1903A3 questions

[NVGuy]

Hi all, I just acquired my first 1903a3. The condition of the rifle is very nice. I am trying to learn about it but not finding much on the web. I did order a book but it will be several days before it arrives. I was hoping someone could give me a little info on what I have. The serial number is 391xxxx which I believe, if I read the chart correctly, puts the manufacture date of September of 1943. The barrel has RA with the flaming bomb and 2-43 on it. The stock has FJA on it with what looks like the Rock Island Arsenal mark next to it. It does have the P on the stock as well as the number 8 stamped inside a square, circle, triangle, and a diamond. I know the FJA is the inspector's mark but i am not sure what the 8's are about of if i have dated the SN correctly. If i have I am curious why the barrel would be dated differently from the receiver. The rifle looks all original to me. Thank you for looking.

UPDATE: I found oldguns.net and used their SN lookup and it is dated to 1942.

Information

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[John Beard]

Based on your description, your rifle is something of an enigma. The serial number identifies the rifle as a Remington with an approximate September, 1943, date of manufacture. Although the barrel date is substantially mismatched, the barrel may or may not be a replacement. One can only speculate.

The stock markings are puzzling. The correct stock would be marked on the left grip with an "RA", a crossed-cannons Ordnance Escutcheon, and an "FJA". If the stock has a diamond stamped on the bottom in front of the magazine, that would identify the stock as a Smith-Corona M'03-A3 stock. But the geometric shapes all having an "8" stamped inside is highly suspicious of fakery. A Smith-Corona stock would not have an "RA" stamped on the left grip.

J.B.