The M1903 was manufactured by Springfield Armory at varying levels of production from 1903 until the late 1930s and at Rock Island Arsenal from 1903 until 1913 and again from 1917 until just after World War I. overhaul. US Model 1903 Springfield Rifle Serial Number Ranges - Muzzle First. Other than the manufacturers name on the receiver ring, the Smith-Corona 03A3 rifles were quite similar to those made by Remington, but differed in some minor aspects. The company was permitted to reduce the amount of metal polishing prior to finishing, reduce or eliminate unnecessary machining and to relax many non-critical tolerances. The milled upper band (top) was used on Remington M1903 and M1903 Modified rifles, while the stamped sheet metal upper bands (below) was employed on M1903A3s. Remington began manufacture of Model 1903 rifles in fall 1941. National JROTC Air Rifle Championship History, National Trophy Individual and Aggregate Rifle Awards, National Trophy Infantry Team Rifle Awards, National Matches First Shot Ceremony speakers, National Matches Welcome Center Information, National Matches Camps, Clinics, and Schools, GSMM Master Instructor Training and Certification, Range Officer Training Course: Level II Rifle, Range Officer Training Course: Level II Pistol, Shooting Tips from the USAMU Service Rifle Team, USAMU FAQs: Shooting Techniques and Tactics, Small Arms Firing Schools at the National Matches, Talladega Marksmanship Park Shotgun Events, Talladega Marksmanship Park area lodging info, contact us via our contact form, click here. google_ad_client: "ca-pub-5708522835464660", The U.S. Caliber: .30-06 Springfield. Action Type: Bolt Action with Internal Magazine. Consequently, there were an estimated 3,600 Remington 03A3 rifles produced with numbers initially assigned to, and used by, Smith-Corona. This article was first published in American Rifleman, November 2002.Few arms have served the U.S. military as long or as well as the famed U.S. M1 Rifles but is still used by In June 1943, the Ordnance Department ordered an additional 8,365 03A4 rifles from Remington. Remington 700, 870 or 1100 serial/barrel . the troops. 24 inches. (REMINGTON ARMS PRODUCTION OF M1903, 1903A3, 1903A4 194230000013348085 (M1903) 194233480863607999 (M1903A3) 194237080004707999 (M1903A3) 194249920015784000 (M1903A3) 194334070883427087 (M1903A4) 194349920014997045 (M1903A4) 1943Z4000000Z4002920 (M1903A4) TOTAL: 1084079 (SMITH CORONA PRODUCTION OF M1903A3 194336080003707999 194447080004992000 TOTAL: 234000 On 18 January 1943 Remington directed to divert from production 20,000 M1903A3 rifles for conversion to the U.S. Rifle M1903A4 (Sniper's). Even after adoption of the M1, however, the 03 remained the primary American service rifle until production of the Garand could meet the demand. Springfield Models 1903A3 & 1903A4 - Shooting Times Watch American Rifleman staff with the BFT47, a semi-automatic rifle chambered for the ubiquitous Russian cartridge, 7.62x39 mm, and its a rifle that is specd out by Americans, built by Americans, for the American market by Century Arms. The rebuilt examples can be identified by the arsenal rebuild stamps on the stock, the presence of parts with mixed contractor codes and Parkerized furniture (including bolts). My 1943 1903a3 Stock Stamps The stamps were put on the rifles to show that 3 things had been done: 1. 9 honor guards and different drill squads. Accordingly, in May 1942 Smith-Coronas contract was modified to substitute the M1903A3 for the M1903 rifle. inspection, they represent the earliest and most accurate base-data for approximate calculation of actual end-of-month production Serial Numbers (SNs) from the start of production through February, 1943. Made from premium-grade, vegetable-tanned leather, the Burdette Custom Holsters Detective SA-35 holster is a custom outside-the-waistband (OWB) model for the Springfield Armory SA-35 semi-automatic pistol. Serial Numbers by date (factory record book), About SN calculations reflect the reality gaps as well as duplicates within the serial numbering process. The bluing and parkerizing are strong and the stock is the correct Remington WWII stock with just a few small dings. To learn more, visit www.northcapepubs.com or email ncape@ix.netcom.com. g Many were subsequently sold via the auspices of the Director of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM) and given away to allied nations under various military aid programs. or Best Offer. to the list of makers of the M1903, namely Remington and Smith-Corona This was commenced at Springfield Armory at approximately serial number 800,000 and at Rock Island Arsenal at exactly serial number 285,507. Barrel Date: September 1943. Remington 1903A3 Serial numbers, barrel date. The 1903 Springfield Sporter | Sports Afield Remington turned out M1903 and M1903 Modified rifles as fast as production permitted, and they saw use as training rifles and were used in combat fairly early in the war. Typical receiver ring markings for the main three Remington 03 variants are shown above (left to right): M1903; M1903 Modified and M1903A3. closest thing to a pistol grip stock that could be made using the older Rifle, Caliber .30, Model 1903. Known as the Springfield, or simply the 03, to several generations of American servicemen and arms enthusiasts, the M1903 has gained an enviable reputation as one of the best bolt-action military rifles of all time. The rifles continued to serve as ceremonial rifles by veterans organizations such as the VFW, AL, DAV and many others. Is this what you were referring to? Rifle, Caliber .30, Model of 1903A3 was standardized. Fast & Free shipping on many items! As the M1903A4 was recently the subject of an article in these pages (Making The Most of G.I. Although not used as combat rifles in extremely large numbers as compared to the M1903 or M1 Garand rifles, M1903A3s definitely saw combat use in several theaters of the war including the European and the China-Burma-India theaters. 5 J _ t 8 9 W X d t gd3 @ f 5 6 j k # D S T x y gd3 gd3 h a b c d e f gd3 gd3 , 1h/ =!"#$% @ @ @ N o r m a l CJ _HaJ mH sH tH @ ` @ 3 H e a d i n g 1 $@&. Stock Stamps - WWII 1903a3 serial #3731435 - Google Sites Restricted 18+ in CA in compliance with CA State Assembly Bill 2571 prohibiting the marketing of firearms to minors in the State of CA. Model: 1903A3 (03A3) Serial Number: 4743824 Year of Manufacture: 1943 (page 375 of Joe Poyer's book, The 1903 Springfield Rifle - 3rd Edition). Since the Smith-Corona factory was in relatively close proximity to the Remington plant, it was believed that the latter would be able to assist the new manufacturer with the technical aspects of rifle production. The03A4s bolt handle was concavely forged to provide clearance for telescopic sight, and the stock was inletted to accommodate the bolt handle. Smith-Corona and Remington rifles used the same type of stamped sheet metal furniture, including barrel bands, band springs, screws, pins, floorplate/magazine assemblies, and buttplates. Thereafter, all internal accounting controls were removed, and both. Actual assembled rifles in the Remington warehouse inventory awaiting Ordnance inspection as shown on the Planning Supervisors Accounting Summary dated March 9, 1943. Therefore, it should be remembered that factory-original Smith-Corona rifles will not have any R-marked parts. It was built with an ever increasing number of stamped parts until sometime in 1942 by Remington. The rifles with the changes were termed the M1903 Modified although, as stated, there is some indication that this term was in use as early as November 1941. cheaper versions and the M1903-A3 was born. Caliber: .30-06 Springfield. The Smith Corona M1903 rifle usually only slight modifications. prototype of the 1903, but it had not been adopted by the military until Remington Model 1903A3 03-A3 .30-06 WWII Bolt Action Rifle MFD 1943 C&R be used with or without the Pederson Device, M1903 with Scant Stock - The M1903 rifles made before February 1918 utilized receivers and bolts which were single heat-treated by a method that rendered some of them brittle and liable to fracture when fired, exposing the shooter to a risk of serious injury. produced by either The Springfield Armory (when it was federally owned) or U.S. MILITARY DATES OF MANUFACTURE U.S. Military M1903, & M1903A3 Rifle: Remington: Covering numbers: 3000001 - 5784000. The salient features of the Smith-Corona M1903A3 rifle were: The receiver ring had the same marking format as the Remington rifles except for the name of the manufacturer, U.S./Smith-Corona; and Smith-Corona was assigned two distinct blocks of serial numbers: 3,608,000 3,707,999 and 4,708,000 4,992,000. The U.S. War Department agreed to lease Remington the somewhat worn Rock Island 03 manufacturing equipment and provided some 600,000 walnut rifle stock blanks also in storage. Remington 1903A3 Serial numbers, barrel date - milsurps.com Authorization was also granted to eliminate the grasping grooves on the stock and other features to reduce production time for the stock and handguard. M1903 Springfield - Wikipedia In January 1943, the War Department contracted with Remington for 20,000 sniper rifles based on the M1903A3. Barrel Date: September, 1943. The bolts from such rifles were often mixed during rebuilding, and did not necessarily remain with the original receiver. CJ( = * = P c v Currently, M1903 and M1903A3 models are not available, and CMP is not accepting orders. Even though large numbers of M1917 American Enfields were manufactured and issued during World War I to supplement the supply of M1903s, the Springfield 03 remained the standard U.S. military service rifle until the adoption of the semi-automatic M1 Garand rifle in 1936. (Smith-Corona manufactured an additional 233,998 03A3s). As Remingtons production continued, an increasing number of changes were made to the original specifications in the interest of reducing production time. The receiver rings of the new Remington 03s were stamped U.S./Remington/Model 1903/Serial No., and the barrels were marked RA (Remington Arms) in addition to the month and year of manufacture. The .38 Smith & Wesson Special, designed in 1898, rocked the handgun realm with its ballistic performance making it a cartridge for the history books. Remingtons started production in 1941 with serial number 3,000,000, it was Springfield Models 1903A3 & 1903A4. Reportedly, very early in production, High Standard (the maker of the barrels) acquired some unfinished barrel blanks from Savage Arms Co. Year of Manufacture: 1943 (Page 375 of Joe Poyer's book, The M1903 Springfield Rifle and its Variations, 3rd Edition). Model 03A3 rifles were used in combat in virtually all theaters of the war, including the European, Mediterranean, and China-Burma-India (C-B-I). Rifles #34070883427087 (from the first "block" of numbers) were diverted, and the first "03A3" converted was delivered in February 1943. Numerous World War II vintage photos depict 03A3 rifles employed in overseas combat zones. distinguished easily by the smaller aperture rear sight instead of the h3 CJ j h3 5CJ h3 5CJ The Smith-Corona 03A3s were essentially identical to their Remington counterparts except for markings. In addition, any bolt marked N.S. (for nickel steel) can be safely regarded as high number if obtained directly from CMP (beware of re-marked fakes). 6 g While Smith-Corona was in the process of procuring the necessary manufacturing equipment, the M1903A3 rifle superseded the M1903. The firm was assigned the serial number block of 3,000,000 to 3,599,999 for its initial production. This huge increase in demand coupled with production problems stemming from use of the nearly worn-out Rock Island machinery resulted in something of a dilemma for Remington if the ambitious production schedules were to be met. The disaster at Dunkirk left the British in extremely perilous straits as thousands of badly needed rifles were abandoned in France when British troops were evacuated to England. N After the conclusion of World War II, some of the M1903A3 rifles were sent to various and sundry foreign nations. M1903A3 production phasing out the M1903 "Modified" began in December 1942 with the first 1909 rifles included in the factory invoice to the Ordnance Dept. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({ The last of the M1903 Modified rifles were turned out in May 1943. This so-called last SN is an approximated end-number only. f $ | $ 2 h ! during this time that the finger grooved walnut stock was replaced by The Smith-Corona Model 1903A3s | An Official Journal Of The NRA The CMP advises to not use .30/06 ammunition in M1 Garands, 1903s, and 1903A3s that is loaded beyond 50,000 CUP and has a bullet weight more than 172-174gr. Check the serial numbers located on the left side of the barrel on your Remington shotgun. PDF Production and Serial Numbers Table M1903 - Remington Society Barrel length Barrel length By the first quarter of 1942, the changes in the original specifications were sufficient to result in a rifle that was noticeably different from the early production Remington M1903s. between 1903 and 1906, M1903 NRA - sold only to NRA The receivers with these duplicate numbers were stamped with a C next to the serial number for identification and inventory control purposes. Through its partnership with TALO Distributors, Glock is now making its G28 pistol, a subcompact, double-stack .380, available to U.S. consumers. permanent magazine with 25 round capacity, M1903 Mark I - A variation to The factory shop-assembly process resulted in final rifle production in no particular SN order or sequence, therefore rifles with higher SNs than the number of rifles produced may exist for any given month. The United States Army generally did not serialize bolts. Most, if not all, of the scant grip stocks were utilized for replacement purposes, except for some that were used with M1903A4 sniper rifles (to be discussed later). Several avenues were explored, including discussions with Remington Arms Company for the production of rifles under British contract. inspection report data used for monthly invoicing for services rendered under contract. A gas escape hole was drilled into the left side of the receiver as had been done at Springfield Armory since 1936. The left side of the stock was stamped FJA (for Col. Frank J. Atwood), RA (Remington Arms) and the crossed cannons Ordnance Department escutcheon. By early 1942 the company had made some 649 changes in 03 manufacture to speed production and reduce costs. Barrel Date: July, 1943 Caliber: .30-06 Springfield Action Type: Bolt Action, Internal Magazine Markings: The top of the receiver is marked "U.S. / SMITH-CORONA / MODEL 03-A3 / 4743824". These had six grooves and were initially produced for commercial rifles before being diverted to the 03A3 production program. After the Spanish American War in 1898, and some experimentation with the Remington was able to save production time by developing an adjustable rear peep sight with some stamped components. Though not used in as large numbers as the M1 Garand, Remington 03s provided valuable service to our armed forces during World War II. It is sometimes forgotten that Americas true secret weapon of World War II was its awesome industrial might. 1903A3 Serial Number ? - The Firing Line Forums Regardless, the majority of Smith-Corona rifles had four-groove barrels. Remmington Arms Production of the M1903, M1903A3 and M1903A4 1942 M1903: 3,000,001-3,348,085 M1903A3: 3,348,086-3,607-999 and 3,708,000-4,707,999 and 4,992,001-5,784,000 1943 Mint condition grey parkerized finish and new made Criterion barrels make this rifle true to the original, collector grade, and ready for competition! Visually they can be Remington's original Model 762 designation was changed to Model 760 on May 22, 1950, to avoid confusion with the 7.62 mm Russian cartridge. Some but not all Remington 1903A4 serial numbers have a . Markings: The top of the receiver is . Plans were made to increase M1 rifle production at Springfield Armory, and the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. was granted a production contract for the Garand. The Model 1903A4 was the first issued sniper rifle to all U.S. military services during World War II. 9-43 and 12-43 were VERY popular months for Barrels. 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