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Remington M1903A3 WW II USMC Presentation Rifle Near Perfect Rare
Guns International #: 100659323 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Remington Rifles - Military - Military Rifles - US
Seller's Information
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Seller: Rolfe
Member Since: 2/2/16
First Name: Howard
Last Name: Hart
State: Virginia
Zip: 22940
Country: United States
Phone: (434) 985-6208
Number of Active Listings: 0
Total Number of Listings: 9
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted: USPS Money Order Cashiers Check
Description:
This M1903A3 rifle is of special importance to Collectors of M1903 rifles in general, and in specific to Collectors of US Marine Corps and/or WW II ’03 rifles.
The magazine floor plate of the rifle is inscribed as follows: “Presented to the U.S. Naval Academy in Remembrance and Honour of the 4th Marine Raider Battalion who gave their all on that bloody canal. Col. R. Sears, USA Ret'd July 4, 1946 No. 3561966” The inscription clearly is an old and genuine one.
Col. Robert Sears was an Army Inspector of Ordnance in the Hartford Ordnance District from 3 August 1937 to 30 June 1941. His inspectors mark can be found on M1911A1 Pistols manufactured by Colt in the following serial number range: 723000 - 750500. Col. Sears obviously arranged to have the rifle assembled and engraved for presentation to the US Naval Academy in honor of the Marines. This Remington M1903A3 rifle is in 100 percent correct, as-issued condition. It has not been re-arsenaled.
The presentation was intended to commemorate the elite 4th Marine Raider Battalion, which was heavily involved – and took terrible casualties - in the savage fighting for Guadalcanal Island early in World War Two: America’s first offensive operation against Japan in WW II.
I believe that this rifle was specially assembled at Springfield from Remington M1903A3 parts around July 1946, using a new stock which had never been on a complete rifle and thus has no final inspection cartouche. BARREL: Parkerized finish is in excellent condition, with very strong rifling, probably unfired. Muzzle marked: “RA – Ordnance Bomb – 7/44.” FRONT SIGHT: Marked “Ordnance Bomb – US – R.” RECEIVER: Original (i.e., not refinished), has the prized perfect, smooth grey-green Parkerized finish, unblemished. Made 1943. BOLT: dark blue-black, about 96 %. Bolt face and extractor show no signs of wear. STOCK: Wood is a fine reddish color walnut, all wood color matches, and is in Excellent condition. Has “Circle P” and no cartouche. NO scrapes, dents, etc. Stock metal is blue-black and in great condition. All screws in stock are blue-black and in Excellent condition. (Exception: screw for stacking swivel is slightly “buggered.”) The number “819”, half inch high, is stamped in the butt stock near the butt plate on the right side of the stock. (Note: perhaps a Naval Academy inventory number ??) An “S over S” is stamped in the wood in the cut-out for the magazine cut-off. BUTT PLATE: Parkerized, shows no signs of wear, has the standard Remington “grid” pattern, with trap door. TRIGGER GUARD and FLOORPLATE: standard flat Remington, Parkerized – “as new” ….. with the above engraving on the Floor Plate. REAR SIGHT: as-new standard later Remington A3 sight. Note: a small Remington “R” is stamped on all parts where it should appear.
Remington made almost 1 million M1903 rifles in WW II, of which over 700,000 were the M1903A3 version. ’03 rifles in Excellent condition with some special cachet, feature or history are few and far between…... and this one most certainly has such a quality. It has long been a prized item in my own USMC/M1903/WW II collection, but it is time now to pass it on.
It is a unique piece in truly outstanding condition.
Shipped by USPS Priority Mail: Buyer pays $25 for shipping. Three day inspection, with Buyer paying return shipping fee. C&R okay, or must ship to your FFL holder.
SOLD
Curio/Relic: Yes
Manufacturer: Remington
Model: M1903A3
Serial Number: 3561966
Caliber Info: 30-06