When I saw this customized O3A3 I had to have it.

When you ordered a Custom Rifle in the 1960s, you wanted to be sure everyone recognized it was a Custom. This one leaves no doubt.

03a3 custom

I can't open your link.

Can not open link.

Is this the same rifle in our other thread? Those links don't open either.

I don't understand why on this forum (only) .. some can see the pics, and some can't. ?????????? ... so I added direct links

That rifle is knee deep in “Avant Garde” !
😀

Contact Weatherby with the serial number... some interesting rifles came out of Roy Weatherby's garage back in the day....

It has more of a Winslow(?) look than Weatherby, to me.
Mike

Hello Der Ami,

Yes, definitely like a Winslow. I hope to find some markings to verify that it was made by Winslow Arms. I have an intimate knowledge of the Winslow style and even have copies of all their production records.

Not my cup of cocoa, but is that G&H side mount worth more than the rest of the rifle?

Its worth a bunch .. and its for a 1" tube, not 7/8" like so many others.

I thought this was a joke thread. I think I would feel bad for a deer harvested with that one!

I don't take all the negative comments too seriously. I like to collect the "radical" stocked guns and post about them in forums for others to admire. I like to display them at shows along side my collected Classic Custom rifles by; Alvin Linden, Leonard Mews, Bob Brownell, PO Ackley, Monty Kennedy, Jerry Fisher, George Hoenig, Fred Wells, and others of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. In most cases, the "fancy" ones like this are of more interest to gun cranks, and start many more conversations, than the more traditional ones. And they are much more rare.

Sounds like an interesting display, where do you show them?

Well, just being honest- I saw the post initially with no replies and actually thought it was all sarcasm. I get it - not all hot rod builds appeal to all people. But, even if you don’t care for the chassis, or the style, or the engine, or the color … sometimes the skill and quality and craftsmanship is still respectful and redeeming. They don’t all have to be Riddler winners, cost a fortune, or have name brand provenance, but there are some faces only a mother could love.

Hello PhyDoc

I display at Gun Shows here in Wisconsin.

Well, I finally got the rifle today and I couldn't be happier. Not only did I find another wonderful inlay on the bottom of the forend, I also found Nils Hultgren's initials (NH) inside the stock. I also found it listed in the Winslow records that I received from Sue Albritton. Its listed as a Bushmaster "Custom"; Winslow serial number 101 - order number 612.

Sue Albritton and her husband, Sylvester Michael (Al) Albritton, purchased the Winslow Arms Co. in 1978. Al and Sue had worked for the Winslow Arms Company since its inception in 1962 in Osprey, Florida. Al and Sue were instrumental in keeping the Company prosperous after it relocated to Camden, South Carolina in 1976. When Al passed away in 2013, Sue took over managing the company. I met Sue in 2019 and learned that she kept a record of all the Winslow rifle production in a small hand-written notebook. Later that year she mailed me her notebook and allowed me to make copies of all the pages.

updated info

Have you tried the rifle at the range? And tried it on the bench? My question is not facetious. Back in the day when 03A3 rifles were being sold off, somewhere in the $40 range, serious shooters looked as closely as possible at the barrels. No bore scopes back then, but it doesn't take much to slug the barrel. Sometimes the 4-groove barrels had pairs of grooves with different dimensions. I have one with one pair of grooves measuring .3080" and the other pair .3085". Later production barrels had only 2 grooves and some were reported to be more accurate than some of Remington's 4-groove barrels. 50 % less opportunity for error?

The 03A3 action is stronger than all but the last original 1903s. The original bolt was either worked over or replaced. The stamped bottom metal was replaced. The stamped magazine follower was retained. Some of them worked more smoothly than milled replacements. Whether anyone likes the treatment or not, this was not a cheap sporter conversion. Good quality replacement barrels were available for somewhere around $100. Why retain the Remington barrel?

Hello,

I will be shooting the rifle today and will update with results.

Link worked, very interesting look, congrats