Remington 1903-A3

[LTC]

I'm looking for a bit of pricing advise on a 03-A3 I have been offered. As it is being offered by a 87 year old friend I'm looking for a fair price to offer him. He hasen't given me a price and told me to figure out what it was worth to me. He purchased it off another friend about 5 years ago.

The barrel dates to 10-43 and carries the R A stamp. The S/N is in the 3727XXX range. Every part I can see without dismantling it is stamped with an R. The finish on the metal parts is not perfect but, it is exceptional.

The stock and hand guard show little to no use and all cartuches, while faint, are present. Proof marks are present also.

The overall gun shows no abuse at all.

I have spent the afternoon scaning the net looking for values, and they seem to be all over the place.

Who among you has some history with 03-A3's and can assist my pricing decision?

LTC

 

[swilli41]

I'd offer a fair price and I'm guessing $500 to $800 depending on condition. You can always increase your offer. But, if you really want it, I'd go for it. The price will only go up and they will never make any more of them.

 

[sureshotbob]

It's hard to put a price without picture's as we don't know if it's in it's original condition as it left the factory.Some thing's we need to know is type of stock and is it a mix of blued and parkerized parts or all parkerized ? Value can be from $500.00- $800.00 or so.
I see swilli beat me posting but came up with the same ball park value .To narrow it down we realy need picture's.

 

[wetdog]

Being friends I suggest this. Both of you take it to a couple gun shops and ask for a price they would buy it for and a price they would ask for sale off the rack. Agree to meet somewhere in the middle.
I've done it that way a few times when dealing with friends , including a 1903a3 Remington.

 

[mkk41]

The stock and hand guard show little to no use and all cartuches, while faint, are present. Proof marks are present also.

LTC

New 03A3 rifles have very few stamps on the stock. Most cartouches seen on 03A3's are from armory acceptance and arsenal rebuilds. Refinished stocks had 'em sanded off.

What type of stock does it have , a straight wrist , scant grip or full pistol grip , aka 'C' stock?

If the bore and headspace are good , $500 is about the going rate.

 

[LTC]

Thanks to those who have replied so far.

A few more details. The barrel and action are parkerized as is the trigger housing & fore cap with lug. The barrel bands appear to be blued along with the bolt, rear sight assembly and misc. action parts. The bolt appears to have turned a bit brownish / plumb color.

The cartouches are FJA at the wrist, RA at the rear stock bolt, P in circle at the rear of the trigger guard, OC on the left hand side of the butt stock and several sub-inspector's stamps in front of magazine floorplate.

The front sight is an un-hooded blade. The bore is bright and shiny with no sign of pitting or rusting with strong rifling. I have no way at present to gauge the muzzle or chamber.

The stock is what I think is termed an A, straight at the wrist & is bolted vs. pinned.

The numbers offered up so far tend to follow what I was able to search out this afternoon.

At present I am unable to post photos .

LTC

 

[Viss]

Group of guys at our club shoot these rifles in High power matches. One is a buddy of mine that loves em. In our area if the bore is good and the throat checks out, they go $650.00.

 

[mkk41]

Thanks to those who have replied so far.

A few more details. The barrel and action are parkerized as is the trigger housing & fore cap with lug. The barrel bands appear to be blued along with the bolt, rear sight assembly and misc. action parts. The bolt appears to have turned a bit brownish / plumb color.

The cartouches are FJA at the wrist, RA at the rear stock bolt, P in circle at the rear of the trigger guard, OC on the left hand side of the butt stock and several sub-inspector's stamps in front of magazine floorplate.

The front sight is an un-hooded blade. The bore is bright and shiny with no sign of pitting or rusting with strong rifling. I have on way at present to gauge the muzzle or chamber.

The stock is what I think is termed an A, straight at the wrist & is bolted vs. pinned.

The numbers offered up so far tend to follow what I was able to search out this afternoon.

At present I am unable to post photos .

LTC

It sounds quite correct. Many , if not most of the Remington small parts were originally blued as was the bolt.

The front sight hoods just snapped on. They're out there for a few bucks. I've got a few circle R pieces somewhere.

Might go high as $600.

 

[bob1956]

I tend to agree with the previous posts. I would say that if the cartouches are present and the gun looks sound as you discribe I would offer between 550-600. The barrels are usually ok on these guns as they probbly saw littlle to no action during the war. At that time they were usually using a less damaging ammo. I have a remmington around the same vintage payed 500 about 7 years ago. I also have a smith corona that is unfired till this day as new I payed 975 for so thats the range for these guns. The fact that it still has the original barrel indicated liitle use or they would has re-arsenel the piece and repaced the barrel. The og maybe the ogden utah arsenel, but if not re-barrel it should be good to go.

 

[John Wyatt]

The OC stamp is most likely OG for Ogden Arsenal, Utah. The 10-43 barrel date seems a bit late for the serial number. The parkerized trigger housing and front retaining band/ bayonet lug were originally blued. It appears to be an arsenal overhauled rifle, but still worth $600 or so if in nice condition.

 

[mkk41]

My Remington pictured above had a horrible bore when I got it. Fortunately I bought an auction lot of 12 barrels , 9 of which were NiW. As luck would have it , a few with same month/year date as the one on my rifle. Swapped it out and it shoots great.

 

[LTC]

Thanks to all who have responded to my request. I think I now have the answer I was looking for, and it agreed with my own gut feeling as to value.

$600.00 to $650.00 sounds about right to me.

Thanks again for the insight on the 03-A3.

LTC

 

[jack the toad]

$600.00 to $650.00 sounds about right to me.
LTC

I'm not an expert and without pics makes it harder but price sounds about right to me too.

 

[mike from st pete]

Three years ago I sold an arsenal rebuilt M1903A3 for $650.

 

[Tunachaser]

I sold three at 500 each.

 

[brucev]

A Remington 03-A3 in very nice condition that has not been through a arsenal rebuild or been subjected to kitchen table gunsmith work would to me be worth $650-750, depending upon it's condition and just how badly I wanted it. I have a Smith Corona 03-A3 that is in VG condition. I would price it at that level. I have a Remington 03-A3 that is in a gorgeous C stock. It would not go for less than $800 cash. There would be no negotiation.

At one time the CMP offered various 03 and 03-A3 rifles for prices ranging from about $400 up to $600 plus shipping. These rifles are no longer available. If you look at the For Sale section of the CMP site, you can see what knowledgeable shooters/collectors are actually paying for various 03-A3 rifles in good/excellent condition.