Need more info about this REmington .30-06 rifle, please.

[Sabith]

I need more info on this Rifle that my father has. On the reciever portion, it has remington and what we believe to be the SN of 680. On the barrel it has .30 Springfield 1906 and under that, is a circle with the initials of R.E.F. inside it.

This was my gandfathers gun and my family are the original owners. So I am looking for anything anyone could tell me about it and if possible, maybe a ballpark of the value?

Thanks

Ken

[Tbury]

We need some more info. Like the type of action, (bolt, pump,autoloader) pictures would help. What type of magazine? The REP is a proof mark.

[Sabith]

It is a bolt action hunting rifle, not the military version, but the Sportmans model, so say's my father. I will work on getting some pictures, but he is in another state and is not the most tech savy...

Thanks

Ken

[Tbury]

It is probably the model 1917 made by Remington. I am not sure when the started marking them as Model 30 but the first ones were made on the same machines used to make the 1917 30-06 military rifles. The model 30 name came in 1921 or there about. Your grandfathers gun could be a sporterized 1917 or an early model 30. Basically the same gun and a very strong action.

[Sabith]

so how to tell the model # if there is none printed on the Gun? and you think it is the 1917, even though it states 1906 on the barrel?

[Tbury]

From Wikipedia
The Model 30 had a 24 inch barrel, and was available in .30-06 Springfield only (1921-1925)- S/N between 00001 and 30600. About 3000 units were manufactured.[1][6] A carbine version with a 20 inch barrel was produced from 1924-1925, also available only in .30-06 Springfield. Both of these models were replaced in 1926 by the upgraded Model 30 Express version. The Model 30 Express version was available in several configurations - The basic 30A with its 22 inch barrel, was offered in calibers .30-06 Springfield, .25 Rem, .30 Rem, .32 Rem, .35 Rem, 7mm Mauser, .257 Roberts. On these guns, the aperture receiver sight was omitted, and replaced with a more conventional rear sight mounted on the barrel. The rifles were also available in more expensive grades; The Deluxe or "Special" 30S which in 1930 became the Model 30SL, the 30SR with Redfield sight, the 30SX, with a Lyman sight, and the 30SM with Marble-Goss aperture receiver sight. These "Special" models were available with 22 or 24 inches barrel, selected stock, One variation the Model 30R Carbine was introduced in 1927 with a 20 inches barrel, and was available in .25 Rem, .30 Rem, .32 Rem, .35 Rem and 30-06 caliber. The Express 30 family and its variant were manufactured in number of approximatively 22800 units, between 1926 and 1940. Serialization is from number 00001 to 30560.[1][2][7]

* The Model 30 is now a prized collectible when found in very good condition. This is especially true in calibers other than .30-06, which will command a significant premium over the basic Model 30 rifles.[1][2]

The .30-06 caliber is marked caliber .30 Springfield of 1906 by the military so that .30-40 Krag ammunition would not be used. The Army also had a caliber .30 of springfield of 1903 which is the same shell with a different bullet and was never distributed to the troops.

[Tbury]

Check out auction #174608461 on gunbroker.com for the caliber markings for a 30-06.

[Sabith]

nice reference, thanks. I am having him take pics of the rifle so that both you and I have more info. I should have those in a day or two.

Thank you for your help on this.

Ken

[Tbury]

If you look at photo #10 you can see the barrel date code to the right of the REP. The AJ code translates to March of 1940 the key is on the home page of this site. Under the link Manufacture Dates.

[Sabith]

I have some info and pistures now, but the picture that I wanted to get was not readable, but he is retaking the reciever to barrel area for markings and the front sight. Attached at the rest of the pictures of the rifle.

here is the info that he sent me in email:

[which is barrel] says .30 springfield 1906 -- right side is receiver says[very top] REMINGTON trade mart-- then below that is # 680. -----
part way down barrel says:
Remington Arms Company Inc. Successor to the remington
arms UMC. co.inc. remington ilion works, n.y.u.s.a.
the gun has the enfield action[could be spelled infield]
22" barrel---I think the rear sight is the Marble-goss one on the side of sight is marked MG uspa.


When I get the pictures of these markings, I will post them too.

Thanks

Ken

[Sabith]

pictures 3 of 9

Ken

[Sabith]

pictures 6 of 9

Ken

[Sabith]

pictures 9 of 9

Ken

[Tbury]

Your grandfather's gun is definitely a sporterized M1917 Remington the finger grooves in the stock are a dead giveaway. The patch on the toe of the butt stock is where the military metal buttplate wrapped around the stock.

Info from Wikipedia:

As it entered World War I, the UK had an urgent need for rifles and contracts for the new rifle were placed with arms companies in the United States. They decided to ask these companies to produce the new rifle design in the old .303 caliber for logistic commonality. The new rifle was termed the "Pattern 14." In the case of the P14 rifle, Winchester and Remington were selected. A third plant, a subsidiary of Remington, was tooled up at the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Eddystone, PA. Thus three variations of the P14 and M1917 exist, labeled "Winchester," "Remington" and "Eddystone."

When the U.S. entered the war, it had a similar extreme need for rifles. Rather than re-tool the factories to produce the standard US rifle, the M1903 Springfield, it was realised that it would be much quicker to adapt the British design for the US .30-06 cartridge, for which it was well-suited. Accordingly, the factories altered the design for caliber .30-06, under the close supervision of the US Army Ordnance Department. Winchester produced the rifle at their New Haven, Connecticut plant and Remington at their main facility at Ilion, New York and at another plant in Eddystone, Pennsylvania. The M1917 Bayonet was also produced and used on several other small arms. Winchester produced 545,511 rifles; Remington about 545,541 and Eddystone 1,181,908.

Design changes were few; the magazine, bolt face, chamber and rifling dimensions were altered to suit the .30-06 cartridge, and the volley fire sights on the left side of the weapon were deleted. The markings were changed to reflect the model and caliber change.

The new rifle was used alongside the M1903 Springfield rifle and quickly surpassed the Springfield design in numbers produced and units issued. By November 11, 1918 about 75% of the AEF in France were armed with M1917s.[1] After the armistice, M1917 rifles were disposed of as surplus or placed in storage for the most part, although Chemical Mortar units continued to be issued the M1917. Some American soldiers disliked the greater weight of the M1917, and favored the 1903 Springfield.

A continuing source of debate among historians concerns what rifle was used by Sgt. Alvin York during his famous action against the Germans in World War I. While York's son has made mention that Sgt. York used a Springfield, the weapon issued to him was an M1917. (The film starring Gary Cooper as Sgt. York had him using an M1903 and a German Luger pistol.)

After World War I, a large number of M1917 rifles were released for civilian use through the NRA. Many were sporterized, sometimes including rechambering to more powerful magnum hunting cartridges such as .300 H&H Magnum and .300 Winchester Magnum.

[Sabith]

very cool, I am still waiting to see what else you can tell me once I get the rest of the details from the pictures. Once you get the fin from the marks, could you tell if it was in the war or not?

Thank you for the info, it is great to know.

Ken