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  • Auction Catalog #73
  • Lot #3459
Lot #3458
Lot #3460

Lot 3459: Remington Arms Inc 1903 Rifle 30-06

Scarce Early World War II Remington Red Star Model 1903 Springfield Bolt Action Rifle

Auction Location: Rock Island, IL

Auction Date: April 15, 2018

Lot 3459: Remington Arms Inc 1903 Rifle 30-06

Scarce Early World War II Remington Red Star Model 1903 Springfield Bolt Action Rifle

Auction Location: Rock Island, IL

Auction Date: April 15, 2018

Estimated Price: $2,500 - $3,750
Price Realized:
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Scarce Early World War II Remington Red Star Model 1903 Springfield Bolt Action Rifle

Manufacturer: Remington Arms Inc
Model: 1903
Type: Rifle
Gauge: 30-06
Barrel: 24 inch round
Finish: parkerized
Grip:
Stock: walnut
Item Views: 4582
Item Interest: Active
Serial Number:
Catalog Page: 188
Class: Curio & Relic Long Gun
Description:

This is a very scarce example from a small groups of rifles that had original been shipped to England in the early days of WWII under the Lend Lease program and just stayed in England unissued in their original wooden crates. These were eventually reimported back into the US in the mid 1950s and stayed with the original owner Lt Willard Levin who eventually sold a small number in the late 1990s through the Red Star Museum in California. At the time Lt Col Levin imported these rifles there were 10 crates of 10-12 rifles in each crate that totaled approximately 120 rifles in total. This example is obviously one of those ultra rare original Remington Arms Red Star rifles. These all fall into the serial number range of approximately 3,020,000 to 3,055,000. As it stands today only a small number of these rifle have ever turned up for sale as most are still in either Remington Arms or 1903 Springfield collections. The story on this series is that Remington Arms started manufacturing these early 1903s rifles in May 1941 primarily for Great Britain and eventually using the old tooling and machinery from Rock Island Arsenal. This rifle was manufactured in January 1942 and is marked with the large "Red Painted Band" on the middle of the stock and handguard that is marked "300" to identify it as being chambered in 30-06 in lieu of the 303 British cartridge. This example is termed a 1903 (Modified) model because it used some of the early wartime manufacturing improvements or shortcuts to speed up production. The barrel is stamped "RA/Ordnance Bomb/1-42". The receiver is marked: "REMINGTON MODEL/1903/3034336". It has all its original early "milled" Remington "R" marked parts; the complete bolt assembly, barrel bands, trigger housing/floor plate, smooth face buttplate etc., all with their original early Remington green parkerized finish. The early smooth body bolt, cocking knob, sear, trigger, cutoff and complete rear sight have their correct original Remington "blued finish". Fitted with its original two-bolt, "S" style, straight grip stock with a clear sharp "Cross-Cannon/boxed RLB" cartouche on the left side with a single small circled "P" proof on the underside and the subinspector proofs in front of the trigger guard. Survival rate of these early WWII rifle in original condition is extremely low making this a very difficult variation to find in unaltered condition. This rifle is fresh to the market, and it still retains its original cosmoline grease that it was stored in England.

Rating Definition:

Excellent with 99% of the original Remington factory parkerized/blued metal finish with just some very minor handling marks with all the metal surfaces still covered in cosmoline. The stock and handguard are in very fine plus condition with a nice matching dark color overall showing minor handling marks and light pressure dents in numerous places from storage, shipping and handling. A virtual time capsule for the 1903 collector.



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