Help with Identification and possibly value ...

[Bakermark65]

Hello, I am new, so bear with me please!!!

I inherited, from my Dad, a WWII, Korea, and Vietnam Vet...yes 3 wars..pretty proud of that.. a rifle, presumably a sniper weapon. This rifle is marked Remington 03A3 and has an M82 scope with Redfield mounts. The serial number is Z4000946. From what my brother has told me, this was "procured" by dear old Dad, during either WWII or Korea. It is in dandy shape, and I was just wondering about the history of this weapon, and if it may be worth anything. Any info anyone may have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and Happy Holidays to all!!!

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[sakorick]

Sounds like "dear old dad" stole the rifle from the US government. At any rate it is a highly sought after treasure if original. Were it me, I would report the rifle to the Army as having been left to me by my father and get a clean bill of health. If you want a unbiased assessment then you need to post pictures and details as to the crosshair, serial number, mounts and any other info. The Z prefix was used for the Remington sniper 03A4 and the M82 scope is rare and very expensive. Regards, Rick.

[Mike D]

We really need to see pics of this one.

[Rick the Librarian]

Although the serial number sounds OK, look and see if the markings on the receiver are "split" - the serial number on one side and the manufacture and model markings on the other to tell for sure. If so, it is a M1903A4 sniper rifle.

I agree with the rest - pictures and further information are a must.

[Mike D]

If he can read the serial # than they would almost have to be split, right? And with that particular serial #, it would have to be an A4, right?

[Calif-Steve]

Lots of equipment was "liberated' by troops. Also note the US Army sold lots of equipment for near nothing after WWII. I am not so sure I would go down to an Army base and try to straighten out a 50 year question. No answer. Remember, lots of stuff was bought and paid for-decades ago. Keep it, but do watch your storey telling.

[JGaynor]

Baker the "Z" series M1903A4 sniper rifles came about as a result of an error. Ordnance issued two orders for A4's. The serial number block issued to Remington for the second order was 4,000,001 to 4,015,000. Meanwhile, on the otherside of the Remington plant they are going great guns cranking out around 60,000 03-A3's per month. Inadvertently the serial numbers used on the standard A3's ran into the block assigned to the second order of A4's. By the time anyone realized the mistake just short of 3,000 A4 receivers had been made (out of 8,365 ordered). Since the A3's were most likely assembled, packed and shipped out the door Remington fell back on the standard procedure for dealing with duplicate serial numbers. They added a leading "Z" to each of the 3,000 a4 serial numbers.

Ordnance then assigned a new block of serial numbers starting at 4,992,001 for the remainder of 03-A3 and 03A4 production. However, only the balance of the 2nd A4 order was to use any of the numbers in this third block as 03-A3 production and a planned third order of 03-A4's (another 25,000~ rifles) were cancelled in February of 1944.

A4's have gotten quite valuable in recent years. While the M82 was not used on original production it was authorized for use in 1956 and there are anecdotal reports of it having been used in the Korean War.

The principal determining factor in establishing the value is the degree of originality followed by the overall condition. I will send you some criteria via email and give you my best guess if you like.

Over the last 40 or 50 years the government has released A4's through various sales outlets. At this point any remaining in its hands are more than likely in museums or in a dusty corner of an army base.

Regards,

Jim

[sakorick]

Lots of equipment was "liberated' by troops. Also note the US Army sold lots of equipment for near nothing after WWII. I am not so sure I would go down to an Army base and try to straighten out a 50 year question. No answer. Remember, lots of stuff was bought and paid for-decades ago. Keep it, but do watch your storey telling.

Agreed. let me expound....I would write a letter to the ATF and just explain the rifle was left to him by by his father and would like to document that he is the legal owner and have it registered in his name. Down the road, the legality becomes moot as the son is the legal owner. Might save some grief down the road when he dies and it's left to the heirs. Regards, Rick.

[Mike D]

Remington fell back on the standard procedure for dealing with duplicate serial numbers. They added a leading "Z" to each of the 3,000 a4 serial numbers.

Please correct me if I am wrong, Jim, but wasn't that standardized shortly before the mishap?

[Johnny Peppers]

Whatever you do, keep the BATF out of it as I see nothing that involves them. If Rhode Island has no registration on long guns, who would you register it with?