Remington M1903/A3 Cal .30/06 Unissued still in Depot box and Cosmoline

[usabaker]

This is amazing. I wonder if this is really unissued or a farce
If it’s true, wish I had a rich daddy

https://www.gunsamerica.com/926544337/Remington-M1903-A3-Cal-30-06-Unissued-still-in-Depot-box-and-Cosmoline.htm

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]

I'd like to see if the box is a typical DCM type shipping container. It does have a late serial number and many of them were taken right from production and placed into reserve

[browningautorifle]

Here's a live link... Remington M1903/A3 Cal .30/06 Unissued still i... for sale

[m1903rifle]

It's a "pig in a poke" so to speak. When all the cosmoline is removed, a rebuilt rifle might be revealed. I wouldn't give the current bid price ( $1250.00 ) and the reserve hasn't been met.

[Sunray]

$1250.00 seems kind of light if the thing is real. Too good to be true usually is.
It says the guy has been a seller since 2007, but only has 1 completed sale.

[Herschel]

I bought an 03A3 through he DCM in the late 1950s. It was a Smith Corona and was like new, might have been through rebuild.
In the 1960s I bought at M1 Carbine and a 1911A1 pistol. None were in cosmoline. When the CMP was selling 1903's and 03A3s I bought a couple of drill rifles that were covered in grease, certainly not cosmoline.

I have some parts that came covered in cosmoline. It is quite different from grease. It appears that many people
don't know there is a bid difference in grease and cosmoline.

[cplstevennorton]

I have the docs on this sales program. Many were taken out of long term storage and sold.

The problem with this is, they packaged rebuilds just like this as well. This is not Remington Packaging, this is Armory packaging for long term storage.

EVERY M1903A3 has been fired. That is why it has the P mark on the stock. My guess is, I bet if you unwrap it, it mostly likely will be a rebuild that was "Canned."

The military described Canning as the process they packaged these rifles for long term storage. It describes wrapping them up just like this. They certainly didn't come like this from Remington when New. I have those docs now as well.

He probably thinks they came from Remington like this as new. They didn't.

It's like those Armory packs you guys see listed for sale that say these are NOS. They usually aren't. They are parts that have been rebuilt and put into long term storage for future use.

[Patrick Chadwick]

If I can think of it, then usually someone else is already doing it. I therefore suspect that there is such a finish as "fake cosmoline".

Or am I just a pessimist?

[AFJon]

Probably easier to just buy new cosmoline.

Cosmoline for Sale - Cosmoline Direct Rust Preventives, Sprays & More

[John Beard]

The rifle derives its value from being unissued in the wrap with the original DCM shipping box. With that high serial number, the rifle is probably new and unfired. The rifle is worth substantially more than the $1250 current bid, but the reserve has not been met. The rifle in the wrap with the box is a safe queen. If you seek a shooter or wall hanger, keep looking.

J.B.

p.s.,

The clear plastic "Saran" wrap encasing the rifle is something that the current owner applied. It is not original to the rifle.