What's the rarest M1903 service rifle? No snipers.

[Lancebear]

Hey guys,

What's the rarest U.S. M1903 service rifle? No snipers, no NM, no prototype or experimental...issued rifle.

Think I remember an old post about this...but maybe it oughta' be revisited.

Kinda' remember somebody figured it was an early Remington of some sort (Maybe Chuck in Denver).

Maybe a USMC with papers also.

Also nix the Red Star Remingtons. They are standard Remingtons with a unique history but were not issued to GI's.

Hopefully this maybe thread will start a nice little sh$%storm. And we will all learn a whole bunch of stuff. Luv' a good SS.

All thoughts appreciated.

Lancebear

[Rick the Librarian]

I would say, in the following order:

1) A M1903/05 in 30-03

2) Rod Bayonet M1903

[Gary L. Bush]

03 LINE THROWING-RIFLE

This rifle should qualifiy as a rare issue rifle. I have seen only one in thirty years of seaching for Odd-Ball 03s and 03 gadgets.
Please refer to Brophy page 151

Gary L. Bush
P.S.
Since I have an A-2 and a two digit Remington 03 they should be ruled out as being rare.

[chuckindenver]

a true air service rifle.

[Marine A5 Sniper]

I would say any Mark I with its Pederson device intact that went to France (50 originals). Any of the stripped Springfields used by all the AEF squadrons with the exception of the attack squadrons (good luck finding those serial numbers or exact quantity) or the 825 (or more) Springfield specialty made Air Service Rifles known to have gone to France to the Air Service. One could hardly call a combat issued (and utilized) rifle a prototype. Ditto for the Bushmasters. The star gauged Maxim equipped rifles shipped to France would be quite rare, but again the serial numbers are unknown. The Springfields used at Pearl Harbor by the Marines on 7 Dec 41 would be rare, and some or even most of their serial numbers are known or accessible. Any Springfield used at Belleau Wood would be worth a fortune, but there were thousands of them.

As for rarity, a rod bayonet rifle isn't rare at all, they just exist in another state. The NM rifles may be the most populous of all. As for utter rarity for any group of 03's, the Niedner USMC rifles are hands down the most rare of all, but their status precludes them from this discussion. Specific rifles are of course rare by nature, as only one exists of each (York's rifle, Roosevelt's sporter, etc.). Do they count?

Is this what you had in mind?

Jim

[Rick the Librarian]

Just to clarify, I meant a RB rifle in it's "original state".

[Emri]

I would say, in the following order:

1) A M1903/05 in 30-03

2) Rod Bayonet M1903

I like his order also. I would rather have a 1905 30-03 that a rod bayonet.

Emri

[Kirk]

My guess is a 1903A2 so marked from SA.

[Don W]

I vote for an early Rock Island (30-06) that was issued with a RIA rod bayonet stock (altered to configuration of 1906).

How many RIA rod bayonet stocks have you seen??

My thoughts, Don W

[Lancebear]

Thanks Chuck,

I forgot about those.

LB