1903 a3 - Page 2

TX Hunter · January 28, 2012, 08:07 PM

JD 3020,
If its made by National Ordanance, Its not a collectors item, but If everything is OK but the stock, I would replace the stock and keep it.
It should be fine for a shooter. Sorry. It fooled me too.

m.p.driver · January 28, 2012, 08:19 PM

Google Sante Fe 1903a3 while you're at it.They were commercial receivers paired up with G.I parts.The Fed receiver and broken scant stock pretty much puts it in a category of parts instead of a collectable.
A friend got one in trade assembled with almost mint Remington parts,so he looked around until he found a Rem marked receiver.Stripped the rifle and assembled a great condition Remington correct 1903a3.

Chris_B · January 28, 2012, 10:21 PM

Quote:

I did not notice that this was a National Ordanance Rifle, How did I miss that ?

I had to go back and look a second time, I almost missed it too

madcratebuilder · January 29, 2012, 11:18 AM

Heck I had to look three time to catch the NO roll mark, old age is here!

I saw a NO at a local shop recently, it wasn't a bad looking rifle. Bolt cycled very nice. I believe these are an investment cast receiver like SAI uses on the M1A and repro Garands.

I would just hang a nice C stock on it and shoot the poop out of it. Evil bay has several new C stocks listed, some under $100.

It may not have the history of a usgi rifle but history doesn't make shoot better. Now that I think about it, every part but the receiver is gi, so it does have some history, just not as well documented.

TX Hunter · January 29, 2012, 11:35 AM

If he wanted to he could build a nice rifle out of the parts, there are 1903 recievers for sale from time to time, usually for about 200 dollars.
He could put his parts on that, get a Smith to set the headspace and have a complete 1903 A3. But if the investment cast reciever is strong eneough, and safe eneough to shoot, You could put a stock on it and shoot and enjoy it. Thats the problem with my Remington 1903 A3 I worry about shooting it and wearing it out.

Chris_B · January 29, 2012, 04:29 PM

The 1903A3 is an extremely strong action. It was made for war- It will outlast you, no doubt!

jd3020 · January 29, 2012, 06:56 PM

I guess I'm confused. What is the "no roll mark" you all are talking about?

Chris_B · January 29, 2012, 08:21 PM

Hi JD

he means the National Ordnance rollmark on the receiver, just forward of the bolt, where the serial number is

madcratebuilder · January 30, 2012, 11:34 AM

Sorry JD, I get carried away with the abbreviations some times.
NO= National Ordnance.

The major 1903/1903A3 roll marks.

SA=Springfield Armory
RIA=Rock Island Armory
R=Remington
SC=Smith Corona

Don't be concerned about the National Ordnance cast receiver. It's a post war part and well be just fine for shooting. In fact there are current 1903A3 reproduction snipers being produced and sold for about 1K that use a cast receiver I believe.

January 29, 2012, 06:56 PM	#32
jd3020 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: mo Posts: 175	I guess I'm confused. What is the "no roll mark" you all are talking about? __________________ "Life's hard. It's even harder when you're stupid." ¯ John Wayne "If guns kill people then i can blame mis-spelled words on my pencil"

January 28, 2012, 08:07 PM	#26
TX Hunter Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2010 Location: East Texas USA Posts: 1,776	JD 3020, If its made by National Ordanance, Its not a collectors item, but If everything is OK but the stock, I would replace the stock and keep it. It should be fine for a shooter. Sorry. It fooled me too.

January 28, 2012, 08:19 PM	#27
m.p.driver Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 542	Google Sante Fe 1903a3 while you're at it.They were commercial receivers paired up with G.I parts.The Fed receiver and broken scant stock pretty much puts it in a category of parts instead of a collectable. A friend got one in trade assembled with almost mint Remington parts,so he looked around until he found a Rem marked receiver.Stripped the rifle and assembled a great condition Remington correct 1903a3.

January 29, 2012, 11:18 AM	#29
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 4,868	Heck I had to look three time to catch the NO roll mark, old age is here! I saw a NO at a local shop recently, it wasn't a bad looking rifle. Bolt cycled very nice. I believe these are an investment cast receiver like SAI uses on the M1A and repro Garands. I would just hang a nice C stock on it and shoot the poop out of it. Evil bay has several new C stocks listed, some under $100. It may not have the history of a usgi rifle but history doesn't make shoot better. Now that I think about it, every part but the receiver is gi, so it does have some history, just not as well documented.

January 29, 2012, 11:35 AM	#30
TX Hunter Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2010 Location: East Texas USA Posts: 1,776	If he wanted to he could build a nice rifle out of the parts, there are 1903 recievers for sale from time to time, usually for about 200 dollars. He could put his parts on that, get a Smith to set the headspace and have a complete 1903 A3. But if the investment cast reciever is strong eneough, and safe eneough to shoot, You could put a stock on it and shoot and enjoy it. Thats the problem with my Remington 1903 A3 I worry about shooting it and wearing it out.

January 29, 2012, 04:29 PM	#31
Chris_B Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2007 Posts: 2,589	The 1903A3 is an extremely strong action. It was made for war- It will outlast you, no doubt!

January 29, 2012, 08:21 PM	#33
Chris_B Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2007 Posts: 2,589	Hi JD he means the National Ordnance rollmark on the receiver, just forward of the bolt, where the serial number is

January 30, 2012, 11:34 AM	#34
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 4,868	Sorry JD, I get carried away with the abbreviations some times. NO= National Ordnance. The major 1903/1903A3 roll marks. SA=Springfield Armory RIA=Rock Island Armory R=Remington SC=Smith Corona Don't be concerned about the National Ordnance cast receiver. It's a post war part and well be just fine for shooting. In fact there are current 1903A3 reproduction snipers being produced and sold for about 1K that use a cast receiver I believe.