03 Sniper Stock Markings

btdave · 06-04-2012, 12:53 PM

I have an 03 Springfield A4 serial # 49965xx. The stock has some stamping I am not familiar with. In front of the trigger assembly is a 5. and then much smaller are 55 in a circle, 69 in an oval, 23 in a square, and 44 in a triangle.On the left side of the stock below the safety is an RA a stamping that looks like 2 crossed cannons, and an FJA. Back on the cheek piece are the stampings SA and a K. I know the barrel stampings, and the rifle has a redfield scope M84 with the serial 23986. Thanks

Jim K · 06-04-2012, 01:08 PM

The markings on the bottom of the stock in front of the trigger guard are Remington factory inspection marks; at this remove, no one knows the names of the inspectors who were assigned those numbers/symbols.

The crossed cannons are the so-called "Ordnance wheel"*, indicating acceptance of the rifle by the Army Ordnance Department. FJA stands for Col. Frank J. Atwood, the chief of the Rochester Ordnance District from June 15, 1942 to March 31, 1946. Of course he did not personally inspect all the ordnance items produced in his district, but he was the responsible authority.

The RA stands for Raritan Arsenal, and was used as both a rebuild stamp and an inspection stamp for rifles to be sold to civilians under the DCM (later CMP) program.

Not many A4's were sold with the scope intact; after the JFK assassination, the scopes were ordered to be removed and broken up so the lenses could be used for "educational purposes". The A4 rifles were later sold without the scopes and some have been reunited with scopes, either genuine GI scopes or similar civilian ones.

I am not sure what the SA and K stand for, and don't recall seeing markings in that location.

*The "wheel" is actually a gunner's belt, but its circular depiction plus the cannons has led many people to believe it is a wheel and it is often called that.

Jim

06-04-2012, 12:53 PM	#1
btdave Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 1	03 Sniper Stock Markings I have an 03 Springfield A4 serial # 49965xx. The stock has some stamping I am not familiar with. In front of the trigger assembly is a 5. and then much smaller are 55 in a circle, 69 in an oval, 23 in a square, and 44 in a triangle.On the left side of the stock below the safety is an RA a stamping that looks like 2 crossed cannons, and an FJA. Back on the cheek piece are the stampings SA and a K. I know the barrel stampings, and the rifle has a redfield scope M84 with the serial 23986. Thanks -->

06-04-2012, 01:08 PM	#2
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: 03 Sniper Stock Markings The markings on the bottom of the stock in front of the trigger guard are Remington factory inspection marks; at this remove, no one knows the names of the inspectors who were assigned those numbers/symbols. The crossed cannons are the so-called "Ordnance wheel", indicating acceptance of the rifle by the Army Ordnance Department. FJA stands for Col. Frank J. Atwood, the chief of the Rochester Ordnance District from June 15, 1942 to March 31, 1946. Of course he did not personally inspect all the ordnance items produced in his district, but he was the responsible authority. The RA stands for Raritan Arsenal, and was used as both a rebuild stamp and an inspection stamp for rifles to be sold to civilians under the DCM (later CMP) program. Not many A4's were sold with the scope intact; after the JFK assassination, the scopes were ordered to be removed and broken up so the lenses could be used for "educational purposes". The A4 rifles were later sold without the scopes and some have been reunited with scopes, either genuine GI scopes or similar civilian ones. I am not sure what the SA and K stand for, and don't recall seeing markings in that location. The "wheel" is actually a gunner's belt, but its circular depiction plus the cannons has led many people to believe it is a wheel and it is often called that. Jim