1903 with New Zealand cartouche?

I am a newby and just saying hi to everyone. Just got started shooting at Camp Perry this year in the Vintage and Garand matches. It was so fun that I'll keep going there as long as my legs will take me. I used a borrowed 1903 and about a month ago I purchased an extremely good condition 1903 with New Zealand cartouche. Have been reading everything I can find to try and track down the history on it. Serial number is 3,018,xxx and it appears to have been assembled on 2/1942 with a 12-41 barrel. There are no arsenal rebuild marks on it and it looks like it has been fired very little if any. In reading all the history I could find, I am not sure if it may have been destined for England and was in a ship's cargo hold in New York Harbor but pulled and sent to California for shipment to New Zealand due to Pearl Harbor. I have pictures and will share them if it will help with uncovering more history on these very interesting rifles. I would like to use this as a shooter but not sure that I should at this point until I know more about it. Any help would be very greatly appreciated.

With that serial # I would think that is a very early Remington 1903. If all original with a RLB marked stock it is VERY collectible! Guns that came back from NZ are often in very good condition. I have a NZ marked No.4 MK* Enfield that is favorite Enfield. If it was my gun I would find another 03 to shoot and make that gun a safe queen. JMHO Please post pictures.

Relatively large numbers of early Remington M1903s were Lend Leased to New Zealand, as well as those sold to England. They did not have the red bands seen on British M1903s. They are considered quite collectible. We would love to see pictures of the one you have. I have 3,003,256, also a New Zealand Lend Lease rifle.

John Bear, Terrell Mullins and I did a magazine article on a number of British Remington M1903s from the same serial range which were imported, as well.

Many thanks for both replys and much respect for both authors. I can only hope to add to the knowledge base regarding the Red Star rifles. I will take many pictures this weekend and post them. Everything seems to check with "The Collectable 03" by J.C. Harrison" except the middle band and sling swivel along with the bolt. The middle band and swivel appear to be stamped parts but everything else on the rifle looks milled. The bolt looks polished. Maybe the middle band was one of the first parts to make the transition for faster production by Remington - or maybe it was replaced. But the stock shows no arsenal rebuild cartouche. Hopefully the pictures will help. Again, many thanks for the replys.

1. Harrison's book does have a number of problems. Ignore the "Model of 1941" monikers - they are Harrison's own invention.

2. Don't get the so-called "Red Star" rifles mixed up with yours. They were those sent to England, although from the same serial range as those sent to New Zealand and have several different characteristics

3. If you have a stamped lower band and swivel, it is a replacement - stamped parts were not made until a few months later. It would not have left the factory with stamped parts.

4. Below are some pictures of two rifles I have - one is a 3,003,256, which was a New Zealand rifle, like yours; the other is a 3,024,801 - one of the so-called "Red Star" rifles.

Looking forward to those pictures!

3,003,256:

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

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...standard-2.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...standard-3.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...standard-4.jpg

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3,024,801, showing some of the parts you mention:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...standard-5.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...standard-2.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...standard-6.jpg

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

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

Yes lets see some pics of the rifle, Here is a short article on the Remingtons in NZ service, http://www.armsregister.com/arms_reg...ield_m1903.pdf

Very few of the NZ Remingtons remained in NZ. I also have a 12,41 dated one but it did not get returned to the US and was cut down and abused as a hunting rifle. Just waiting on NZ marked boxed RLB Grasping groove stock to fall out of the sky!

Have been working way too many hours with no play time. I will post allot of pics this weekend. I really appreciate all the help so far. This is an excellent forum with many generous members.

Here are a few rough pictures. I will get more this weekend. Was able to upload using an Ipad.

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Stunning. Is that the original Remington bolt that has been polished or is it a replacement? or it is the original bolt you could have it re blued.
Also it looks like you have a A3 mid band.

Bolt could be a 03A3.

Looking at the polishing around the rear locking lug, this is a NM or NRA sporter bolt (or in other words, factory polished).

More pictures of the bolt. Not sure what is is. Any additional help figuring out more about this rifle would be greatly appreciated. I still have to determine if I should use this as a shooter or start looking for another 1903 and put this one in the safe.

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Looks to me the striker rod is 03A3 and the mid band certainly is, the bolt sleeve does not look original either. The polished bold could well be original to the rifle though does the bolt have a 'small' or 'large' gas escape hole, it was probably supplied with a 'small' gas escape hole, however in a bunch of bolts which were part of the NZ army's Remington spare parts I saw both large and small hole bolts. nice to see it still has the Remington 'high bump' handguard. Here is my NZ Remington '954' the original GG stock is cut down but still bears the faint NZ markings.

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Rifle appears to be correct, except obviously the bolt - a polished example.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rick the Librarian

Rifle appears to be correct, except obviously the bolt - a polished example.

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I thank all of you for your wonderful words of wisdom. From what I've read, the upper sling swivel is stamped and does not appear to be correct along with the bolt. Other than that, the rifle looks almost new. My question is should I use it as a shooter for Camp Perry matches or hunt for a correct bolt and upper sling swivel and start looking for another 1903 to use as a shooter? I really value your opinions. Thanks a bunch in advance.

If it were me, I'd find another M1903 to shoot.

There were no R-marked bolts used on NRA Sporters or NM rifles - the bolt currently on the rifle has been polished or plated.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rick the Librarian

If it were me, I'd find another M1903 to shoot.

There were no R-marked bolts used on NRA Sporters or NM rifles - the bolt currently on the rifle has been polished or plated.

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Thanks Rick, I appreciate your opinion. To be quite honest, that is what I was thinking but just needed confirmation. Any suggestions where I could find a correct bolt and sling swivel? And a good shooter?

As you probably need one of the earlier bolts, they aren't common or cheap.