Elmer Keith 1903-A3

[shrapnel]

I saw this 03-A3 in Shedhorn Sporting Goods and had to have it. It is a nice rifle with a barrel date of 1943 and in excellent condition. When we started researching the inspector marks, we found that this had gone through the Ogden Armory and is stamped with Elmer Keith's cartouche.

It is a great gun and death on gophers. Another one to put in the collection of unusual provenanece...

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee202/bridgershooters/117_2556.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee202/bridgershooters/117_2561.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee202/bridgershooters/117_2555.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee202/bridgershooters/117_2562.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee202/bridgershooters/117_2563.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee202/bridgershooters/110_1170.jpg

[skeet1]

shrapnel,
Very nice rifle! I love the 03A3.

Ken

[Hardcast416taylor]

If you let you mind wander abit I would imagine you can visualise Elmer checking this `A3 over and you can almost imagine you can smell cigar smoke. Nice looking `A3.Robert

[wrench]

Pretty rifle!

[W.R.Buchanan]

Shrapnel: Better hide that gun from Mike. You know how he is about A3's.

He will want it badly and probably will beg and whine until you give it up.

Then again I bet he could write a decent story about the gun that would be interesting to lots of people.

Maybe you could just loan it to him for a while.

Randy

[Junior1942]

Shrapnel: Better hide that gun from Mike. You know how he is about A3's.

He will want it badly and probably will beg and whine until you give it up.

Then again I bet he could write a decent story about the gun that would be interesting to lots of people.

Maybe you could just loan it to him for a while.

Randy+1 on the loan. I want to read the article! Please don't shoot your own reloads in it :-(

[Char-Gar]

That is indeed an Ogden rebuild with Elmer's inspection stamp. There were two inspectors with t he initials EK at Ogden Arsenal, Elmer Keith and Ed Klouser. The OGEK without the box is Ed Klouser. The OGEK with the box is Elmer Keith. I have a cherry Ogden rebuild with Ed Klouser's inspector mark. If my eyes don't deceive me, Frank J Atwood's mark is still there from the original inspection.

[MT Chambers]

I'd keep and cherish anything with Elmer's mark on it, could increase value on it down the road.

[bob208]

i have a 03a1 springfeild and a o3a3 remington with the ogek inspection mark.

[shrapnel]

Shrapnel: Better hide that gun from Mike. You know how he is about A3's.

He will want it badly and probably will beg and whine until you give it up.

Then again I bet he could write a decent story about the gun that would be interesting to lots of people.

Maybe you could just loan it to him for a while.

Randy

For your viewing pleasure, there should be a new installment of "Shrapnel" in the June issue of "Rifle" magazine, but it isn't the 03-A3...

[Von Dingo]

For your viewing pleasure, there should be a new installment of "Shrapnel" in the June issue of "Rifle" magazine, but it isn't the 03-A3...

GROAN....

Hope you still have your fingers...

[rjathon]

Hi Shrapnel,

What load are you using on gophers?

Russ

[Crawdaddy]

shrapnel- nice gun. I have an 03-a3, made by Smith Corona no less. I inherited it from my dad. Never have shot it.

[shrapnel]

Hi Shrapnel,

What load are you using on gophers?

Russ

The same load I have been using in my Garand with the same Remington bullet you wanted 10,000 of...

[hydraulic]

Nice shot of the Bighorns.

[shrapnel]

Nice shot of the Bighorns.

Actually those are the Crazy Mountains in Montana...

[TCLouis]

03 A3 and EK's initials . . .

As long as it shoots shiny silver boolits I am very jealous.

[Hang Fire]

Picket pins are fun and always a ready supply of them, rotten little cannibals blow up in a pink mist.


http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee202/bridgershooters/110_1170.jpg

[shrapnel]

You mean, like this...

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee202/bridgershooters/scan0012.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee202/bridgershooters/scan0006.jpg

[Hang Fire]

I find it kinda funny to watch picket pins along side the highways. Moe and Joe eyeing Sam for lunch if he gets hit by that oncoming vehicle.

[Trail Finder]

+1 on the loan. I want to read the article! Please don't shoot your own reloads in it :-(

Why no reloads? Or are you being specific to HIS reloads?

[Junior1942]

Why no reloads? Or are you being specific to HIS reloads?
HIS reloads. His handle is shrapnel for a reason.

[Trail Finder]

I will add him to my list of people NOT to take load data from. :-D

[DCM]

You mean, like this...

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee202/bridgershooters/scan0012.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee202/bridgershooters/scan0006.jpg

GREAT pics! Especially#2.

[Got-R-Did]

I have a 10-43 O3A3 with a C-stock from its arsenal rebuild at Rock Island. Absolutely love shooting this treasure. The only thing that would make my rifle appeal to me more would be the provenance as mentioned before of Elmer personally inspecting it to assure proper function before reissue to the Troops. Enjoy this historical element of American History.
Got-R-Did.