Description
Item Description
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According to the included Certificate of Authenticity, "This is to certify that U.S. Rifle, M1903A3 with serial number 4069098 was sold to "name" by the Civilian Marksmanship Program on the 28th day of June 2002."
Model: 1903-A3 (03-A3)
Serial: 4069098
Date of Manufacture: 1944 (According to the "RA (Flaming Bomb) 2-44" Barrel Stamp)
Caliber: .30-06
Finish: Parkerized
Barrel Length: 24"
Optics/Sights: Blade Front with Adjustable Peep Rear
Stock/Grips: Smooth Straight Grip Wood Stock
Action: Bolt
Markings: Standard / The top of the receiver ring is stamped "U.S./Remington/Model 03-A3/Serial No.” The barrel is stamped "RA (Flaming Bomb) 2-44". The right side of the stock is stamped "4453" vertically with the buttplate. The left and underside of the stock also feature hard-to-read stampings (see pictures 48, 80, & 81).
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
In addition to the changes made in the rear sight, there was also more extensive use of stamped parts. The rifle was standardized as the "U.S. Rifle, Cal. .30, Model of 1903A3" on May 21, 1942. Remington began deliveries of the new variant in December 1942. During this period, Remington manufactured both the US Rifle, Cal. .30, Model of 1903 Modified, and the US Rifle, Cal. .30, Model of 1903A3 variants concurrently. The last of the US Rifles, Cal. .30, Model 1903 Modified rifles, were turned out in May 1943.
The new rifle was marked “U.S./Remington/Model 03-A3/Serial No.” on the receiver ring. The US Rifle, Cal. .30, Model of 1903A3 designation was a colloquial term rather than the official nomenclature for the rifle. As with the preceding Remington ’03s, the barrel had the “RA” and “flaming bomb” markings and the month and year of production. The left side of the stock was stamped “FJA” (for Col. Frank J. Atwood), “RA” (Remington Arms), and the “crossed cannons” Ordnance Department escutcheon. A circled “P” proof mark was stamped on the grip behind the trigger guard, and various cryptic Remington internal inspection markings were stamped on the stock forward of the trigger guard. The stock furniture was constructed of stamped sheet metal.
The US Rifle, Cal. .30, Model 1903A3’s stock was similar to the straight grip stock previously utilized with the US Rifle, Cal. .30, Model 1903 Modified. Still, it was inletted to accept the “barrel guard ring” necessitated by the longer handguard. The US Rifle, Cal. .30, Model of 1903A3 stocks were also inletted for the previous rear sight as well. Besides the straight grip stock, Remington also manufactured some stocks with semi-pistol grips, often dubbed “scant” or “scant grip” stocks today. Adopting this pattern stock enabled Remington to utilize many of the stock blanks the firm had on hand from the abortive British rifle production contract. Most, if not all, of the “scant grip” stocks were utilized for replacement purposes, except for some that were used with US Rifle, Cal. .30, Model 1903A4 sniper rifles.
In October 1942, Remington was granted permission to produce two-groove barrels for the US Rifle, Cal. .30, Model 1903A3, after prior testing at the Aberdeen Proving Ground revealed that satisfactory accuracy could be obtained with them. Two-groove barrels resulted in reduced manufacturing time and cost, which further boosted the rifle's production rate.
The US Rifle, Cal. .30, Model of 1903A3 simplified the US Rifle, Cal. .30, Model of 1903 as much as possible without adversely affecting the rifle's accuracy, strength, or efficiency. The ’03A3 was much easier and cheaper to manufacture than earlier rifles, yet boasted a strong action and a more efficient “combat sight” than its predecessors.
Remington received ever-increasing orders for the US Rifle, Cal. .30, Model of 1903A3, and the Ordnance Department sought an additional source. To this end, the Smith-Corona Typewriter Company was granted a contract to produce the US Rifle, Cal. .30, Model 1903A3. Smith-Corona’s rifles were essentially identical to their Remington counterparts except for markings. The company was eventually assigned two blocks of serial numbers. Smith-Corona did not use all of the numbers from the second block. Remington only used a relatively few serial numbers from the final block, stopping at the very low 4,200,000 serial number range. There were also some serial numbers used for the US Rifle, Cal. .30, Model of 1903A4 sniper rifle production from this final block.
Remington (and Smith-Corona) produced ever-increasing numbers of US Rifle, Cal. .30, Model of 1903A3s, and they proved valuable in our rapidly expanding armed forces. Many of the rifles were used for training purposes “stateside,” but a number were shipped overseas for issue as supplemental service rifles. Although not used in extremely large numbers as compared to the US Rifle, Cal. .30, Model of 1903 or M1 Garand rifles, US Rifle, Cal. .30, Model of 1903A3s definitely saw combat use in several theaters of the war, including the European and China-Burma-India theaters.
This example will ship with the serial matching COA from CMP and the manual pictured above!
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
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Return Policy
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Additional Details
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