Need assistance to determine if this is correct 1903A4
- Thread starter miscverb
- Start date
Looks pretty good except the deep FJA stamp on stock, and what appears to be an ‘RA-P’ stamp, possibly sanded down. The RIA stamp on side of buttstock is a Rock Island Arsenal rebuild stamp from the post WW2 era. Often blued parts like the bolt and front bands were parkerized in the post war rebuild process. Rifle and scope are correct. Stock FJA cartouche and sanded RA-P stamp seems a little odd.
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EB is Elmer Bjerke, foreman of small arms inspection at Rock Island Arsenal from 1947-1958.
The RA-P stamp is from Raritan Arsenal and is unrelated to the Frank J Atwood final inspection stamp on the stock. The stock was sanded, and the Raritan Arsenal stamp, the ordnance escutcheon and Rock Island Arsenal stamp all exhibit sanding, while the FJA is deep and crisp...not a good sign.
I am looking at this on my iPhone, but the rifle doesn’t look bad.
The RA-P stamp is from Raritan Arsenal and is unrelated to the Frank J Atwood final inspection stamp on the stock. The stock was sanded, and the Raritan Arsenal stamp, the ordnance escutcheon and Rock Island Arsenal stamp all exhibit sanding, while the FJA is deep and crisp...not a good sign.
I am looking at this on my iPhone, but the rifle doesn’t look bad.
thanks all, here is how the seller described the item: may explain the stock?
Very nice condition, WWII genuine Remington 1903A4 Sniper bolt action rifle manufactured in 1943, first production run. The front sight recess is Parkerized and the top of the barrel is marked “R A / flaming bomb / 9 – 43”. The bottom of the barrel is marked “P”. The scope is in excellent condition and is a genuine issued Weaver M73B1, marked with serial number 16065. The scope mount is an original Redfield Jr. The underside of the bolt handle, the rear of the safety lever, the underside of the extractor, extractor collar, the ejector, and front sling loop are all stamped “R” for Remington. The stock is type C, and is an arsenal replacement marked "SA" on the left side of the stock. It has a period correct web style sling. It has a 2 groove Bore that is bright and sharp, and the scope optics are very clear
Very nice condition, WWII genuine Remington 1903A4 Sniper bolt action rifle manufactured in 1943, first production run. The front sight recess is Parkerized and the top of the barrel is marked “R A / flaming bomb / 9 – 43”. The bottom of the barrel is marked “P”. The scope is in excellent condition and is a genuine issued Weaver M73B1, marked with serial number 16065. The scope mount is an original Redfield Jr. The underside of the bolt handle, the rear of the safety lever, the underside of the extractor, extractor collar, the ejector, and front sling loop are all stamped “R” for Remington. The stock is type C, and is an arsenal replacement marked "SA" on the left side of the stock. It has a period correct web style sling. It has a 2 groove Bore that is bright and sharp, and the scope optics are very clear
Arsenal replacement, probably not. The notch cut into the stock for the bolt handle is an important feature to look at.
Lets put forth a premise...say the rifle was restocked at Springfield, and subsequently went through additional refurbishment at Raritan Arsenal and Rock Island Arsenal...the odds that it went through 3 refurbishments and still have the M73B1 scope and still have blued parts are less than zero. Stock was replaced by previous owner.
Lets put forth a premise...say the rifle was restocked at Springfield, and subsequently went through additional refurbishment at Raritan Arsenal and Rock Island Arsenal...the odds that it went through 3 refurbishments and still have the M73B1 scope and still have blued parts are less than zero. Stock was replaced by previous owner.
