Newly Acquired Remington 1903 Question

[tmark]

To Pete Davis!

Nothing at all!

[Nick Adams]

Would like to thank tmark for this post, as well as RTL and other poster for their information and responses.

This thread answered a number of question I had about a Rem 1903 I recently came into "for a steal."

The bore is excellent, although there is pitting on the exterior surface of the barrel near the base of the front sight. Serial number is 30268XX. Barrel dated 12/41. The receiver serial number appears to be consistent with a "born-on" date of mid-February 1942. I can't find anything wrong with the rifle mechanically.

Mine has all the Remington "R" proof marks in the correct places, and the "R" is the correct size. No lightening cuts on the rear sight base, but the rifle is housed in a finger-groove stock, with a barely visible RLB cartouche below and slightly right of the cut-off switch. British lend-lease marks appear on the left side of the rear sight base, and "BNP" stamps can be found in various places. There's a circled "P" behind the trigger guard and a barely visible 43 in front of it. It has the British red paint on the handguards, but very little remains. The red on the upper handguard is also mismatched with the fore and aft lines of the paint on the lower.

I'll post pics in a separate thread in the near future, but this thread was very helpful. Not sure what it's true value is but I'm sure it's more than I paid for it. The seller thought he was unloading a "low serial number Springfield" - basically a wall hanger.

[Rick the Librarian]

The markings on the rear sight base are not Lend Lease markings, but British export markings from the 1950s or early 1960s. The BNP stamp s one of these.

[Nick Adams]

Thanks for the clarification, Rick.

Having looked mine over more, and having finished reading the Red Star article, my 1903 appears to have all its original parts, and the various stampings/markings appear correct.

The stock's got some wear and dings on it and, as noted, there's exterior pitting on the barrel near the front sight base. But it doesn't look like the previous owner tried to "restore it" (e.g., re-blue it) or otherwise alter it, such as for use as a sporter. He did, however, keep the barrel clean (4-groove?), and the bore and crown are in excellent condition.

What are 302-serial range Rem 1903s in similar condition fetching these days? Thanks.

[Rick the Librarian]

A friend of mine sold a couple in the $2500 range, but they were in nearly new condition, as described in the article. If yours has the export markngs and some wea, maybe a little less.

[Nick Adams]

Thanks, Rick.

If I can ever get around to taking pics, I'll post them in a separate thread for you guys to see, as "wear & tear" can be relative.

Forgot to mention also that on mine the rear screw hole in the trigger guard is NOT drilled up through the tang of the receiver. I saw it mentioned somewhere that this was another indicator of an early 1903.

Nick.

[campbellbook]

The H on the bayonet lug of the upper band indicates that it was hardened .
The U on the lower band should be "up" when assembled onto the stock,
FWIW.