Z SERIES 03A4

[mark1]

Found them, well the asking price is high but who knows.

[mark1]

Remington 008Z I purchased around 1992 from an estate. I just put the rifle in the safe and was happy. Than around 2005 s/n 009Z came up as a receiver only. Cost me $125.00. I had all of the other parts so it was an easy buy. I am still looking for others and maybe one will come along.

[waco16]

Relating to the 'Z' A4's...
These were from the numbers assigned to Block '2' A4 Serials 4,000,000 - 4,015,000 where the crossover occurred.
Although there are different opinions of the actual number of rifles affected - it is around the 3,000 mark from 4,000,000

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Mark1--

Interesting that your "Z" prefix A4's have the "Z" stamped over the serial numbers and the "Z" appears to be in a smaller font. Also interesting that Remington records state that the Z prefix sniper rifles started with serial number 4,000,001 and ended with s/n 4,002,980 for a total production run of only 2,980 rifles with the "Z" prefix. Yours are in the 3,000,000 range. Hate to say it but I think that your rifles are fake "Z" prefix A4's, where someone added the "Z" above the serial number to try & make them more valuable. Hope you didn't pay too much for them, as their value just dropped because someone altered them.

I'm attaching a pic of my original 1903A4 for comparison:

Attachment 115375

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Remington used a "Z" and Smith Corona used a "C". It was not only the A4's but the A3's as well. I have 2 Remington A3's with a Z prefix.

Just for clarification, (since the topic of this thread 1903a4 sniper rifles), Smith-Corona never made a 1903a4 rifle. The government contract for all 1903a4 sniper rifles went exclusively to Remington.

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[m1903rifle]

728shooter,
Please note that the font size on the A4 is smaller than the font on the A3. That is the reason the Z is stamped above on the A3's.........they didn't have as much room on the A3's as they did on the A4's. I don't have either of of the Z marked rifles but I do own a C marked Smith Corona.

[728shooter]

728shooter,
Please note that the font size on the A4 is smaller than the font on the A3. That is the reason the Z is stamped above on the A3's.........they didn't have as much room on the A3's as they did on the A4's. I don't have either of of the Z marked rifles but I do own a C marked Smith Corona.

M1903rifle -- Based on your logic that the font was in fact "smaller" on the A4's, wouldn't that mean there should be ample room in "front of" the serial number of ALL true A4's to place the added "Z" prefix instead of on top of it? How does that explain the fact that the A4 rifles pictured by "mark1" have no room for a prefix in front of the serial number, whereas the photo that I posted of my correct Z-prefix A4 has ample room ahead of the serial number? That, plus the fact that the A4's posted by "mark1" are out of the serial number range for Z-prefix A4's as documented by Remington records, there is no doubt that his rifles have been altered by someone to try to pass them off as true "Z" prefix rifles, which they are not.

(Interesting to note that "mark1" says he purchased both rifles at different times, from different sources, one being just a barreled receiver, and yet they both have the same identical fake "Z" stamp on the receiver.....hmmmm)

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[Promo]

It took me some research as well to find out on this, but I think I solved the mystery: it seems the rifles of mark1 are both used as well by SC.

Hence Remington might had "double trouble" by serials that were already used by Smith-Corona, as well as then used by themselves for 03A4 sniper rifles. As a result to this all double serials were Z prefixed on Remington made rifles and C prefixed on SC made rifles.

Edit: m1903rifle is correct, the serial font on 03A4 sniper rifles is slightly smaller than on the 03A3 rifles. I guess the reason why the Z was stamped in front on the 03A4 rifles however might also had been because the space above was already covered by the scope base..

[m1903rifle]

728shooter,
Mark1's rifles are M1903-A3 not M1903A4.

[728shooter]

728shooter,
Mark1's rifles are M1903-A3 not M1903A4.

That's exactly my point. Regardless of the font sizes, the 1903A4 was a separate and unique rifle, including the way the serial numbers were positioned and sized on the receiver due to provisions for mounting a scope. Have seen numerous A3 "clones" that were changed to A4 sniper configurations and the conversions are obvious. However, the rifles submitted by "mark1" are the first time I've seen a 1903a3 (actually, 2 of them!), being submitted as a "genuine Z prefix A4" with an obvious fake "Z" stamping on the receivers!!! (And what's worse, a previous post by "champ0608" states that this same individual is now trying to sell them on Gunbroker!)

Buyer beware! --728shooter