Model 1903 by Remington……………..(F 882) Sold
Created on December 18th 2020
Fine Remington M1903 U.S. Service rifle for WW2
This M1903 was a direct result of the US Government arsenals being busy producing more vital weaponry and having no capacity to build bolt action rifles. So Remington took up the baton and started producing the “modified” version of the Springfield Model 1903. Which strictly was known to them as the “03 Modified.” Between approximately Jan 1942 and March 1943 they made somewhere in the region of 348,000 units. Quite an addition to the war effort!
Still chambered in the government .30-06 cartridge with FMJ bullet the rifle would take a 5-round Mauser-type charging clip and store them in an internal staggered magazine. This 03 m is 43.3/4″ in overall length. The round blued barrel measures 24″ in length. The trigger pull is 12.3/4″ to centre. The receiver roll stamped as follows; ” U.S. / REMINGTON / MODEL 1903 3242457″ This puts production in October 1942. Further information is to be found on the barrel behind the muzzle and foresight ring and is marked as follows; “R A / flaming bomb motif / 10- 42” This not only backs up the receiver data but also give a pretty strong hint that the two main components have stayed together – original barrel. One other alteration to the receiver was the lack of gas escape hole in the RHS of the receiver ring as on this example only the large hole on the RHS is present. Magazine cut-off switch to rear LHS of action restricts bolt travel so disabling the bolts ability to pick up another round from the magazine below.
Next item to cast an eye over is the bolt, as the Americans didn’t number their rifle components in the same way as the Brits or the Germans. The bolt carries the “R” under the stem which indicates a Remington produced item which is the best one can hope for with these rifles. Interestingly the top of the stem is electro-pencilled with the last digits of the serial number “2457.” this is a practice associated with, but not unique to, the US Marines. The “R” mark appears on the Mauser type three position safety catch. The rear sight collar is the later Remington type with no “lightening” cuts. The sights are the original but correct to Remington ladder-type graduated from 200 yards to 2700 with no top aiming notch. With windage and elevation adjustment plus multiple aim points.
The straight grip stock is in excellent condition with the later two cross pin configuration and no finger grasping groves. Handguard on top of barrel with low hump profile. Milled trigger guard and magazine floor plate – the floor plate bearing a “B” in one corner – meaning unknown. Serrated trigger. Milled “H-for-end band” with bayonet lug underneath. Sling swivels and early plain steel butt-plate with hatch for storage of cleaning equipment. Stock in high finish condition almost as if a parade rifle for the last part of its service life with circled proof cartouche behind trigger guard. Boxed “G.H.D” cartouche and crossed cannons on RHS of wrist.
Finish overall on the metal components is a strong military black turning to its lightest, a grey on the rear sight collar; but generally very good. Very good bore with strong RH twist 4-grove rifling, no pitting or misting. Fresh Nitro proofs applied 2020. A good example of a U.S. Service rifle, a collectible and a shoot-able example to add to a collection.
Please ask for Stock No F 882
£ 1475. (Sold)
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