Two early Remington 03's

Here are my early Remingtons, out for semiannual Raw Linseed Oil treatment. SN 4295 was made 11/41 and 21131 was made 01/42. 4295 is my restoration....needed a RLB stock, shroud, cubby door, floorplate and some rear sight parts. Luckily the sights and bands were never changed. The bore is just over 1 on the gauge. 21131 is a New Zealand return and despite some rough treatment at funerals remained intact. 21131 was inspected by John for the CMP and was one of about a dozen in the batch. I purchased it at CMP auction about 4 years ago.....the bore is poor but shootable. The two are nearly identical, 4295 has the lightning cut in the triggerguard and the rear sling mount marked R while 21131 does not have the lightning cut or the R marked swivel. Regards, Rick.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../03/0311-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../03/0321-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...3/03/033-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...3/03/034-1.jpg

Thanks for letting them breath and aharing the nice photos in the process.

Here's mine from the same time period, 3,003,256, also a 11-41 barrel and a restoration. Had the devil's own time finding a RLB GG stock. The RLB is extremely faint, but readable. Too bad about the original stock it had been cut down and some shaping done. The RLB on it was extremely crisp, but Rick Borecky said, due to the shaping he wouldn't restore it.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...standard-7.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...standard-8.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...standard-9.jpg

Here's the original stock that was cut-down - a NZ L/L stock and rifle:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tandard-10.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tandard-11.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tandard-12.jpg

[QUOTE=Rick the Librarian;257012]Here's mine from the same time period, 3,003,256, also a 11-41 barrel and a restoration. Had the devil's own time finding a RLB GG stock. The RLB is extremely faint, but readable. Too bad about the original stock it had been cut down and some shaping done. The RLB on it was extremely crisp, but Rick Borecky said, due to the shaping he wouldn't restore it.

Very nice, Rick. Restoration or not at least we did out part to preserve these rare rifles. As you know I worked on mine for the better part of 6 years. The workmanship on these is nothing like any 03 Remington you will ever see. OBTW, do you have any SN range when Remington dropped the lightning cut in the triggerguard? I know Remington got the green light to start stamping parts and cutting costs in early 1942. Regards, Rick.

Not sure -- I have it on the TG of my 3,024,801 and I believe they tapered off in the 3,030,000 to 3,040,000 range or so. I'm sure JB could fill you in. I agree that the finish work on the very early Remington M1903s was vastly better than the later ones, even those in the 3,020,000 range. I would have liked a "complete" early one, but nowadays, you would just about need Bill Gates' money to find one.

I would have to guess our two 11/41's were manufactured within a week of each other. Your 1/42 and mine have different NZ markings also. It would seem we shipped quite a number of those made in early 1942....I would assume the War Department was given orders to ramp up New Zealand to block a potential Japanese invasion? Regards, Rick.