03A3 info needed

[TexasRugerMan]

Hi everyone,

I've got a 03A3 i'd like to get some info on. It is stamped U.S. Remington model 03-A3. Sn is 4160xxx. The only other markings i can find is a square with a 6 in it under the safety, and an R stamped under the bolt handle. There is a 7 stamped on the bolt handle.
I don't believe the original stock is on it. It has 3 numbers on the back of the stock that appear to be 107.

Some intersetsing marks on the stock are as follows.:

Left side above trigger guard-RA next to it is an ordanace seal of some kind. To the right of the seal is a square withFJA in it.
Bottom of stock behind the trigger guard is a P in a circle.

In front of the screw holding the magazine/trigger assembly is a triangle with JB(or 8?), a square with an S,a circle with either a 6,9,or 8(can't tell), and another circle with 23 in it. I'm guessing the gun was refurbished and the marks are from that.

The gun has been in my family for about 20 years. It was given to me by my uncle. the sad part is someone cut the stock down in front to just even with the clamping ring. The barrel was not chopped. I'm planning on finding a correct stock and trying to put this gun back the right way. It still shoots quite well and deserves to be fixed up.

Any help, ideas, and dates of build would be appreciated. Any idea on the value(not that i would ever part with it!)
Thanks in advance!
TRM

[George S]

The best information you can find will be over at the American Back Yard Forum http://www.ambackforum.com/index.php which took over the BattleRifles Forum. They have a Bolt Action section where you can get your questions answered. "Rick The Librarian" is an 03 and 03A3 'guru' and he can tell you lots of things about your rifle.

From what I know, the marks directly in front of the magazine floor plate are inspection and proof marks. Some were done when the rifle was built and some during the rearsenal process. The RA and US Army Ordnance "flaming bomb" are most likely rearsenal marks as is the P in a circle and the FJA is the initials of the CO of the arsenal.

03A3's were produced in 1943. TheCMP sells them for $400 and $20.95 shipping so if you replaced the stock with a complete stock, it should be worth at least that. Replacement barrels will have a date stamped (month-year) just behind the front sight and a flaming bomb.

I just got an 03A3 from the CMP and from what I can tell, it had been rearsenald at the Rock Island Armory and put directly into storage. When I got it, there were no scratches at all on the newly reparkerized finish and the 12-43 barrel appeared to be unfired.