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1903 Springfield ?

TWalker
I saw this one again today still sitting at the end of the rack where it's been for about a year. The price had dropped from almost $600 to a reasonable $400 so I took a look. It is a 1903 Springfield with a barrel dated 1917. Unfortunately it's in a sporter stock, but the stock is almost perfect, walnut, checkered nicely and fits and looks good. The good news is that the action looks complete and unaltered, no holes, no scope mount, etc. The finish is a dull grey-green. It is too nice so it couldn't be original I guess. The serial number was in the 48000 range. My questions are: Why would smmeone spend so much money on a low numbered 03? and Would this action be worth restoring in a correct stock? and How's the price they are asking? I consider it somewhat of an orphan, not good for sporting use due to low numbered receiver, and not good for collecting without the correct stock. Maybe that's why it's sat in the used gun rack so long.
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Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • rufe-snow
    Real shame!, "48,000 range" would make it a second year of production gun, i.e. 1904. Would be quite a collectors item, if it was original.

    Unfortunately it has to much going against it, if only it hadn't been refinished, it would be a prime candidate for restoration.

    luger_4.jpg
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  • nmyers
    With it's replacement barrel, it probably wouldn't be worth restoring. With a sporter stock, forget it. And, with the low number, not safe to shoot.

    Maybe worth $50-100 for parts.

    Neal
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  • Hangfire
    At that price, it should sit on the rack for a looooong time!![8D]

    I agree....parts only,and only if original finish.There's still alot of 03 stuff out there.

    Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob
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  • bobinwis
    I suggest reading the section on 1903 Springfields in Fleyderman's "Guide to Antique American Firearms" if you or someone you know has a copy. The very earliest '03s were rechambered from 30-03 to 30-06'. This involved chamber and barrel length modification.
    In addition, the allusion to 'not firing it' is due to very little heat treatment of early receivers. Firing one with standard 30-06 rounds today could be an interessting experience if it came apart. The reference mentions all Springfield serial numbers below 800,000 and Rock Island numbers below 285,506 being taken out of service in 1927 for this reason. I think this is what the above respondents were alluding to. One can assume that not all were recovered. For $400, you can get one from DCM. If original, unaltered, unrefinished, etc, it would be a nice collector item.

    Regards, Bob
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  • nmyers
    Yes, but Bob.....most of the M1903 rifles from CMP have been altered. The Greeks reparked most of them, & most have partial serial #'s stamped on the stock &/or engraved on the bolt. Not to mention that all of them were soaked in grease, & it is all but impossible to get all of it out of the wood.

    Still, you can find a reasonably priced representative piece on the secondary market (like Gunbroker auction). The important thing here is that we don't want Mr. Walker to get suckered into paying $400 for a $100 rifle, just because the price was reduced by $200.

    Neal
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  • bobinwis
    Oooooops, left something out. Last sentence: If THE ONE YOU SAW IN THE SHOP WAS original, etc.... my apologies, it does sound funny.
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