How many 1903 lovers out there?

[dirtyd]

Picked one up today, still has some cosmolean in it.

 

[2A-Jay]

Congrats! Hope you enjoy it. What is the arsenal?

 

[dirtyd]

Congrats! Hope you enjoy it. What is the arsenal?

It's a late 42 or early 43 receiver and a 5-44 barrel. Stock has some odd and faint markings. Instead of RIA it looks more like RRA and the pressure test mark is half there. There's also a faint double square and "A" by the rear pin.

 

[2A-Jay]

Arsenal Stamp should be on the top strap of the receiver and on the barrel where the date stamp is. RRA maybe the inspector mark where it was refurbished. IF the barrel and receiver date is different it was Refurbedat one of the Arsenals or re-barreled some where else such as CMP

 

[dirtyd]

Arsenal Stamp should be on the top strap of the receiver and on the barrel where the date stamp is. RRA maybe the inspector mark where it was refurbished. IF the barrel and receiver date is different it was Refurbedat one of the Arsenals or re-barreled some where else such as CMP

Receiver says US Remington 03A3, barrel says RA, firebomb stamp, 5-44. I've read it was common for barrels to be of a later date due to differences in supply of the two they're only a year apart, maybe less.

 

[2A-Jay]

RA Stands for Remington Arsenal. Remington was still making 1903's up to 1944 but were also making 1903-A3s. My 1903 is a Remington with a Barrel and serial# date of 10/42.

here is a sight you can look for a lot of info on 1903 Springfields

it is Vi Shooters page

Vi Shooter's M1903 Page

 

[2A-Jay]

R.R.A. Stands for Red River Arsenal and that would be the Rebuild Arsenal for your '03.

 

[2A-Jay]

The Double Square and the faint A is probably are probably inspector marks either at Red River or some where else in the chain of supply.

 

[dirtyd]

R.R.A. Stands for Red River Arsenal and that would be the Rebuild Arsenal for your '03.

Makes sense thanks for the info. It seems to be in pretty much unissued condition as it is now. Has the typical marks on the bolt from operation but everything else is totally clean. Doesn't look like it's been shot more than a few times after it was de-cosmoleaned.

I typically buy Luger's/p38s but this caught my eye the other day.

 

[HuckleberryFun]

I would like a 1903 to love. It's on the shortlist.

 

[MountainBear]

I've decided my goal in life is to make enough money to buy all the 1903 springfields that come available on this site...

 

[MountainBear]

As I pawed through my safe the other day, I realized that I have either stripped or sold off all my dedicated Springfield sporters. Horrible to disrespect the memory of Michael Petrov by not having at least one well made sporter in the mix.
Friends to the rescue! A buddy said "I have this old Springfield", and asked if I wanted it. Yes. Yes, please. Yes, pretty please. From his description, I was expecting a sporterized but restorable 03a3 Remington. Well, my guess was right on 2 out of 4. It was a Remington, and it was sporterized.
After I swallowed my tears about finally getting my hands on a Remington 1903 and having it not restorable, I realized that a good bit of the work is reasonably decent. The front receiver ring is contoured down, hence the not restorable. The holes on the front ring are not in line, but that's just a fill, weld, and re-drill and tap. Same on the rear bridge. It the barrel is decent (as if I didn't have more sporter barrels lying around), so it will likely stay in .30-06...

A couple of stocks came with it, but all will require a good bit of love. I will actually need to resort to chemical stripper for this stock. The paint is thick and the grain was wide open when it was applied, so no amount of sanding (at least not without removing 1/16"+ of wood) will clear it.

I need to find some simple but elegant barrel mount iron sights. And I need to figure out some quick release scope bases. Times like this I wish I was a better machinist, as I'd just weld on some bar stock and machine in some Talley style.

Not sure how fancy I'll go. I envision an Americanized version of a classic British stalking rifle. Posting some pictures of the starting point. Will post more as I go along. Has to have a red pad, just to keep pace with @bsa1917hunter and all his fancy sporters.

 

[MountainBear]

Envisioning getting roughly to this(ish)...

Sadly, I don't own the rifle in the photo, it's just an internet photo grab...

 

[Medic!]

Reposting my 03-A3 in this thread.

Smith-Corona serial number over-run with Remington.
Original finish with C prefix in the white. ''ON'' side of selector is also in the white.

Stock is original to the rifle and has never been sanded. As is the 6-43 barrel that's in like new condition.

 

[MountainBear]

I keep finding projects to build out of Springfields. Saw someone over on CMP forums who rebuilt an 03a3 in 6.5x55. I could see an 03a4-gery in 6.5x55. Seems to me I have four or five hundred rounds of 6.5x55 ammo laying around...

 

[North Plains]

I took a 03 sporter in 30-06 and had pac-nor rebarrel it to 6.5x55. I have a wisner 2 position safety that needs installed yet. Also want to make a new stock for it. Took it antelope hunting this year and shot one with it. Great old round.

 

[Mikej]

You have some of the neatest stuff @Medic! I so want an Endfield or a 03/03A3 for my next buy. Got the money sitting in the safe. Problem is there are so fricken many different configurations, manufacturers and things to figure out. It boggles MY mind. I need a mentor! When I bought my Swede Mauser, I used some input from some members and some reading. I ended up with a fine specimen for a great price.

 

[MountainBear]

If you ever get south @Mikej, you are welcome to fondle and shoot any of the ones in my collection. Some are original, some are arsenal rebuilt, many are arsenal rebuilt by me, and some are reimagined and put together versions of guns that may or may not have existed as experimental guns...

I should be able to give you a general idea of what to look for, where markings should be, what markings should be there, and how much you should look to spend.

 

[Ura-Ki]

SgtNambu had super slick 1903 chambered in 6.5X55 swede! That was a stunning rifle to say the least, he had a custom stock made for it and set trigger, he showed a few targets he shot, very impressive!

 

[MountainBear]

I miss Sarge and his input. I wish he was still around to show that one off!