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national ordnance 1903a3

Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 6:41 pm
by p08man
hey guys i just got a national ordnance 1903a3 looks pretty nice is it a good rifle safe to shoot etc serial number starts with a 5028xxx thanks for any info

Re: national ordnance 1903a3

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2014 8:50 pm
by M14man
...err...not really. It is a commercial made copy of the US GI ones which were made by Remington, or Smith Corona. Do some web searches on the name. Not a good reputation....

Re: national ordnance 1903a3

Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2014 12:04 am
by p08man
thanks sold it they like it because its a collectable i did warn them

Re: national ordnance 1903a3

Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2014 10:14 am
by M14man
Collectable????...but good move on getting rid of it.
Look for a nice Remington.

Re: national ordnance 1903a3

Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2014 11:31 am
by Niner
Just in case anybody, like me, were trying to remember where the "safe" serial numbers started.
M1903 rifles made before February 1918 utilized receivers and bolts which were single heat-treated by a method that rendered some of them brittle and liable to fracture when fired, exposing the shooter to a risk of serious injury. It proved impossible to determine, without destructive testing, which receivers and bolts were so affected and therefore potentially dangerous.

To solve this problem, the Ordnance Department commenced double heat treatment of receivers and bolts. This was commenced at Springfield Armory at approximately serial number 800,000 and at Rock Island Arsenal at exactly serial number 285,507. All Springfields made after this change are commonly called “high number” rifles. Those Springfields made before this change are commonly called “low-number” rifles.
CMP

The Civilian Marksmanship Program was where I got my 03A3. They don't have any now and haven't had any in years in any numbers... unless they have one or two for auction. Didn't look.

Re: national ordnance 1903a3

Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2014 8:32 pm
by p08man
maybe its just best to just get a mauser thats what they were copied from any way

Re: national ordnance 1903a3

Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2014 9:03 pm
by Niner
Oh no....forget that. The 03A3 is better in a lot of ways. Besides it's "our" history and not "their" history. I wouldn't swap my CMP 03A3 for any Mauser.