Remington Model 1903-A3 U.S. Service Rifle………..(f 631) SOLD

A Highly Original Untouched WW II US Service Rifle by Remington

Very much an untouched example of a World War Two period 1903-A3 US service rifle.  Unmolested by a state arsenal rebuild, with all its original components as built in 1943.  Correctly assembled in mixed finishes as supplied by sub-contractors and assembled in the Remington factory.  Chambered in .30-06 calibre with a Mauser-type bolt system and an internal magazine of five round capacity.  The magazine can be stripper-clip fed from above with the bolt open and the clip inserted in the guide on the front of the rear action bridge.

 Overall length 43.1/4″ from muzzle to butt plate inclusive.  The round dark grey parkerised barrel measures 24″ in length.  The pull length is 12.3/4″ to center.  Stocked in American black walnut, straight gripped with a one piece handguard over the barrel.  There is a clear contrast between the green parkerised finish of the action and the nicely worn blue of the bolt and rear sight assembly.  The rifle is extremely well cleaned and oiled, with a distinct absence of dirt or debris collecting in any difficult to reach nooks and crannies.

The receiver is marked as follows;- ” U.S. / REMINGTON / MODEL O3-A3 /  3522416.”  The LHS of the receiver has the large Hatcher gas escape hole.  The barrel is marked behind the front sight ramp with the following:-  ” R. A. / flaming bomb motif / 3 – 43. ”  The date is the date of manufacture for the barrel, the RA for Remington Arms.  The serial number, if researched, is allotted to March or April of 1943.  All parts are marked with the “R” of acceptance from the Remington factory and inspectors.

On the LHS of the wrist is the final inspectors cartouche:- “F  J A,” un-boxed, directly next to the crossed cannons symbol.  Frank James Attwood was chief weapons inspector at the time.  There are more interesting marks on the underside of the stock.  Just forward of the trigger guard assembly are four internal production inspectors marks.  To the rear of the trigger guard is a single digit “5” and the circled “P” final proof mark.  Apart from those intentional markings there are the normal dings and slight dents of a rifle that has experience a life in the services.  The finish is a good all over even patina with no serious damage to the structure of the stock.  Two cross pins beneath the action.

As mentioned earlier, all components are the correct, original pieces in mixed finished.  The trigger guard for instance is the original Remington pattern, blued and with high edge wear and with a good percentage of blue finish remaining.  The bolt handle has some degree of wear from usage and is silvering on the upper surfaces but the blueing in the “untouched” parts is still strong.  Other stock fittings like the barrel bands are the correct stamped type with strong blue remaining.  The butt-plate shows the effects of heavy usage with an almost complete lack of colour to the surface which would contact the ground but, the tang retains virtually all its colour.  Both the main fixing screw and the trap for the cleaning equipment, which sit below the surface, have retained a good strong grey-blue.  The nose-cap which incorporates the bayonet lug in a strong green.

The blade front sight is a “C”  fitment.  The rear aperture sight, mounted on a ramp, is blued with strong areas of wear at the top points.  It is graduated from 200 to 800 yards,  retaining strong colour.  There is a knurled adjustment wheel to the RHS of the unit which gives positive “click” windage adjustment.  A graduated scale on the rear of the sight base corresponds to the clicks from that adjustment wheel.  This is a very simple sighting system to use, especially for the visually challenged amongst us older gentlemen!  There is a magazine cut-off switch to the rear LHS of the action, clearly marked “ON” in the upper position and “OFF” in the lower.  Feed from the magazine is restricted by the rearward travel of the bolt during the cycling of rounds.  The magazine follower shows strong silver through a strong blue, this indicates the passage of a fair number of cartridges.

This rifle is fitted with one of the last of the four groove barrels.  There is still a good depth to the rifling, some mild corrosion just starting to show within the grooves in one point to the rear of the bore but strong, uninterrupted rifling for its whole length.  This is an excellent survivor from the last major world conflict where regular guys just had to step forward, get issued with one of these and do their thing – just to survive.  A fine very usable collectible military rifle.  London proofed by this company in 2012.

Ask for  Stock No’  f 631

£ 1100  (SOLD)

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