US WWII Remington Model 1903 M1903 Springfield .30-06 Bolt Action Rifle ’42
SOLD FOR: $776.00
WOA#: WY240321KS032
Make: Remington
Model: M-1903 Springfield
Serial Number: 3165514
Year of Manufacture: Receiver dates to July 1942. Barrel is dated June 1942.
Caliber: .30-06 Springfield
Action Type: Bolt action, internal 5 round magazine
Markings: The top of the receiver is marked “U.S / Remington / Model 1903 / 3165514”. The magazine cut-off is marked “ON” and “OFF”. The safety is marked “READY” and “SAFE”. The right side of the nose cap is marked “R” for Remington. The top of the barrel is marked “RA” (for Remington Arms), along with the “flaming bomb” acceptance stamp of the Ordnance Department, and the date, “6-42”. The left side of the stock is marked “RA” (for Remington Arms), along with the Ordnance Department “crossed cannons” cartouche, and a boxed “FJA” (for inspector Colonel Frank J. Atwood). The underside of the barrel is marked with a “P” proof, and the underside of the butt stock just behind the trigger guard is stamped with a circled “P” proof. There are 4 other proof marks at the underside/belly of the stock just forward of the trigger guard.
Barrel Length: 24”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a pinned blade atop a barrel mounted base. The rear sight is a u-notch blade attached to a fully adjustable sight ladder marked from 3-27. When flipped up, separate notches and an aperture on the ladder can be used for sighting.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The two piece wood stock has the early “high hump” handguard, a semi-pistol grip, metal nose cap with bayonet lug and stacking loop, later style simplified barrel band with sling loop, another sling loop at the underside of the butt stock, two through bolts, and a metal buttplate with hinged door for storage. The buttplate has wear along the edges, especially at the heel. There are compression marks, scuffs, and scratches throughout the wood. There are no cracks. The LOP measures 13” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Very Good overall condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray and the rifling is worn. There is moderate erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 5/10.
Many military and C&R eligible weapons have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the fact that corrosive primers were commonly used in ammunition worldwide. For example, the US used corrosive ammunition throughout WWII. The US military did not begin to phase out corrosive-primed ammunition until the 1950s.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 92% of its metal finish. There are faint scuffs and scratches throughout the metal surfaces. The leading edges are thinning. The action and bolt show some operational wear. The screw heads show light to moderate use. There is a dent in the trigger guard. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with an attached M-1907 brown leather sling with darkened brass hardware.
Our Assessment: England contracted with Remington to produce a British version of the M-1903 Springfield after the Dunkirk evacuation in May 1940 left the Brits without badly needed arms. Just as production was set to begin in September 1941, the order was canceled, but the US government stepped in the same day and ordered over 100,000 M-1903s from Remington for the rapidly expanding US Army. Before Remington made a small number of changes to simplify manufacture, which would go on to be adopted (and so marked on the receiver bridge) as the “M-1903A3” Springfield, they produced their own version of the standard “M-1903” Springfield; Remington made rifles that are stamped “M-1903” on the receiver bridge are far rarer than the later M-1903A3s. The majority of Remington M-1903s were made in mid-1942, and would go on to see heavy use by US Marines in the Solomons, to the point that some refer to these Remington M-1903s as “Guadalcanal Guns”. With its June of ’42 barrel and July of ’42 receiver, this Remington M-1903 Springfield could have certainly ended up in the hands of a Leatherneck “on the ‘Canal”. This is a beautiful US WW2 Remington M-1903 Springfield Rifle, and would make a fine addition to any US martial arms collection. -R.E
