+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 5 1 2 3 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 47

Thread: New Zealand Lend-Lease Remington 1903s

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Legacy Member tristan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    03-01-2022 @ 12:14 PM
    Posts
    16
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    06:37 PM

    New Zealand Lend-Lease Remington 1903s

    I recently purchased an early Remington 1903, SN 3,016,xxx, with all early features. The rifle has New Zealandicon Lend-Lease markings on the butt of the stock. An unadvertised extra was the CAI import markings near the muzzle. I was wondering if anyone on the forum has the backstory on how the rifles were repatriated from NZ to the US. I have read the interesting tale of the Red Star Remington 1903s on this forum and others, but I can't remember seeing anything similar for any NZ repatriationsAttachment 92348Attachment 92349.
    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.
    Last edited by tristan; 04-08-2018 at 08:12 AM.

  2. Thank You to tristan For This Useful Post:


  3. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  4. #2
    Legacy Member Roy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    04-22-2023 @ 04:09 AM
    Location
    NZ/Ocean
    Posts
    352
    Real Name
    Roy
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:37 PM
    Nice one, Being from NZicon I love NZ Remingtons and am lucky to own one here as they are quite rare. According to the NZ government stores board, large mixed shipments of weapons went to the US in the 1960's this is all that I know.

    http://www.armsregister.com/arms_reg...ield_m1903.pdf

    Do you have any pics of the whole rifle and the NZ marks?

    Roy
    Keep Calm
    and
    Fix Bayonets

  5. The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to Roy For This Useful Post:


  6. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  7. #3
    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last On
    Today @ 11:11 AM
    Location
    The wild west of England
    Posts
    3,401
    Real Name
    Mr Clark
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    12:37 AM
    Interesting, so unlike my NZicon marked SMLE, these 1903 were only "NZ/census number" marked on the stock?

    I would love one of these in my collection.

  8. Thank You to mrclark303 For This Useful Post:


  9. #4
    Contributing Member Woodsy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Last On
    03-21-2024 @ 11:53 PM
    Location
    Central Otago, New Zealand
    Posts
    395
    Real Name
    Rod
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    12:37 PM
    The lend-lease '03 Springfields were used in NZicon during WW2 for arming Home Guard units. They were all gathered in at the end of the war and ultimately returned to the US along with 66 M1917 water-cooled BMG's that were also used by the Home Guard (and Airfield Defence). As Roy states, the NZ marked '03's are rare in NZ (only a handful 'fell off the back of trucks'!). I have never seen one of the NZ marked M1917 BMG's here. The NZ marked '03 I once owned was in near new condition, early WW2 manufacture by Remington and made to peacetime '03 standards. The only guns that NZ retained in .30/06 were the M1919A4 BMG's used by the Armoured Corps, and the Browning aircraft guns that were used in the Harvard (Texan) trainers until the late '60's.

  10. The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to Woodsy For This Useful Post:


  11. #5
    Legacy Member Roy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    04-22-2023 @ 04:09 AM
    Location
    NZ/Ocean
    Posts
    352
    Real Name
    Roy
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    07:37 PM
    Many of the NZicon 1903's in the US are in excellent condition, mine however is less so and appears to have fallen off a truck, which backed over it. It certainly got hard post war use as a sporter but fortunately the owner never managed to get the front band off past the front sight! and it just was dangleing on the barrel!
    Miraculously a NZ marked GG stock turned (In Otago) up with a patina to match the rifle and I also had a couple of early Remington handguards. The Sn is 3007800 or so, and still has the early Remington WW1 features. Lusting after a NZ marked bayonet for it now.
    Keep Calm
    and
    Fix Bayonets

  12. Thank You to Roy For This Useful Post:


  13. #6
    Legacy Member tristan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    03-01-2022 @ 12:14 PM
    Posts
    16
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    06:37 PM
    Thread Starter

    NZ Lend-Lease Remington 1903s

    Greetings and thank you to the NZicon collectors for your kindness in responding to my question as well as for the great information. Here are a couple of full-length pictures of each side of the rifle. The buttstock markings are:

    NZ (Broad Arrow) D
    2765

    I can get a closeup if it would be helpful, and am willing to post detailed pictures of any other areas of the rifle that you would like to see. It is in overall excellent condition and I am very proud to have it in my collection.Attachment 92465Attachment 92466

  14. Thank You to tristan For This Useful Post:


  15. #7
    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last On
    Today @ 11:11 AM
    Location
    The wild west of England
    Posts
    3,401
    Real Name
    Mr Clark
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    12:37 AM
    Beautiful NZicon 1903, quite jealous

    Its on my wants list now .... along with a Lee Carbine and No4 to live with my ex NZ L2A1, LlA1, L2A3 and my all time favorite, my 1917 Enfield SMLE...
    .303, helping Englishmen express their feelings since 1889

  16. Thank You to mrclark303 For This Useful Post:


  17. #8
    Legacy Member Jonzie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 08:22 PM
    Location
    Arizona
    Posts
    106
    Real Name
    Richard
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    04:37 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by tristan View Post
    Here are a couple of full-length pictures of each side of the rifle.
    Nice Rifle wish I had one. Thanks for sharing the pictures

  18. Thank You to Jonzie For This Useful Post:


  19. #9
    Contributing Member Woodsy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Last On
    03-21-2024 @ 11:53 PM
    Location
    Central Otago, New Zealand
    Posts
    395
    Real Name
    Rod
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    12:37 PM
    Strangely, only the complete rifles were returned to the US. All the spare parts (stocks, bolts, extractors etc.) were sold by the Government Stores board and wound up at McCarthy's gun shop in Dunedin. A friend of mine got the remaining parts a few years ago and still has a good selection left. I will be seeing him this weekend and see what he has left.

  20. Thank You to Woodsy For This Useful Post:


  21. #10
    Contributing Member Sarge1998's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Last On
    03-13-2024 @ 08:13 PM
    Location
    Northern Illinois
    Posts
    577
    Real Name
    Joseph Budde
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    06:37 PM
    I acquired a 1905 Springfield Armory bayonet, the right side grip has a faint point up arrow followed by a Z and the numbers 6074 (just like the article in the second post), I believe this to be part of the Lend Lease to New Zealandicon during WWII. There are no markings on the blade to indicate the lend lease but the grips appear to have been there.

    Last edited by Sarge1998; 04-11-2018 at 02:25 AM.

  22. Thank You to Sarge1998 For This Useful Post:


+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 5 1 2 3 ... LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Remington 1903 New Zealand Lend Lease
    By gfguns in forum M1903/1903A3/A4 Springfield Rifle
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 01-11-2014, 09:10 AM
  2. Possible lend lease
    By Bob K in forum M1 Garand/M14/M1A Rifles
    Replies: 41
    Last Post: 01-03-2014, 10:09 PM
  3. lend lease
    By rice 123 in forum M1 Garand/M14/M1A Rifles
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 10-02-2013, 08:42 AM
  4. New Zealand lend lease Remington 1903...
    By Len in forum M1903/1903A3/A4 Springfield Rifle
    Replies: 25
    Last Post: 07-28-2012, 06:46 PM
  5. Lend LEase '03's
    By Dan Shapiro in forum M1903/1903A3/A4 Springfield Rifle
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 08-21-2009, 12:42 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks