My Early Rem 03

[Truman]

After reading the article in Man At Arms about the Red Star Rem 03s I was inclined to retrieve my Rem 03 from the gun safe. It is one of my most prized rifles solely because I am able to follow the history of it. It is ser 3005450 one of the early production Rem. to be shipped to England at the begining of WW2 as I understand. My particular rifle has the commenwealth stamp of the New Zealand Defense. To think that this rifle served on two fronts during WW2 and finally being shipped to Greece to serve in the cold war and finally to the CMP is amazing. My rifle still has the original RLB cartouch. The bolt and trigger gaurd has been changed but the rest of the rifle appears to be original with a super nice 11/41 barrell. To think of the miles and the men that carried her in the defense of freedom boggles my mind. If any one has any other info on these early Rem. O3s I would like to know more. Thanks for looking. Truman

Information

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[Rick the Librarian]

You indeed appear to have a fine rifle. What leads you to believe it was used in England, as well as in New Zealand? No flame intended.

[Truman]

Hi Rick, It was my understanding that the first 50,000 Rem O3s were sent to England as war assistance. My rifle has the NZAD stamp with a broad arrow. I was told this was a New Zealand Defense Cartouche. Am I mistaken? It would seem to be a logical path but I can't produce my reference material at this time... No flames taken. Truman

[Rick the Librarian]

It was (as I understad it) an "either/or" situation - they were sent to either England or New Zealand, a rifle wouldn't have gone o both places, to my knowledge.

A "NZAD" is legitimate.

[Truman]

It was (as I understad it) an "either/or" situation - they were sent to either England or New Zealand, a rifle wouldn't have gone o both places, to my knowledge.

A "NZAD" is legitimate.

Thanks Rick, There are no english proof stamps anywhere that I can see. I am always interested in finding the facts. Thanks for for your input. Truman

[John Beard]

Rick is correct.

No evidence has been found to indicate that rifles sent to New Zealand also found their way to England. The rifles sent to New Zealand were lend/lease rifles. When the war ended, the NZ rifles were returned stateside as required by provisions of the lend/lease act. Although they may have NZ stamps in them, the rifles were always U.S. property.

Once the rifles were returned stateside, the rifles were loaned to Greece a few years later for use in suppressing a communist-led insurrection. In 2001, the Greeks notified the U.S. Army that the rifles were no longer needed and requested disposition instructions. The Army had no need for the obsolete rifles and notified the CMP that the rifles were available. The CMP paid to have the rifles shipped to the U.S.

And that's how your rifle made its way from the Remington factory into your collection.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[Johnny Peppers]

Just over 64,000 1903 type rifles were sent to the British Empire in WWII as Lend-Lease.
As to the proofs on U.S. military weapons Lend-Leased to England, the weapons were not proofed until they were released by the British government for commercial sale. If a weapon sent to another country happened to come back through England to be sold commercially, it too was British proofed.
In WWII 1515 Colt 1911A1 pistols were Lend-Leased to Canada. Following WWII Canada sold these pistols to a British arms merchant, they were sent to England where they received British proofs, and were sold on the commercial market. In addition to the British proofs, the Canadian Colts also had the Canadian broad-arrow C property mark.