Remington Model 1903A3 Bolt Action Rifle .30-06 Springfield 24” WWII C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,025.00
LSB#: LSB250723CA055
Make: Remington
Model: 1903A3
Serial Number: 3909488
Year of Manufacture: June 1944 (WWII Production, C&R Eligible)
Caliber: .30-06 Springfield
Action Type: Bolt Action Rifle, Internal 5-Round Magazine, Stripper-Clip Fed
Markings:
The receiver ring is marked “U.S. / REMINGTON / MODEL 03-A3 / 3909488.” The barrel (at the muzzle area) bears the typical Remington “RA” marking with ordnance bomb and date. The stock shows U.S. military inspection and proof marks, including a circled “P” behind the trigger guard, small sub-inspector stamps forward of the cutoff, and a boxed FJA cartouche on the left wrist. The rear sight base carries elevation and windage graduations. Additional small proofs and assembly stamps are present on metal and wood.
Barrel Length: 24”
Sights / Optics:
The front sight is a blade on a barrel base protected by two wings. The rear sight is the correct 1903A3 receiver-mounted aperture, adjustable for windage and elevation.
Stock Configuration & Condition:
Two-piece walnut military stock with straight wrist, upper handguard, late-war hardware (no grasping grooves), barrel bands, sling swivels, and a checkered steel buttplate with trapdoor (empty). The wood shows scattered handling marks, nicks, and scratches from service use; an inspector’s cartouche/initials are visible at the left wrist. No major cracks or chips were observed. Overall, the stock rates in about Very Good condition for a service rifle.
Magazine Quantity & Condition: Internal 5-round magazine, serviceable.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Original WWII finish
Bore Condition: The bore is bright, and the rifling is sharp. There is no visible erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition:
This Remington 03A3 retains about 85% of its original metal finish. Wear consists of light thinning at the muzzle, high edges of the receiver, and on contact points of the bands and floorplate, with scattered small nicks and minor oxidation freckles. The screw heads are lightly tooled with serviceable slots. The pins are clean and unmarred. Markings remain clear and legible. Overall, this rifle rates in Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The bolt cycles smoothly, the safety engages, and the trigger breaks cleanly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment:
The U.S. Model 1903A3 is the streamlined wartime evolution of the 1903 Springfield, produced primarily by Remington and Smith-Corona to increase output during WWII. Stamped hardware and a robust receiver-mounted aperture sight made the rifle faster to manufacture and easier to train with, while retaining the proven Mauser-pattern action and .30-06 performance that American marksmen had relied on since WWI.
This example was built by Remington in June 1944 and carries the desirable FJA cartouche—Col. Frank J. Atwood’s inspector’s mark indicating official acceptance at Remington during his tenure. The rifle shows honest service wear, strong, bright rifling, and correct WWII parkerized finish, presenting just the right blend of originality and character for a U.S. military collection.
Collectors prize the 03A3 as one of the last U.S. bolt-action service rifles and as an important companion to the M1 Garand in America’s WWII arsenal. With its solid mechanics, excellent bore, and proper markings, this Remington should appeal to historians and shooters alike—and it would be a worthy addition to any rack of U.S. martial arms. So bid high and bid firm. I highly encourage you to take a look at the condition of the item in our high-quality photos. Good luck with your bid. -K.F.
