Remington 1903 A1 lower band versus RemingtonA303

HARRYHOLLIS

Is there something im missing? Is the 1903 A1 lower band different from the A303 lower band on the stock? I just bought an NOS lower band for my 1903 Remington A1 and cannot seem to get it to fit. Im not going to butcher the stock trying to figure it out but it seems different. Am I seeing something that isn't there?

Ambrose

Yes, they are different. The 1903 band is milled and has groove in its circumference while the A3 band is stamped.

BTW: A 1903-A1 is a 1903 with a curved grip stock (Type C). And Remington didn't make any A1's.

EDIT: Correction: Further research suggests that Remington assembled a "few thousand" 1903-A1's with the type C stocks. Those would probably have been early production with serial numbers in the 3,0xx,xxx range.

nmyers

Ambrose is certainly correct in his answers. Remington was given 600,000 walnut stock blanks by the War Dept, leftovers from Rock Island Arsenal production; most were suitable only for "scant" stocks, & most wide enough for a pistol grip were diverted for use in the 1903A4 sniper rifle.

But, both types of barrel band can be used interchangeably, so that is not your problem. R & R of a barrel band is best left to a gunsmith, as it is too easy to gouge the stock without the right tools (& experience).

We would be of greater help if you were to post photos of what you have. Most 1903 & 1903A3 parts have a manufacturers ID. Most Remington parts are marked R or RP. If your barrel band is really a USGI NOS part, it will be marked.

For the same reason, we need to know what kind of stock you have. All USGI stocks will have a manufacturers mark in the cutoff switch notch, plus other markings. You need to describe it thoroughly if you are unable to post photos. If what you have is a commercial stock, then I wouldn't expect anything to fit without alterations.

Neal

EDIT: Harry's rifle----

MIKE WISKEY

I assume you ment to type "03A3"... ;-)
here is a pix of the 2, functionaly they should be the same. my 1903 rem. has the one on the left.

HARRYHOLLIS

certainly stumped. thanks for the photo add neal. I don't know what it is!

Ambrose

Your rifle is of the type known as the "1903 (modified)". It is in that serial number range and I can see in the pics that the rear guard screw has been drilled through the tang which is one of the modifications made in that type to speed manufacture. It is not an A1 as previously discussed. That type rifle would have been originally fitted with the same stamped lower band used on the 03-A3. Of course, in war time production, they would have used milled bands if there were some left over in inventory.

And FWIW: Since at the time Remington went into 1903 production, the 03-A4 was not even in the planning stage, all of the stocks received from Rock Island would have been slated for the 1903's. Probably some of those stocks would have been used on 03-A4's but they would not have been intentionally reserved for that. The pistol-grip stocks intended for use on the 03-A4 were made by Keystone and American Bowling and Billiard Corporation.

I find the 1903 "Springfield" story fascinating with all the production and manufacturing problems and the modifications.

EDIT: Your rifle was made in early Oct., 1942 according to calculated serial numbers. How does that compare to the barrel date?

HARRYHOLLIS

thanks for the clarity so now I know what I have!