Looked at a late M1903 yesterday. Remington made, 3XXXXXX serial number, barrel marked 1942 and has a very good bore. I know that things cost differently in different places, but I wondered if their asking price of $550 was in the ballpark.

If all original, I would say yes, a very good price.

Collecting or shooting? Confirm M1903 v. M1903A3?

There are many variables on value of a M1903, and especially the Remingtons. It would help to have the full serial number and bbl month for openers.

Bottom line at $550, unless it's trashed, that is a very good price, anywhere, IMO.

Remington made original pattern 1903 Springfields in 1941,2 &3 using the old Rock Island machines.
The 41s were by far the best and, as the machines wore out they got worse. Then, for many reasons the 1903A3 was trotted out. Many corners were cut and it was and is a crude but functional rifle.

Putting a value on any 1903, 1903A3 or 1903A4 is very tough as almost all went through numerous rebuilds and updates.

That said, if you have a Remington 1903
1942‑3000001‑3348085 (M1903) and all the parts are consistant in finish, many marked with an "R", and the stock cartouch is Remington, it is certainly worth $550.00. A really mint one with all matching parts and markings is easily a $1500 rifle.
Before shooting it have the headspace checked, and for God's sake don't "spoterize it" !!!!!
This is GENERALLY what it should look like, although this rifle dates from before WW One.

45-80,
What's that plate on the butt end of the rifle?
Can't make it out...but I'm on my phone so that alone might be the problem LOL

The rifle was issued to a soldier in the 7th New York National Guard know as the "Gray Jackets". it was an exclusive club (Armory on Park Ave.)
Each 03 had a plate like that identifying the unit and to whom it belonged. When the 7th became the 107th, were incorporated into the 77 Division and went to war, they went unarmed and were placed under (contrary to Pershing's oft quoted statement) were armed and commanded by the British.
see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1..._%28United_States%29

If you blow up the picture of the Bronze memorial, you will see the soldier with the rifle in carrying a SMLE not an 03 or P17 and one of the others has a British Mills bomb.

I bought the rifle many years ago at the Albany gun show. It had been found in a closet, along with the bayonet, 107th and 77th unit histories, during the renovation of a 5th Ave NYC town house. The rifle's owner, pictured in the 107th history went in as a Pvt. came out an Lt.
Having never been to war, it in excellent condition.
Slightly better picture, albeit upside down from my insurance file and the brass plate.

I sold several full military 03s in the last few years for 650 to 750 depending on their shape.

03s are very complex to place a value on. I collected pre WW I 03s for two decades plus, own everything ever written on them (many conflicting) and have examined many 100s.
There are so many subtle distinctions as well as no shortage of fakes, that anyone wanting to "get into them" should first spend their money on every possible reference available. The phrase "full military 03" tells any potential buyer nothing. My 03 is full military as is an 03A3 with a mix of Springfield, Rock Island, Remington and Smith Corona parts that has been through five arsenal or depot rebuilds/upgrades. All you have to do is look at the online auctions to see a vast variety of "Springfields" ranging from decent to junk, many with incorrect information and crazy prices. If I had that fellows 1942 remington "in hand", I could be 95% confident of knowing what he had ..... otherwise it's a crapshoot.

quote:

03s are very complex to place a value on.

I believe 45-70 when he says that. Before looking too hard at this rifle, I did do some more studying of sites and asking questions of collectors, as well as having seen the chance 1903's at gun shows. The reason this rifle caught my attention was that it was in fair condition and near where I live; I am more concerned about it being safe to shoot and basically functional.

It is Ser No. 31577xx with a barrel marked with "RA", the flaming bomb, and the date 5-42. The nose cap, trigger guard, and other parts are all milled and almost all marked "R". The bolt function feels solid, the bore is very good, and trigger pull is good as well (<4lb). There are some scuffs on the floorplate/trigger guard and the buttplate screws could stand to be replaced.

My concerns are that (1) the rear sight assy is loose in the base, and (2) someone had electro penciled "4958" on the bolt handle. Replacement? I don't know about the bolt but have looked up the parts at Numrich to see about the sight. What impressed me was the good bore, good trigger, and wood all complete (if a little dinged like many surp rifles), so I went ahead and got it. Next thing will be to have the headspace checked I'm thinking.

And thanks to all for the advice. And no, it will not be sporterized!

The bolt should have a "R" on it (on the handle) and the finish match the rest of the metal.
Buttplate should be machine checkered (not stamped in) Try to keep all original parts, they can be reparkerizeded is really nasty.
What is the cartouche stamped in the stock on the left side just above the trigger ? Are there and other stampings in the wood ?
Trigger can be inproved to 2.5 pounds with careful stoning/polishing. DO NOT remove the first stage of the pull as it is a vital safety feature.
Hows chances of some photos ?
As for the moron with the electro pencil .... who knows. Could be a "rack number".
Sounds like a good score so far !

More on the Remington '03: There is an R on the bolt handle, as well as the safety and safety shroud(?). The cartouche on the stock above the trigger is FJA, and on the right side of the butt is stamped AS 175. The floorplate has a B stamped on it, and on the underside of the stock, behind the trigger guard is a circle-P. Lastly, the rear sight is stamped with a flaming bomb and the number 39.

Have to get back into photobucket to post picture, will try.

The B on the floorplate was placed there by the Greek military to indicate that the floorplate has been pinned so as not to allow it to be opened - the pin can be punched out to restore the floorplate to original function, but the B is permanent, unfortunately. Of course you can replace it with a non-B marked floorplate. This indicates your rifle is what is known as a "Greek return", meaning that the rifle was loaned to Greece after WWII and returned to the U.S. Army a few years ago and sold through the CMP.

FJA is the inspectors mark for Lt. Col. Frank J. Atwood, and may be inside a box or not. A correct stock inspectors mark for your serial number should likely be RLB.

AS175 is likely a rack number.

Date of production for your rifle is June or July 1942. It would be simpler if you posted the entire serial number. There is really no risk in doing so. A 5-42 barrel date is correct for this serial number.

You can instal a new rear sight assembly. I believe the markings indicate it to be a Springfield made sight. It could be correct as some surplus Springfield parts were used in Remington assembly.

Keep in mind that virtually all these rifles were re-built at least once in the USA and could have also been modified while under Greek authority. Not a collector rifle but substantially a correct Remington. Shoot it and enjoy.

The serial number is 3157723.

Yes, the floorplate is pinned shut. I wondered why that was. Thanks for the information.

The floorplate and bottom of trigger guard are somewhat scarred up while the rest of the metal on the rifle is in good condition. I might try to refinish it or get another one as they are out there. The trigger guard does have the R on it so I would like to keep as many of those parts as I can.

Now, the buttplate is smooth with a very light finish. 45-70 said above that it should be checkered as a 1942 Remington would. I do understand that one point during the transition to 03A3, Remington was putting together some disparate 1903s with all manner of parts before the shift took place. I had read some comments at 1903.com that the smooth buttplate was also found. Your take on it?

The shift from production of the Remington M1903 to the Remington M1903A3 did not occur on a specific date. The fact is that both rifles were produced simultaneously for some period of time, and yes, 03A3 parts did find their way onto new production '03s. Some refer to these - incorrectly IMO - as M1903 Modified. That was never an official model and was thought up by some aficionado to identify these late Remington M1903 rifles with a mix of '03A3 parts.

For additional information about all things M1903, I encourage you to invest in the reference books, which are readily available, and educate yourself, as there is much to learn and some controversy as well. There is so much info on these rifles that one needs to have the reference books available for consultation, as no one can remember it all.

Will do, thanks for the advice.