Military Police (MPs) and other ostensibly non-combat military personnel were issued M1903A3 rifles, but they were also employed by front-line combat infantrymen. Smith & Corona Typewriter Co. of Syracuse, N.Y. Rifle, Cal. The stamped parts included the lower barrel band (and band spring), butt swivel, magazine follower and, eventually, a one-piece trigger guard/magazine assembly. The U.S. M1903 and M1903A3 "Springfield" rifles are the greatest of all U.S. military issue bolt action rifles. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association, Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. Hammer Women Of Distinction Award, Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship, National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program, "V" Is For Victory: The Smith & Wesson Victory Model Revolver, Rifleman Q&A: Why So Light With The M1 Carbine? Ten trial production M1903 rifles were produced soon after the contract was granted, and the first 1,273 production rifles were delivered in November 1941. stock blanks, M1903 A 1 - had a pistol grip In early 1942, it was determined that production could be increased even more if the rear sight base and related parts could be dispensed with, as these components required a great deal of time-consuming machining. Restricted 18+ in CA in compliance with CA State Assembly Bill 2571 prohibiting the marketing of firearms to minors in the State of CA. Representatives from the Ordnance Department visited the factory and determined the company was spending too much time on unnecessary or cosmetic features of the rifles. Remington buttplates had 16 squares to the inch while Smith-Corona buttplates had 10 or 11 squares per inch. By definition, a SN, For purposes of this Table, all M1903 Modified and M1903A3 receivers serially stamped before January 10, 1943 were believed to be assembled into and counted as complete rifles with little problem with SN, After January 10, 1943, Remington was directed to cease monitoring SN disorders since the Ordnance Department was no longer concerned about this problem. 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. Final approved rifle production based on Ordnance Dept., Small Arms Branch, Industrial Division record summary dated March 10, 1944. There was a period of time when the company manufactured the M1903 Modified and the M1903A3 variants concurrently. Even though the Remington 03 rifles evidenced a number of manufacturing shortcuts, they possessed a strong action, and all of them are in the high number category. They can be decoded to find out when your shotgun or rifle was manufactured. Remington 1903A3 Serial numbers, barrel date Hello, My friend's Remington 03A3 has the serial number 4,097,XXX, and a Remington barrel dated 9-43. Always wear hearing and eye protection when firing an M1 Garand, 1903 and/or 1903A3 rifle. . Remington began manufacture of Model 1903 rifles in fall 1941. Although most had previously been arsenal-overhauled before being placed into storage, some were never issued and remained in factory-new condition. Serial number ranges for the production years of M1903 Springfield, including Springfield Armory, Rock Island Arsenal, Remington, and Smith-Corona production . I don't recall which ones. 5 J _ t
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, 1h/ =!"#$% @ @ @ N o r m a l CJ _HaJ mH sH tH @ ` @ 3 H e a d i n g 1 $@&. Also during this early time This early example (top) has a straight stock and grasping grooves in the fore-end. Some of these changes were not readily apparent while others were quite noticeablesuch as the elimination of the lightening cuts on both sides of the rear sight base, the elimination of the small gas escape hole on the right side of the receiver and the drilling of the rear guard screw hole completely through the receiver tang. Model: 1903-A4 (Sniper Version of the 1903-A3) Serial Number: 3409163. After this block had been used to 4997045, receiver marking was changed to "03A4" and a new series of numbers begun with Z4000000. In view of the safety risk, the Ordnance Department withdrew from active service all low-number Springfields. device (which was used to allow the M1903 to fire the .30 caliber pistol (RIA PRODUCTION OF MODEL 1903
190317500
1904750116000
19051600128000
19062800175000
190775001130000
1908130001165000
1909165001178000
1910178001201000
1911201001210634
1912210635217801
1913217802234830
1914PRODUCTION TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
1915PRODUCTION TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
1916PRODUCTION TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
1917234831257061
1918257062326935
1919326936348414
TOTAL: 346000
Introduction of improved heat treatment at SN285507. The M1903 Modified (center) was a transitionary variant between the 1903 and the 03A3 and 03A4. Stamped metal components were used wherever possible, such as on the trigger guard (l.). The handguard (now termed barrel guard) was lengthened to cover the gap between the receiver and the upper band of the rifle. during this time that the finger grooved walnut stock was replaced by Remington only used a relatively few serial numbers from the final block, stopping at the very low 4,200,000 serial number range. The 03-A3 designation was a bit unusual as it was essentially a colloquial term rather than the official nomenclature for the rifle. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. 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. After using up the six-groove barrel blanks, High Standard began manufacture of four-groove barrels, which were used for the balance of production except for a few two-groove barrels that were used for about a one- or two-month period in late 1943. Some changes were fairly easy to accomplish, and others were more involved. You might look on another part of Vishooter's website which lists the dates of manufacture - this is just a data base of reported rifles. enable_page_level_ads: true Another minor difference was the configuration of the recess for the spring on the lower barrel band. Description: This is an excellent example of a WWII production rifle as manufactured by the Remington Arms Company. The early production Remington 03 rifles resembled late World War I production Rock Island 03s, as they were produced on the old Rock Island tooling. Remington (and Smith-Corona) turned out ever-increasing numbers of M1903A3s, and they provided valuable use for our rapidly expanding armed forces. Civilian firms that had never produced war material or arms were soon turning out vast quantities of desperately needed items with which to fight the war. Since the proposed Remington .303 rifles were no longer vitally needed, the British contracts were canceled in September 1941 before any rifles were manufactured. Specialists in Marketing Your Gun Collections. On the eve of Americas active involvement in World War II, it was apparent that there would be a serious shortage of service rifles for its rapidly expanding armed forces. The British were pressing for new rifles as soon as possible, and passage of Lend-Lease legislation opened up other avenues of arms procurement. Marksmanship: The M1903A4, January 2002, p. 56), the discussion here will be limited to the rifles themselves rather than the optics and mounts used on them. The company offered to accept the contract if it would be permitted to manufacture only the barrels and subcontract the rest of the production, including assembly of the rifles, to the L.C. As Remingtons production continued, an increasing number of changes were made to the original specifications in the interest of reducing production time. Shortly after Remington started its new 03 production line, America was officially at war with the Axis powers, and the expected huge demand for more rifles became a stark reality. A gas escape hole was drilled into the left side of the receiver as had been done at Springfield Armory since 1936. US Model 1903 Springfield Rifle Serial Number Ranges - Muzzle First. 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. Markings: The left side of the receiver is . Please note: We do not expect to ever again receive large quantities of these models. The U.S. M1903 and M1903A3 Springfield rifles are the greatest of all U.S. military issue bolt action rifles. 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. 1919: 326,936-348,414 **Introduction of improved heat treatment at Serial Number 285,507 and nickel steel at Serial number 319,921. ,* q The second "block" of "03A3" numbers was used only to about 4168800 before cancellation of contract ended "03A3" production 28 February 1944. As had been the case with Remington, some problems with procurement of rear sights from subcontractors resulted in the delay of initial deliveries. The new rifle was marked U.S./Remington/Model 03-A3/Serial No. on the receiver ring. gd3 gd3 gdO. (known for their typewriters). Barrel Date: September, 1943. To learn more, visit www.northcapepubs.com or email ncape@ix.netcom.com. Although nearly identical in configuration, there are several rather subtle differences between the Smith-Corona and Remington stocks. When it was gradually phased out as parts on hand were used up. 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. The rather rough-hewn 03A3 could be manufactured much faster and at a lower cost than the earlier rifles, yet boasted a strong action and a more efficient combat sight than its predecessors. Such rifles should be regarded as collectors items, not shooters.. The Smith-Corona Model 1903A3s by Bruce N. Canfield, Field Editor posted on March 12, 2010 News, Reviews, Rifles, Bolt-Action Rifles On the eve of America's active involvement in World War II, it. a 2 piece firing pin, Mauser filed a lawsuit against the US government,
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