I am so excited, my wife bought me my dream rifle. its a Remington 1903 A3 RIFLE. It is in very good shape with a mirror sharp bore. I never thought i would own one i will post some pictures when i can. We were on vacation and stopped at Cabelas, i was in the firearms library admiring this rifle, and she bought it for me, what a woman!!!
MY Wife bought Me an 03A3
- Thread starter TX Hunter
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Cheapshooter
New member
Congratulations X2. On your new prized rifle and...
You have an amazing wife...keep her!
You have an amazing wife...keep her!
I would like to add a correct bayonet, and cleaning kit. Does anyone know a good place to find them? It came with the correct sling in good condition but very dry. I will rub it down with neatsfoot oil to protect it. At the end of the barrel it has a flaming bomb and 4-43 so i am thinking April 1943 was when it was made. That was during World War 2. Who used 03 Springfields at that time? Im thinking Navy but i may be wrong.
"Correct bayonet" is subjective
I collect some US militaria and there's a big push in some circles to have "numbers matching" or "same year" stuff. That's all well and good if you also understand that for instance, with your 03A3 there was no rule that said "the following bayonets are to be issued to Model of 1903A3 rifles only"
An M1 bayonet, an M1905E1, or a Model of 1905 are all correct in my opinion. if you're looking for a WWII issue bayonet, then obviously anything 1945 or earlier would be the thing
You may wish to have anything '43 or earlier but I can also say with surety that in 1944, if a GI with your 03A3 needed another bayo, they wouldn't hunt up a '43 or earlier example for him 
Nickel played oilers used to be around, the Collector Source was a great place:
http://www.thecollectorsource.com/page/1219295
But I note that they are now out of many items and do not expect more. I should have bough an 03A3 C stock and some nickle oilers when I had the chance and now I regret it
Try gunbroker (you need to know what you're looking at and for of course) and try http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?act=idx
Of course, to buy and sell you need to be a member, and they aren't really a clearing house or store- they are enthusiasts, like you and I
bear in mind that neatsfoot oil can (not must) damage the thread in the sling
Does the sling have brass hardware or steel?
I collect some US militaria and there's a big push in some circles to have "numbers matching" or "same year" stuff. That's all well and good if you also understand that for instance, with your 03A3 there was no rule that said "the following bayonets are to be issued to Model of 1903A3 rifles only"
An M1 bayonet, an M1905E1, or a Model of 1905 are all correct in my opinion. if you're looking for a WWII issue bayonet, then obviously anything 1945 or earlier would be the thing
You may wish to have anything '43 or earlier but I can also say with surety that in 1944, if a GI with your 03A3 needed another bayo, they wouldn't hunt up a '43 or earlier example for him Nickel played oilers used to be around, the Collector Source was a great place:
http://www.thecollectorsource.com/page/1219295
But I note that they are now out of many items and do not expect more. I should have bough an 03A3 C stock and some nickle oilers when I had the chance and now I regret it
Try gunbroker (you need to know what you're looking at and for of course) and try http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?act=idx
Of course, to buy and sell you need to be a member, and they aren't really a clearing house or store- they are enthusiasts, like you and I
bear in mind that neatsfoot oil can (not must) damage the thread in the sling
Does the sling have brass hardware or steel?
Yes, the straight stock is common. On a shooter you may prefer a C stock. Are there any cartouches on your stock? There are also 'scant' stocks which were an attempt to make C type stocks out of straight stock blanks
The brass hardware is pre-WWII
This is a good (if slightly haphazardly arranged) link for info on these bayonets
http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/bayonet_points.htm
The M1 bayonet is a deceptive name. It isn't designed "for" the M1 rifle specifically. It's just a name, like M1 helmet. The M1 rifle was simply designed to take the same type of knife bayonet that the 03 could take. The stacking swivels on the 03A3 and M1 are at nearly the same height, too- they can be stacked together
The Model of 1905 on the M1 pictured fits the same for the 03A3 to it's left
The brass hardware is pre-WWII
This is a good (if slightly haphazardly arranged) link for info on these bayonets
http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/bayonet_points.htm
The M1 bayonet is a deceptive name. It isn't designed "for" the M1 rifle specifically. It's just a name, like M1 helmet. The M1 rifle was simply designed to take the same type of knife bayonet that the 03 could take. The stacking swivels on the 03A3 and M1 are at nearly the same height, too- they can be stacked together
The Model of 1905 on the M1 pictured fits the same for the 03A3 to it's left
Chris
There are some markings on the stock. Some are faint but legible. Above the trigger is a square with a JA in the middle, and under the stock is a P with a circle around it.and what looks like a 6a in a spuare and a small hexagon next to it. The stock is very nice but looks like it may have been sanded at some time im the past.
There are some markings on the stock. Some are faint but legible. Above the trigger is a square with a JA in the middle, and under the stock is a P with a circle around it.and what looks like a 6a in a spuare and a small hexagon next to it. The stock is very nice but looks like it may have been sanded at some time im the past.