Remington “Red Star” 1903

[BryanJ]

If there are any Remington 1903 collectors on the forum, you’ve probably read about a group of two hundred Remington 1903’s that have commonly been referred to as “Red Stars”.  Out of CV-19 boredom, I thought I’d post a picture of the one I picked up several years ago.  The “Red Stars” were a group of 200 British Lend Lease rifles that were returned to the US by a WWII B-24 navigator (LTC Willard Levin) in 1954.  They acquired the name “Red Stars” because LTC Levin sold 60 of the rifles through the Red Star Military Museum in California.  After the rifles returned in crates in 1954, they remained crated until some of the rifles were sold at the museum in 1998, while others were uncrated in 1998, while my rifle was in a group uncrated in 2012.  I’m fortunate to have photos of my rifle as it was uncrated in 2012, bottom rifle in photo.  The unique characteristic about the Red Stars, is that they are among the few remaining WWII Remington 1903’s still in their original configuration.  These rifles were featured in the NRA’s Man at Arms magazine in 2009.

[Lsparks]

Neat piece. Thanks for sharing.


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[silverplate]

Was the red band on the stock a surplus marking, or lend-lease marking? Never seen that before. Nice weapon.

[BryanJ]

Put on upon arrival in England so the Brits would realize the weapon was in 30.06 and not .303.

[Lsparks]

Put on upon arrival in England so the Brits would realize the weapon was in 30.06 and not .303.

Also done in Canada.

Also not restricted to 1903’s.


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[thorin6]

If I remember correctly, the red band signified 30-06 ammo as compared to the .303 standard British ammo.

[Scottz63]

Very cool. I have seen these before but had not seen them in the crate. Thanks for posting.

[Lsparks]

If I remember correctly, the red band signified 30-06 ammo as compared to the .303 standard British ammo.

That’s correct. I have a 1917 marked with a band and “30-06”


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[spagg]

10 hours ago, BryanJ said:

Put on upon arrival in England so the Brits would realize the weapon was in 30.06 and not .303.

I read somewhere about the red painted band, but the first for me seeing one. Very interesting and congrats on a fine 1903..

[silverplate]

First I've heard about the red band. Thanks for the clarification. I've never seen a rifle marked that way until now.

[Scottz63]

I have seen quite a few England and Canadian rifles with the red band marking. Anything that is not their standard caliber, mostly foreign to them. 

[BryanJ]

Here’s one of the best articles I’ve seen about these rifles.
 

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=15358