Hello folks. A recent conversation brought up a question I thought I might find an answer for here...During WWII, would it have been a common occurrence for '03 type rifles being arsenal rebuilt / re-furbed, to have the occasional "mixed" 03/A3 part installed? Due to wartime contingencies, would this have been a not-uncommon occurrence on parts that could be interchangeable between the '03 and '03/A3 types? (IF in fact, there were any...) Thank you for any feedback.
-
-
Production of the Remington 1903 Rifle had just started when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. These rifles were made on machinery from Rock Island Arsenal, and duplicated the original RI rifles. With war, quicker and easier ways of building the rifles was begun with some of the late Remington 1903 rifles having stamped rather than machined parts. This finally culminated in the 1903-A3 built by both Remington and Smith-Corona. Virtually all the 1903-A3 rifles were built in 1943, with production ending in Jan/Feb of 1944.
Unless the rifle had a rebuild stamp indicating probable WWII time period rebuild, my best guess would be that the rebuild occurred after WWII. -
Thanks Johnny. Where would an arsenal rebuild stamp be located? Cartouche on the stock, or a stamp in the metal components somewhere? Is there any way to indicate pieces that were rebuilt DURING the war as opposed to POST war? Thanks again.Comment
-
The metal was not stamped on the long guns after rebuild, but will be in the wood near the wrist area. Some of the arsenal rebuild stamps also contain the initial/s of the foreman in charge of rebuild, and this helps date some of them.
If the barrel was changed this can also give a clue by the barrel date.Comment
-
Ok Johnny. Thanks again. Would it be out of the ordinary for an ’03 going through rebuild during the war to have an ’03-A3 sling band installed instead of a milled one? I’d imagine that with wartime contingencies being what they were, it’d be of little importance. Also, were rifles rebuilt during this period typically parkerized over al metal surfaces in a consistent color? Thx!Comment
-
Original 1903A4 Sniper Rifle
I recently bought a Remington 1903A4 Sniper rifle. The top of the barrel is marked RA under that is a flaming bomb with the numbers 7-43 below that. There is no front sight on the rifle only the groves are present with parkerization in them. On the left side of the receiver it is marked U.S Remington 03-A3 upside down. The serial number is written on the right side. The scope is marked Telescope M73B1. Next line PATD-PATS PEND next line reads WR WEAVER CO EL PASO TX USA. The mount just has the word REDFIELD on it. There is some electro penciling on the right rear of the scope that reads Telescope M73 B1 serial number 64xx. The serial number of the rifle is 3415xxx. FJA with cross canons is on the left side of the stock above the trigger. I see a circle P behind the trigger guard. It is also marked with an additional 2 large capital P's. There is a number 3 marked between the 2 capital P's. In front of the magazine well is a 53 in a circle, a 73 in a oval, and a square with a G. The buttplate is checkered and the buttplate has a circular hinge that opens in a downward motion if the rifle is being shouldered. The rifle is in excellent condition with a bright bore. Any additional information would be appreciated. Thanks.Comment
-
They used whatever was at hand. No attempt was made to put all milled parts back on a 1903 rifle during rebuild. With the rifles getting into civilian hands, parts changing was common.Originally posted by Milton View PostComment
-
1903
Hi Milton. What rebuild marks do you have in front of the magazine floor plate?Comment
-
Thanks again for your add’l feedback Johnny. That makes sense, regarding the usage of whatever parts were available. I’m curious, however, if there's any way to differentiate between wartime and post-war rebuilds? (markings, finish, etc?) Hi Blitz, can’t rightly say as regards the markings you’ve mentioned.
Thx again!Comment
-
The time that they worked at the arsenals are known on some of the people in charge of the rebuild shops. Frank Krack, FK, was assistant foreman of small arms inspection at Rock Island Arsenal from 1941 to 1946, while Elmer Bjerke took his place in 1946 and served into the early 1950's.
Elmer Keith worked at Ogden Arsenal during the war, and rifles inspected by him have a boxed O.G.E.K.
On Smith Corona and Remington 03-A3 rifles the small marks ahead of the trigger guard were applied during their initial manufacture.Comment
-
Thanks Johnny. What about the so-called “scant” stocks. Are you aware if any of these were used for rebuilds in the post-war period, or were they typically utilized early on, during wartime rebuilds?Comment
-
The "scant" stocks were straight grip blanks made on a C type stock duplicating machine. There wasn't enough wood in the straight grip blanks for a full pistol grip, and the "scant" stock was the result. Most of these were used early on for rebuilds, and were used on later 03-A4 rifles when no full grip C type stocks were available. Later in the war contractors were able to come on line and furnish full C type stocks for rebuild.
The 03-A4 was the only rifle to use the scant type stock on new production rifles since specifications called for a "C type stock", and the scant was the closest thing they had. Collectors gave the scant type stock the nickname "wart hog" for it's less than attractive appearance.Comment
-
Comment