1903 stock cartouche question

[0351USMC]

Just bought Remington 1903 A3, can someone please help me with stock cartouche marks also has P behind trigger guard.

Also,is stock original Remington 1903 A3 stock or repro?

[Enfield47]

Congrats on your 1903A3!

The FJA is for Frank J. Atwood Lt. Col., USA M1911A1 .45 Auto Pistols Made By Ithaca, Union Switch & Signal and Remington Rand, Remington .30 M1903A3 Rifles, National Postal Meter .30 M1 Carbine 1942-1944.

The RA is the Remington Arms proof (it is a Remington stock). The crossed cannons are the Springfield Armory acceptance cartouche. I'm not sure about the other markings. I believe they are arsenal marks from when the rifle was serviced or rearsenaled.

I'm getting a 1903A3 tomorrow that has some similar cartouches on it so I am learning as I go. I'm sure someone with much more info will give you some insight to what they are for.

[emcon5]

Just bought Remington 1903 A3, can someone please help me with stock cartouche marks also has P behind trigger guard.

Also,is stock original Remington 1903 A3 stock or repro?

RA is Remington Arms, FJA is Col. Frank J. Atwood, commanding officer of the Rochester Ordnance District, where Remington was located, The Wheel and Cannons is the Ordinance dept stamp. RIA FK is a Rock Island Arsenal rebuild stamp, I think the guys name was Frank Krack.

The P behind the trigger guard is a rebuild mark. What is the date of the barrel? Does it match the general time-frame the rifle was made?

Not sure on the bottom marks. You may find some info here: http://m1903.com

[SVT-40]

The RIA over FK marks are arsenal refurb markings put on at Rock Island Arsenal (RIA). The inspector Frank Krack (FK)

Are there any other marks on the left side of the butt stock?

[highpower]

That stock, if original has some of the best inspectors stamps that I have ever seen.

These rifles went through a test and inspection program at various arsenals and if the rifle didn't need anything done to it (i.e. a unissued rifle) they just received an inspectors stamp and were repackaged and put in storage. The circled "P" is a proof mark stamped after the rifle passed it's firing proof at the factory. If there is an "P" in a square or one without any circle or square it would have been applied after the rifle passed an additional arsenal proof test during a rebuild.

The easiest way to tell if your rifle is an unrefinished gun is to inspect the finish on the metal parts. When they were originally manufactured, there was several different finishes used. Receivers and barrels were parkerized. Bolts, trigger guards and nearly all the other small parts were blued. Remington built rifles have a small "R" on nearly all small parts. S-C's were either unmarked or may have a subcontractor mark on small parts. There was a myriad of manufactures making replacement pats and these too, are marked.

Edited to add some pics of my 'A3. I believe this rifle to be in original condition:

[pro-nra]

Congratulation! Very nice deep cartouches. Is it a two or a four groover?

[highpower]

Congratulation! Very nice deep cartouches. Is it a two or a four groover?

Don't know about the OP's rifle, but mine has a barrel date of 5-43 and is a four groove.

[Mustang]

Very nice looking 03A3's.

Are there any other marks on the left side of the butt stock?

These rifles went through a test and inspection program at various arsenals and if the rifle didn't need anything done to it (i.e. a unissued rifle) they just received an inspectors stamp and were repackaged and put in storage.

I've got two Remington 03A3's that I believe are unissued, or at least in original condition.

One has an unboxed "OG" stamped on the left side of the buttstock

[Mustang]

And one has no inspection stamp...

[0351USMC]

more pics

[Mustang]

One question I have is the pinned stock. There appears to be pins reinforcing the stock rather than bolts. Not sure whether that is correct for your serial number.

[0351USMC]

[0351USMC]

Congratulation! Very nice deep cartouches. Is it a two or a four groover?

Im pretty sure,its 4 groover.

[highpower]

"OG" means it went through the inspection process at Ogden Arsenal. Nice rifles.

My other Remington went through Rock Island like the OP's, but a previous owner sanded the stock so they aren't very crisp.

[smle-man]

Pinned stocks were early production. I have one on my 03 refurb from the CMP. It has a SA42 barrel on it and pinned stock that is for either an 03 or 03A3.