WW II 1903-A3 U.S. Service Rifle by Remington…………SOLD

 Remington 03-A3 Rifle released through the C.M.P in the U.S.A.

Of standard Issue specification as a WW2 U.S. Service Rifle.  In .30-06 caliber with Mauser type bolt system.  5 – shot internal magazine with 24″ round blued barrel.  Overall length is 43.1/2″.

This rifle was the final development of the 1903 Springfield but produced by Remington, in the last part of the Second World War.  They were fine tuning the original rifle specifically to make it cheaper and quicker to make, to answer the immense demand that the American War effort put on the arms industry within that period.  The rifle still packs the lethal punch of its older siblings but has lost some of the refinement of its predecessors.  The stock and the hand-guard were simplified by removing the original rear sights and re-positioning them at the rear of the action, therefore allowing the top guard to be one continuous piece.  The stock was taken back to a simple straight grip type.  The re-positioned rear sight was changed for a simple aperture type on a sliding  ramp.  All the “furniture” on the stock was made from pressed steel parts and later on in the war they even reduced the number of groves in the barrel  from four to two without loosing accuracy.

The finish over the extent of this 03-A3 is completely original, applied to the gun the day it left the Remington plant in March 1943.  It is worn and mellow in appearance with plenty of bare steel showing through, especially on the high points, corners and edges.  All appears to be light grey-green.  The original parkerizing of the action and barrel has become a soft smooth finish with no matt surfaces anywhere.  The bolt is the original Remington manufactured item, marked with the “R” in all the place expected.  The usual mix of finish with the blued bolt and parkerized action is still apparent.

The two pin stock has fared slightly better and the “FJA” cartouche of Frank James Attwood, chief inspector at Remington is still visible on the LHS of the wrist.  There is a single circled “P” final proof mark behind the trigger guard.  Just in front of the stamped trigger guard are two or three factory inspectors marks.   The butt plate is finely checkered with a trap for cleaning equipment.

The receiver is marked ” U.S.  /  REMINGTON  /  MODEL 03-A3  3533662.”  Behind the fore-sight the following markings are roll-stamped in to the top of the barrel;  ” R.A.  /flaming bomb motive / 3 – 43″   The single pinned blade front sight is marked “A”.

This rifle shows all the signs of a fairly hard life, but interestingly even after all that, the U.S. government were not finished with it.  They allowed it to be released to the shooting public under the “Civilian Marksmanship Program” they obviously thought it still had life left in it.  The original CMP certificate detailing the weapons release is available with the rifle dated the 15th of October 1999.  The bore is strong with 4-groove rifling and  in excellent bright condition.

Stock No’  f  332

£1050.00…… SOLD

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