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View Full Version : Springfield 1903, Remington manufacture


Kraven251
11-25-2012, 17:09
I inherited a 1903 that was manufactured by Remington in 1942. Based on the serial number it is one of the first runs of the 1903 that Remington produced. While I don't want to part with the rifle, I was hoping to find out its value. I have done a considerable amount of web research but that takes me so far. Unfortunately, most of the rifles I have to compare it to have been sporterized or some other modification, or just are not representative of the rifle I have...so I'm stuck. It is factory, missing the cleaning kit, and appears to have an armory stamp on the receiver. Is there anyone in the Denver area that any of you would recommend for appraising the value of the rifle? or just telling me more about it.

Post corrected for bad manufacture date...because I can't read, thanks spqrzilla (http://www.ar-15.co/members/4247-spqrzilla) for catching that.
StagLefty
11-25-2012, 17:22
I found 1 reference to contacting Remington and they could tell you.
sneakerd
11-25-2012, 21:36
Post pics, I know quite a bit about 03s.
Kraven251
12-09-2012, 20:16
I'll get some pics together shortly, bounced my camera off the basement floor and should have it back this week. If only they made cameras out of 7075-t7.
zteknik
12-09-2012, 20:48
Would Brophy's book on the 1903 have it listed in there?
spqrzilla
12-09-2012, 20:49
That doesn't make sense to me, my recollection was that by then they were making 1903A3's and had been making 03's for a couple of years. What serial number do you have? When you say its 1943, is that a barrel date?
zteknik
12-10-2012, 00:10
My sporterized Remington 03,not an A3 has a 42 dated barrel with a 3000000 serial number range.
It's a shame the thing is pristine.At least whoever did it didn't bubba it all up.Removed the rear sight sleeve ,drilled and tapped for scope mounts and it had a decent Boyds stock on it.
Had to change the stock due to a crack running through the grip.I'd love to find a nice composite stock for it.
Kraven251
12-10-2012, 05:28
That doesn't make sense to me, my recollection was that by then they were making 1903A3's and had been making 03's for a couple of years. What serial number do you have? When you say its 1943, is that a barrel date?

Apparently I have a reading problem, Manufacture 3-42. serial is in this range 1942‑3000001‑3348085. Sorry for the confusion, some days the brain works better than others.
spqrzilla
12-10-2012, 20:02
Ah, no prob. Not like I've ever had a typo ...
drowe44
12-11-2012, 07:34
Try the "CMP Bolt Action Rifles" section of the CMP forum at http://forums.thecmp.org/. These guys specialize in 1903s. They will be able to go over all the specifiec features and give you a value estimate. They will want pictures though.
Kraven251
12-12-2012, 19:57
and finally I have pictures!

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b90/Fonrose/R1903_006.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b90/Fonrose/R1903_002.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b90/Fonrose/R1903_003.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b90/Fonrose/R1903_005.jpg
zteknik
12-12-2012, 21:31
Very nice!!!
drowe44
12-14-2012, 09:51
Nice rifle. Hope you are keeping it. As for the value, there is a similar Remington (S/n318xxxx, July '42) for sale in Denver for $700. However, there are many variables when it comes to value.
Kraven251
12-14-2012, 15:55
Nice rifle. Hope you are keeping it. As for the value, there is a similar Remington (S/n318xxxx, July '42) for sale in Denver for $700. However, there are many variables when it comes to value.

I was more trying to get a sense of value for insurance purposes. I have no intention of selling this, for many reasons, but mostly because it is a pretty solid weapon especially for being 70 years old.
Troublco
12-17-2012, 11:02
If I remember correctly, Scott Duff's book on the 1903 mentions that when production of them picked back up at the beginning of WWII, Remington started out producing a gun that was basically a standard '03, and then as they were looking for ways to increase production and due to the wearing out of the machinery that Remington was using (The machinery Remington was using was the old Rock Island Arsenal stuff) the gun they wanted to make evolved into the 03A3, and they were authorized to produce it with the stamped parts and new sights.

What you have, sir, is one of those transition guns. Remingtion started production at S/N 3,000,000 and at about S/N 3,330,000 it had changed to the point that it was recognized that it needed a new designation; hence the A3 tacked on.

It's not worth much...I'll give you $200 for it so you're not saddled with that old boat paddle. [ROFL1] This is a collector's piece, the value will vary based on what someone's willing to pay to add it to their collection. I'd check the Blue Book of Guns, and see what they say. Or you can join the CMP Forum and see if someone there has a better idea. Since it looks like it's in great shape, I'd say it'll come down to the whether it is all Remington or mixed parts and whether the barrel is original or not being the determining factors. If I had to guess, I'd say $1k would be a decent ballpark.