Question about U.S.Marines and M1903/M1903A3

[Rustybore]

We are working on a museum exhibit about the weapons used by the USMC in WWll.
We are currently researching the small weapons used and are seeking information on the usage of the M1903 and the M1903A3.
The U.S. Marines seem to have used the M1903 in the early WWll campaigns, is this correct?
Did the U.S. Marines ever use the M1903A3 in WWll?

Thank you for your time,

Rb.

[mosinnagantm9130]

The USMC kept using the M1903, including low number examples, throughout 1942, and into 1943. The M1 didn't become available in decent numbers to the USMC until early-ish 1943.

[0321jarhead]

We are working on a museum exhibit about the weapons used by the USMC in WWll.
We are currently researching the small weapons used and are seeking information on the usage of the M1903 and the M1903A3.
The U.S. Marines seem to have used the M1903 in the early WWll campaigns, is this correct?
Did the U.S. Marines ever use the M1903A3 in WWll?

Thank you for your time,

Rb.

Did you not try communicating here? http://www.usmcmuseum.org/

[littlejake]

Guadalcanal was fought bolt action to bolt action. 1903 vs Arisaka.

[deguello]

Guadalcanal was fought bolt action to bolt action. 1903 vs Arisaka.

That is correct...........until the U.S. Army arrived on the island (w/Garands). Apparently many were 'borrowed' by Marines for future battles on the island.

[Eljay]

Guadalcanal was fought bolt action to bolt action. 1903 vs Arisaka.

Although it's worth noting that the Marines had quite a few BARs. The Japanese were apparently quite confused as how they were able to set up and move around what appeared to be light machine guns so quickly.

[powaybob]

The Marines had a lot of Browning machine guns in Guadalcanal to supplement the 03A3s. Read the story of John Basilone's Medal of Honor effort.

[Mike A]

I've never seen an O3A3 in Marine or Army photos from Guadalcanal; Marines had '03s, Army had mainly M1 Garands.

In fact I've seen few 03A3s in photos from the Pacific theater; many more in photos from European theater. Not sure why, but the O3A3s seem to have mainly gone to stateside units and support units in Europe.

And some officers and NCOs in line infantry units grabbed them so as to have a rifle instead of just a sidearm. Smart infantry get hold of as much firepower as they can. And smart infantry officers and noncoms don't like to stand out from the rifle-toting grunts. A "distinction" that can get you killed.

[smle-man]

You can see lots of pictures of 03A3s with Army troops in Burma and 03s were used for rifle grenades. Marines did not use A3s. Their sniper rifle was the 03A1 with a Unertl scope. The Marines were still rebuilding 03s up through 1944 for use in basic training.

[gunboat]

The Marines used "their" 03 snipe rifles well into the "50s -- I believe the last were built from parts at a a weapons facility at quantico.
I don't think they used 03a1s, just 03s. later ones assembled from parts may have been both 03 and 03a1 recievers.

[Fate]

I've seen photos of Navy soldiers with 03A3's, but never Marines.

[7.62x63mmUS]

In several video clips in the series "Wings of the Luftwaffe" you see presumably guards and assistants to generals standing around with 1903A3's as they inspect captured German aircraft.

[smle-man]

In several video clips in the series "Wings of the Luftwaffe" you see presumably guards and assistants to generals standing around with 1903A3's as they inspect captured German aircraft.

My father was in the AAF in WW2 and stood guard many a day with an 03A3. He never saw an M1 rifle except at small arms school but M1 carbines were very available.

[7.62x63mmUS]

It's a shame my grandfather died before I was really interested in WWII firearms, but I do know he joined the army after Pearl Harbor and was first assigned to guard the California coast for fear of a Japanese invasion. I would have to assume they issued 03's at this point. Later on towards the end of and after the war he guarded German prisoners in France where he carried an M1 Carbine. He liked the carbine because it was light and he spent hours and hours just standing up. He mentioned he learned to sleep standing up, I assume leaning on something. Luckily he never was in any combat. He mentioned that would have changed if the Ardennes offensive went better for the Germans. Also he feared being shipped to the Pacific for the invasion of Japan.

[smle-man]

The Marines used "their" 03 snipe rifles well into the "50s -- I believe the last were built from parts at a a weapons facility at quantico.
I don't think they used 03a1s, just 03s. later ones assembled from parts may have been both 03 and 03a1 recievers.

The WW1 Marine sniper 03s had S stocks but the WW2 and Korean war 03s used the A1 stock. There is no A1 receiver except by production date, otherwise the visible features are the same. The later receivers including all of the A1 range used a nickel steel alloy with double heat treating.