Remington 03 A3 help and 30. cal. carbine

[beach man]

I recently met an very elderly man who is wanting to liquidate his small gun collection due to failing health. He has two Remington 03 A3 30-06 rifles. Both are in 95% or better condition. He is my problem / question. One of the Remingtons has a Redfield mount and scope on it. You can see where the front sight has been romoved. He thinks it is a sniper rifle. From what I can find out Springfield did not contract out their sniper rifles. Am I correct on this?
Also he has a 30 caliber carbine and for the life of me I could not find a manufacturer name on it...where am I not looking?
Thanks for any and all help you can give.
Beach Man

 

[beach man]

I recently met an very elderly man who is wanting to liquidate his small gun collection due to failing health. He has two Remington 03 A3 30-06 rifles. Both are in 95% or better condition. He is my problem / question. One of the Remingtons has a Redfield mount and scope on it. You can see where the front sight has been romoved. He thinks it is a sniper rifle. From what I can find out Springfield did not contract out their sniper rifles. Am I correct on this?
Also he has a 30 caliber carbine and for the life of me I could not find a manufacturer name on it...where am I not looking?
Thanks for any and all help you can give.
Beach Man

 

[Jim Watson]

Not correct.
The standard WW II sniper rifle was the Remington made 1903A4.
It did not have a front sight, although the front sight cut was made.
It is still marked 1903A3 but the marking is offset so you can read it beside the front scope base. If the stamps are covered by the scope base, then it was added and the rifle is not a 1903A4. The mount was Redfield but the standard scope was a Weaver, with some Lyman Alaskans and contract M82 or M84 reported but probably not issued in time for WWII.

The maker's mark on an M1 carbine is on the top rear of the receiver, almost completely covered by the adjustable sight.

 

[beach man]

Thanks for the info.

Thanks for your reply and the information on the Remingtons.
When you say maker's mark on the 30 caliber carbine...is the mark referring to the maker name or a symbol that stands for the name?

Thanks
Beach Man

 

[Jim Watson]

The maker's name is spelled out on the top rear of the receiver just ahead of the serial number, no cryptic symbols involved. See examples at:
http://bavarianm1carbines.com/manufacturers.html

These are shown on guns with the old flip type sight or no sight installed at all.
If yours has an adjustable sight as most do, the trademark may not be easily seen.

 

[rcmodel]

See this about the 03A4.
http://www.gunscollecting.com/english/long-guns/1903a4-sniper-rifle-usa/
http://www.warpathmilitaria.com/eng...s&Name=MINT+REMINGTON+Model+03A4+SNIPER+RIFLE

The M1 Carbine manufacture is on the top rear of the receiver.
Probably that one has had the later click adjustable rear sight added, which covers over the name. You should be able to make it out with a good light.

The barrel date & manuf. is stamped on top of the barrel right behind the front sight.

rc

 

[AlexanderA]

I might add that the issue '03A4 had the H-shaped dovetail on the barrel for the front sight spline, although a front sight was never installed. Also, these guns were not marked "03A4" -- they were marked "03A3" but the markings on the receiver ring were relocated so as to be visible on either side of the scope base. Of course, the bolt handle was bent for scope clearance.

 

[rondog]

If they're priced right and you can afford them, I recommend you buy them pronto, and worry about the details later. Get 'em while they're available to you, and before someone else gets them. You can always re-sell them, but you can never change your mind on a purchase you passed up.

 

[beach man]

Thanks

Again you have my thanks! I will probably post additional questions in early April when I am able to meet with him.

Beach Man

 

[beach man]

Thanks to all for the information

Thanks for your time and information / education. It has been a month since I saw the rifles and I do remember the scope looking short in length for a "sniper" rifle. Don't know if that means anything. I was looking at about 10 guns and it is hard to remember all the details. I do remember he has also has a Springfield M2 in 22 caliber. I also remember a 22 high standard pistol with MILITARY stamped on it.

Thanks again and send me input.
Beach Man

 

[rondog]

Buy 'em all!!! Sort out the details later. I wish I knew an elderly gent that had a bunch of milsurp guns he wanted to sell, I'd sell whatever I had to and buy every one of them, then sort out the keepers later. Lord, he might even have "an old worn-out cowboy gun" that could turn out to be a 1st gen. Colt SAA in some oddball caliber. No telling what an old collector might really have, and something he thinks has no value might be the jewel of the lot!

 

[Dr.Rob]

Merged both threads...