Remington (Springfield) 1903a1

B00ger

B00ger

Well-Known Member
Charter Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2016
Messages
11,510
Location
NC
Rating - 100%
4   0   0
Thought I would share this with you fellas: my dad knows I’ve grown a hankering and an interest in WWII firearms and he has had this for a while. It’s a Remington 1903 that’s dated to Sept 1942, a month after my dad was born. It’s in remarkable shape which makes me believe it was Arsenal rebuilt or unissued. Based on what little research I have been able to do the stock is a later addition as this style was extremely rare during the war, and only a few were made prior to the war as a test. It has the original set of ladder sights on it that I am not smart enough to use yet until I do some more research.

02594c118a1071c543cf88ff9cb4973b.jpg

12c6b8ad8dd98edb3e87a7c9081bb103.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
10742ef7714c5271bfcf3c36abf1ddcb.jpg
 
Last edited:
Absolutely beautiful!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Nice looking rifle! I always preferred the '03 to the 'A3 myself as I love the look of the ladder sight (plus I shoot them better too).

For your late-'42 Remington I believe that a pinned straight stock be "correct". However, C-stocks were fitted to rifles during WW2. Check the 1903 magazine cutoff recess and see if there is anything stamped in there. If stamped with a "K", that would indicate a Keystone replacement stock.
 
Last edited:
nbkky71 said:
Nice looking rifle! I always preferred the '03 to the 'A3 myself as I love the look of the ladder sight (plus I shoot them better too).

For your late-'42 Remington I believe that a pinned straight stock be "correct". However, C-stocks were fitted to rifles during WW2. Check the 1903 magazine cutoff recess and see if there is anything stamped in there. If stamped with a "K", that would indicate a Keystone replacement stock.
Click to expand...

There is a K, which I had suspected it meant it was a replacement stock. Most of my research pointed to very few “wartime” rifles getting the C stock. My assumption is a previous owner had the entire thing redone as it is immaculate shape.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Is the floorplate pinned on your Remington? Many were done that way due to a propensity to come unlatched under recoil.
 
Wardawg said:
I didn’t know they had ladder sights on that late build. Nice rifle
Click to expand...

From what I have read, the ladder sights are mainly on the early remingtons. To speed things up after 1942 they went with the rear mounted peep sights.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
My 1943 Smith Corona also has the 2 groove barrel. When I first saw it I thought the barrel was shot out. It shoots very good groups. I’ll take a picture of the rifle when I can remember to. WarDawg.
 
Wardawg said:
I was wrong about my 1903 A1. It’s a 138xxxx. Which puts it built in 1931. From what I looked at. My bad. Wardawg
Click to expand...
Your 03 looks like a WW2 rebuild as it is in an early 03A3 pinned stock with a stamped 03A3 lower band. The handguard looks like a WW2 handguard also. What's the barrel date?
 
Booger, that's gorgeous! On a cool coincidence, my 1928A1 is also a September 1942 DOM.
 
rufrdr said:
Your 03 looks like a WW2 rebuild as it is in an early 03A3 pinned stock with a stamped 03A3 lower band. The handguard looks like a WW2 handguard also. What's the barrel date?
Click to expand...

That was my thought too, apparently they did away with the finger grooves on the stock to save a little extra time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Scsmith42 said:
Booger, that's gorgeous! On a cool coincidence, my 1928A1 is also a September 1942 DOM.
Click to expand...

I loved that it was that date as it’s one month younger than my old man.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Here's mine. It is a CMP rifle. 1933 production date with a SA 1942 barrel. It may have been a bare receiver that was built up into a rifle at Springfield Armory in 1942 as many receivers produced in the '30s were stockpiled in anticipation of M1 production and the end of the need for 03s.

LF2u2Mbl.jpg
gATFqMLl.jpg
 
Great rifle and way to hide your feet under the couch lol. Will be following for what details you find out
 
I had a Remington 1903 that barrel was dated 12-41, all milled parts at this time. IIRC Remington started production in Nov 41' on the old Rock Island Arsenal machinery. So, basically a post WWI rifle with the latest updates. Early in 42' they started going to stamped parts and by mid 42' the 03A3 was adopted as enough changes were made to warrant a new model designation.

CD
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom