Yesterday my grandfather gave me his Springfield 03-A3. He bought it in 1960 for 14.00 bucks and just stuck it in his closet. After a few years he pulled it out and took it to a gun smith. He had it drilled and tapped for scope mounts, had the barrel crowned and had it fiberglass bedded in a Fajen stock (Sporterized I guess is what it's called). After he got it back it went back in the closet and there it stayed until yesterday. It has never had a round fired through it, and the bluing doesn't have a blemish on it. I got the rifle home and took the scope mounts off and found it marked Remington model 03-A3. I know Remington started manufacturing 03-A3's after a while, I guess my grandpa just didn't remember. The serial # is 3849521 and the barrel is marked 8-43. If I’m not mistaken the serial # is high enough that the receiver should be made of nickel alloy right. And does the 8-43 on the barrel represent the date of production or what?
I know that the modifications have taken a lot of value away from the rifle, but it was my grandfathers and someday it will be my sons, so the market value doesn't really mean a whole lot.
If anyone could give me some info on the serial # and the marks on the barrel and if someone knows exactly when Remington started production on the 03-A3 I would appreciate it.
I know that the modifications have taken a lot of value away from the rifle, but it was my grandfathers and someday it will be my sons, so the market value doesn't really mean a whole lot.
If anyone could give me some info on the serial # and the marks on the barrel and if someone knows exactly when Remington started production on the 03-A3 I would appreciate it.