New Zealand lend lease Remington 1903...

[Len]

I managed to acquire this over the weekend at a gunshow. It's a 3-42 date Remington that was leased to the Kiwis in WWII. In one pic it's shown alongside a 12-41 NZ. Here are the pics.

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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.

[Rick the Librarian]

Interesting it has the "split" RLB stamp. Nice rifle! I had a 3,040,000 N/Z Lend Lease but it had to go down the road when I bought my 1919 NM. Hated to see it go, but that comes from not being independently wealthy!

[Roy]

I i'd love to get one of those back here, Ive seen a couple of bayonets for them, but the army was pretty good at sending them back.

Nice find

[MajWatz]

I have a Remington M1903 with New Zealand markings on the stock. My question is if there was a specific range of serial numbers of the rifles sent to New Zealand.

[Mike Haas]

I have a Remington M1903 with New Zealand markings on the stock. My question is if there was a specific range of serial numbers of the rifles sent to New Zealand.

While I've yet to uncover a specifc list of rifles sent to NZ I think I can give some subjective opinion based on others research which I have read.
In 12/41 Remington had packed 1903's for shipment to England and these were at New York for shipment when Pearl Harbor was attacked. The shipments were held and these rifles were later shipped to NZ.That being the case these rifles had to have been very low serial #'ed Remington 1903's.

Subsequent shipments continiued thru approx. 6/42. Where these dates are only approximate It can give one an "idea" of an approximate serial # range of what was shipped. In other words the US couldn't have shipped what wasn't manufactured yet!

The above being said NZ stamped the 1903 stocks in two different ways. The earliest received being on the L/S butt stock with a 3 digit # and the later being stamped on the R/S butt stock using larger stamps and the (inventory) # ascending into the 5 digit # range.

I'll attach links for your use later tonight that hopefully will support my statements. I want to finish this post because of a emminent thunderstorm here (sure can use the rain!!!)

I'm attaching a link to a rifle I bought. Condition actually turned out better then the description and is perfectly functional although some of you won't like its appearance. It cleaned up very nice and metal is 95% and stock cleaned nicely and BLO did wonders for the wood. Considering the auction price I paid was the "total to my door" I thought it was a hellva deal! cheers:

Civilian Marksmanship Program - Promoting firearms safety training!

Added link: While this link does not directly affect the NZ Rifles it address's The Remington 1903 "Red Star" rifles serisal #'s to some extent. NOTE the author mentions rifle serial #3016776 with a 12/41 barrel as the earliest he observed amongst those rifles. {my NZ marked chrome rifle is 3016760 with 12/41 barrel } .

Red Star Remington Model 1903's

More shortly..Mike Haas

Added link: Previous thread on this forum Stamping Info please

Added link - This article, posted as a sticky on this website is highly informative as to the OP's original questions as well as other commentators.
Of particuliar interest pertinent to this discussion are Pages 22 thrrough 26 concerning shipments of Remington 1903 Rifles via L/L programs (England- NZ-etal). Page 22 " US Army records..a total of 64,003 Remington Rifles(were shipped) to the British Commonwealth under Lend Lease, including it's dominions.."

Remington Society of America - journals/RedStar

All appropriate credit given to the authors and owners of the attached links that I've included in this/my post..

My conclusions and summary - Purely my opinion that very few Remington 1903's were L/L'ed after 5/42 (serial # approx. 3105878). A Remington 1903 rifle with a N/Z stamped stock with a serial # under 3077187,with a consistant N/Z stock stamp (as described above) is a candidate for being authentic. Do your "due dilgence" .

HTH - Mike Haas

[John Beard]

While I've yet to uncover a specifc list of rifles sent to NZ I think I can give some subjective opinion based on others research which I have read.
In 12/41 Remington had packed 1903's for shipment to England and these were at New York for shipment when Pearl Harbor was attacked. The shipments were held and these rifles were later shipped to NZ.That being the case these rifles had to have been very low serial #'ed Remington 1903's.
Mike Haas

Your source is in error. Remington had no rifles packed and ready for shipment on 7 December 1941.

J.B.

[ABPOS]

It's a beautiful example of an 03. At least from the pics it is.

[Rick the Librarian]

NZ and UK M1903s saw relatively little service they are usually nearly 100% original. They don't get any better than that!

[Alkali]

I just never get tired of looking at quality rifles like this. Excellent photo work. You can be proud of this one anywhere. Thanks for the effort to post.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

NZ Remington 1903
I just never get tired of looking at quality rifles like this. Excellent photo work. You can be proud of this one anywhere. Thanks for the effort to post.

Stated perfectly!