Relic 1903A3 pictures

[threepdr]

Here are some pics of one of the 1903A3s that I described in a post last week. These are at US Army Kwajalein Atoll. Kwaj is 2200 miles southwest of Hawaii.

I'm here doing some archaeological monitoring. The project came to a halt three days ago when we ran into a multiple Japanese burial. At least four bodies. These guys are in the same foxhole they defended and died in. Most lilely just covered up by soldiers of the 7th Inf Div after the battle. They were all entagled in death, so now have left a jumble of bones. Quite an archaeological mess. We hope to finish today and close the hole. Construction will move else where to prevent further disturbance.

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[Kirk]

It's amazing the stamped parts like the bands & swivel survived & the rear sight did not.

[Rick the Librarian]

Looks like a refinish to me!!

[John Beard]

Here are some pics of one of the 1903A3s that I described in a post last week. These are at US Army Kwajalein Atoll. Kwaj is 2200 miles southwest of Hawaii.

I'm here doing some archaeological monitoring. The project came to a halt three days ago when we ran into a multiple Japanese burial. At least four bodies. These guys are in the same foxhole they defended and died in. Most lilely just covered up by soldiers of the 7th Inf Div after the battle. They were all entagled in death, so now have left a jumble of bones. Quite an archaeological mess. We hope to finish today and close the hole. Construction will move else where to prevent further disturbance.

Send 'em to Chuckindenver. He should be able to restore and refinish them like new!

J.B.

[Chuckindenver]

nothing a little duct tape wont fix. but, who do i get to test for it..
does this have a live round still in the chamber? iv seen a few other battle feild finds that still have crusty rounds in them.
i remember a Garand sold on Ebay a few years ago from France, in the same shape, with rounds still in gun...it sold for stupid money..well over 5 grand.
i love the history, but 5 grand??sheesh

[Chuckindenver]

i looked at it agin...could this be an A4????hmmmmm

[Embalmer]

hmmm any more pics?? chuckindenver may be onto something..

[Mike Haas]

i looked at it agin...could this be an A4????hmmmmm

If an A4 I'd think there would be a remnant of the scope base attached. More metal in that then the rear sight.

[threepdr]

Not an A4. No sign of any mounting holes on the top of the receiver, both have remnents of front sights.

Both of the A3s in the collection are missing bolts, so no rounds in the chamber.

Both also lost the rear sights after they were lost/discarded and started rusting. The top of the rear sight dove tail is not as corroded as the rest of the surface. The serations under the sight are still very obvious. So I suspect the sights were on long enough to protect that area for quite sometime. They may have been knocked of (along with alot of other parts) when they were recovered. These were not taken from the ground carefully by archaeologist. Ditch diggers and EOD guys recovered these. Unfortunatly they recorded nothing about where they were found, or the context in which they were found. That data is lost.

[Chuckindenver]

still, awesome pics. thanks for sharing.