Double stamped 03A3?

[wolley]

Has anyone ever seen one where the Model 03-A3 was stamped twice on the receiver?
This one is stamped with the U.S. Remington Model 03-A3 on the left, upside down and then stamped Remington Model 03-A3 again at 12 o'clock. From the pictures it appears to be factory stampings. The U.S. is only stamped once at 10 o'clock just barely above the Hatcher hole.

[Rick the Librarian]

Can you post a picture?

[wolley]

Not my rifle but I will email you one.
Well the email function won't let me attach anything.

[Rick the Librarian]

Email me at rrsbls[at]msn.com (make the usual substitution). Rick

[wolley]

One pic
With a serial number of 4.11M it does not fall into any known range of A4s.

[Mike D]

I think it was faked to look like an A4. The font does not seem to match. Whats with the "line" between "U.S." and "Remington"? Is that where the original "U.S." was polished off? Re-parked?

[Randy A]

That was my first impression,,, but the stamps were very nicely done. Those are not A4 mount hole (s), what about barrel, any holes in it for mount blocks? The serial number will tell the truth!

[wolley]

I have the 2meg original pics and it looks legit. The line is just a machining mark I have seen on a lot of receivers.
Hopefully I will get to lay hands on it next weekend.
It came from a deceased gunsmith who had started a sporter and didn't finish it. The screw holes match a two piece mount but from the looks of it a scope base was never installed.

[jgaynor]

It will be interesting to learn the serial number. If it's an A3 or A4 range and font that will at least give us a hint as to when this receiver was produced.

Personally I have always suspected that the receiver stamping press (or presses) were shared by the A3 and A4 production teams. As a general rule production managers don't like to stop machines that are set up and running right. But sometimes they have to such as when incorporating the change parts to reflect the different location of the A4 markings.
What might have happened here is a piece was run thru the press right at the point of a switch over from a3's to a4's or vice versa. Somebody missed a step and the piec wouldnd up with mispositioned or extra markings.

Any rate just idle speculation.

Regards,
Jim

[ClaudeH]

Keeping in mind that I don't know nothing...

The stampings appear authentic to me.

If they are authentic, that was a very unique item.

Somebody drilled two holes right though the middle of the uniqueness of this unique item.

Lastly, the apparent darkening/discoloration all around the holes suggests - to me, the guy who knows nothing - that an awful lot of heat was applied to that receiver ring.

Every once in a while a Bubba ought to be strung from a tree.