U.S. 1903-A3 WW2 Service Rifle…………….SOLD

 Remington 1903-A3 Bolt Action Service Rifle

This is second world war period American service rifle chambered in the standard government round of the time, the .30-06.  It is a standard Mauser-type bolt action supplied either in single shot mode or fed from the internal 5-shot magazine.  This 1903-A3 is 43.3/4″ in overall length.  The round barrel is 24″ in length.  This rifle with the “scant-grip” stock has a pull length of  13.1/8″ to center.

Fully stocked in American straight-grained American Black Walnut, it also has a full length one-piece hand guard over the barrel.  The stock is in fine condition, as is the hand-guard – a fine smooth patina has built up over the surface.  There are numerous stampings in the stock, including a large boxed “S.A.” / J” which is a San-Antonio arsenal rebuild mark, “J” was probably the inspector or possibly a code letter for batch or month.  All the stock fittings are the correct pressed steel type (developed to speed production and save on costs)  The butt plate is checkered and has a trap for access to the cleaning equipment when it was there.  There are the usual two sling swivels and a further stacking swivel under the bayonet nose cap.  The stock has the earlier war twin strengthening bolts beneath the action.  Later they changed these to pins.

The finish of the steel parts is mixed which is how the rifles originally left the Remington plant.  So the bolt body for example is finished in the blue, yet the action itself is finished in the classic american grey-green parkerised finish.  There are numerous “R” factory stamps on the different components.  The receiver is marked; ” U.S. / REMINGTON /MODEL 03-A3 /  4046552″  This serial number puts production in November 1943.  Remington would only carry on producing the 1903-A3 for another three months.  This rifle has been re-head-spaced to pass British proof, consequently the corresponding details on the barrel are now on a skew but it is possible to read “R.A. / flaming bomb motif / 9-43” , it is just no longer on top behind the front sight ramp.

The bore is in fine condition and is a two groove version.  The front sight is a simple interchangeable blade type – a “C” fitting. The rear sight is the later simple aperture type with a sliding aperture equipped with a windage knob on the side.  The ramp is graduated from 300 to 800 yards.  Just below that, to the LHS of the action is the magazine cut-off switch which also doubles as the bolt release catch when in the horizontal position.

Altogether a very good 03-A3, re-accurised by the head spacing exercise, which should make a very good shooter out of a fine piece of military collectible U.S. history.

Stock No’  f 375

£ 975……SOLD

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