Ol'Coach Posted May 26, 2006 at 03:17 AM Posted May 26, 2006 at 03:17 AM Serial# indicates manufatured December 1943. (They were only mfg'd 1942-44.)Inspector was Col Frank J. Atwood. Has his cartouche, +initials.Legitimate Weaver M330 scopeBarrel has Remington stamp/flaming torch, dated 1943. Now...to the range!
Nerd Posted May 26, 2006 at 04:02 AM Posted May 26, 2006 at 04:02 AM You have incited a high degree of coveting here.
Ol'Coach Posted May 26, 2006 at 04:17 AM Author Posted May 26, 2006 at 04:17 AM I've heard great things about the accuracy of these rifles. I'm anxious to find out!
45superman Posted May 26, 2006 at 04:27 AM Posted May 26, 2006 at 04:27 AM I've heard great things about the accuracy of these rifles. I'm anxious to find out! I'm sure there are plenty of German and Japanese (and a few Italian) troops who could attest to the accuracy of those rifles--except for the fact that they haven't been talking much the last 60+ odd years.
Ol'Coach Posted May 26, 2006 at 04:39 AM Author Posted May 26, 2006 at 04:39 AM What was the American sniper using in "Saving Private Ryan"?...the one that shot the German sniper right through his scope? I have the video...guessI should check it out!
Pappy353 Posted May 26, 2006 at 10:58 AM Posted May 26, 2006 at 10:58 AM It was an "03" Coach. Only problem with the scene in the bell tower is he fired 7 rounds without reloading http://www.sproe.com/images/screenshots/jackson-03-large.jpg
gravyboy77 Posted May 26, 2006 at 12:25 PM Posted May 26, 2006 at 12:25 PM It was an "03" Coach. Only problem with the scene in the bell tower is he fired 7 rounds without reloading http://www.sproe.com/images/screenshots/jackson-03-large.jpg You beat me to it Pappy......I noticed that too when i watched the movie. Wow Coach......She's beutiful! Even nicer than the first pic you showed us from the seller. You done good.
SmershAgent Posted May 26, 2006 at 01:36 PM Posted May 26, 2006 at 01:36 PM Congratulations. Enjoy it with safety and pride. (Let me know if you decide it isn't your style after all).
Ol'Coach Posted May 26, 2006 at 03:30 PM Author Posted May 26, 2006 at 03:30 PM Only problem with the scene in the bell tower is he fired 7 rounds without reloading Yeah...guess they forgot to count the total number of rounds fired in the final scene after they put the various film clips together! Good old Hollywood authenticity!
45superman Posted May 26, 2006 at 03:34 PM Posted May 26, 2006 at 03:34 PM Maybe he had one of those (top secret, at the time) rapid fire magazines that scare the politicians so badly .
Ol'Coach Posted May 26, 2006 at 03:40 PM Author Posted May 26, 2006 at 03:40 PM While researching this rifle, I found that at one point in the 03-A3 history, because of lack of firepower, they altered it so that it would accept a magazine in front of where the magazine cover plate is. Didn't produce many of them, since though a person could reload faster, it didn't increase the number of rounds! If some of you don't have these sites in your "favorites," you might want to consider them. Great sources for military firearm research! 1. M1903.com(Though it's titled "1903.com," has a whole lot more than 1903 info!) 2. Springfield Research Service(Again, more than just "Springfield.") Between the two, I found everything I needed (as far as a novice can tell!)
Ol'Coach Posted May 26, 2006 at 03:51 PM Author Posted May 26, 2006 at 03:51 PM Here's the inspector's stamp: Left to right: RA, Crossed Cannon ordinance escutcheon, FJA (inspectors initials)
Trefilov22 Posted May 26, 2006 at 06:49 PM Posted May 26, 2006 at 06:49 PM Here's the inspector's stamp: Left to right: RA, Crossed Cannon ordinance escutcheon, FJA (inspectors initials) how much did that badboy cost ya?
Ol'Coach Posted May 26, 2006 at 09:20 PM Author Posted May 26, 2006 at 09:20 PM $4500, which is bluebook and $150 less than the asking price. I figure it's a lot better investment than gold would be! (and that's what I keep telling my wife!)
Nerd Posted June 7, 2006 at 10:58 PM Posted June 7, 2006 at 10:58 PM Well, you finally motivated me to get my own '03 after thinking about it for over six years. My family (although not all of them know about it yet) have agreed to contribute towards one for Father's Day. I ordered one today from the CMP. It will be EXACTLY like Ol' Coach's except that: 1. It will be a mixmaster with nonmatching parts and numbers.2. It will be a Springfield instead of a Remington.3. It will be the 1903 Mark 1 model.4. It will be covered with 6 inches of grease, cosmoline, rust, and dirt.5. It will not be the scoped sniper version.6. It will (at least initially) look like a total POS. If and when it arrives (which will probably be at least a month from now), I will post pictures.
45superman Posted June 7, 2006 at 11:00 PM Posted June 7, 2006 at 11:00 PM Congratulations! I'm going to hold you to that promise for pictures, I hope you know .
SmershAgent Posted June 7, 2006 at 11:50 PM Posted June 7, 2006 at 11:50 PM Well, you finally motivated me to get my own '03 after thinking about it for over six years. My family (although not all of them know about it yet) have agreed to contribute towards one for Father's Day. I ordered one today from the CMP. It will be EXACTLY like Ol' Coach's except that: 1. It will be a mixmaster with nonmatching parts and numbers.2. It will be a Springfield instead of a Remington.3. It will be the 1903 Mark 1 model.4. It will be covered with 6 inches of grease, cosmoline, rust, and dirt.5. It will not be the scoped sniper version.6. It will (at least initially) look like a total POS. If and when it arrives (which will probably be at least a month from now), I will post pictures. You have chosen... wisely.
Ol'Coach Posted June 8, 2006 at 12:44 AM Author Posted June 8, 2006 at 12:44 AM I got an '03 from CMP several years ago that had been stored in Belgium, or someplace like that. No, it was Bulgaria. When I got all the cos, etc., cleaned off, it had some of the best looking wood on any gun I had ever seen. Was built in '41. I refinished the stock, did nothing else to the weapon except clean it, and I tell you what, cosmetically it looks at least as good, if not better than the 03-A4 Sniper...for about $4050 less!(edited) (But I HAD to have that Sniper!) One of these days I'll be taking 'em both to the range to compare. I would suspect that that will cause me to forget about the closeness in cosmetics! I think I posted pics of the standard '03 some time ago. If you're interestd, I'll get a pic with both in the same pic.
45superman Posted June 8, 2006 at 12:45 AM Posted June 8, 2006 at 12:45 AM Coach, don't go to any extra work for my sake, but I think that would be a cool pic.
Ol'Coach Posted June 8, 2006 at 12:46 AM Author Posted June 8, 2006 at 12:46 AM Should have it in about 10 min.
Ol'Coach Posted June 8, 2006 at 12:57 AM Author Posted June 8, 2006 at 12:57 AM Here ya go... Top is the Remington 03, refinshed stock by me, no cartouches or stamps.Bottom is the Remington 03-A4 Sniper. All original, untouched, all cartouches, etc.
45superman Posted June 8, 2006 at 01:00 AM Posted June 8, 2006 at 01:00 AM Thanks Coach--that's one fine pair of rifles.
Ol'Coach Posted June 8, 2006 at 01:01 AM Author Posted June 8, 2006 at 01:01 AM The 03 stock, by the way, all I did was lots of very fine steel wool, elbow greese, and gunstock oil. Lots and lots of elbow greese over a long period of time!
45superman Posted June 8, 2006 at 01:06 AM Posted June 8, 2006 at 01:06 AM I never thought to ask before--what do you think of the optics of the scope on the sniper rifle? Also, how much magnification?
Ol'Coach Posted June 8, 2006 at 01:09 AM Author Posted June 8, 2006 at 01:09 AM Smersh, I got a Garand and that 03 from CMP, and was not dissapointed with either one. You won't regret it! Congrats and enjoy those liberty saving old firearms! I Love 'em.
Nerd Posted June 8, 2006 at 01:10 AM Posted June 8, 2006 at 01:10 AM Ol' Coach, is this what your '03 Remington looked like before you started working on it (photo stolen from a post by Joe Little on the CMP forums)? If so, then I feel very optimistic, because it sure looks nice now!
Ol'Coach Posted June 8, 2006 at 01:16 AM Author Posted June 8, 2006 at 01:16 AM ...what do you think of the optics of the scope on the sniper rifle? Also, how much magnification? Optics are OK, not great. Not the fault of the scope which is the Weaver 330 on the Redfield base... just didn't have the light-gathering technology, etc., in those days, particularly with that small objective. (Better to see what else might be out there, I'm told.) I'll need to research the magnification, but it's definitely not over 4X.
45superman Posted June 8, 2006 at 01:19 AM Posted June 8, 2006 at 01:19 AM Don't research it just for me--I was just curious. I never cease to be amazed by the skill and discipline that go into military sniping--of any era.
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