 through Feb., 1944).
I would encourage you to remove the scope base to determine the maker (Remington or Smith Corona) and the serial number. With that information, forum members here will be able to pin down to the month and year your rifle was made. You have a fine hunting rifle with the added bonus that it is a piece of war-time history. Enjoy!!