1903 Springfield, What to Look For?

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Col-De_Groot

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I'm looking to buy a 1903 Springfield rifle, wartime production.
Can someone give me some advice on what to look for and a good price to pay?

Your help is much appreciated.
 
Avoid low number Model of 1903 rifles. For Springfield Armory serial numbers below 800,000 and for Rock Island Arsenal below serial numbers 285,507. You did not state for which wartime production you are looking. The War to End All Wars (WEAW) or The War to Make the World Safe for Democracy (WMWSD).
 
When I did my research on 1903A3, there were some rifles in the market that were formerly drill rifles. I think there were some weld marks that could potentially weaken the receiver. You may need to have a close look or get detailed photos.

Are you looking for an A3 or non A3 (ladder sights)?

I got my 1903A3 (Smith Corona receiver) for $1125 from a fellow CGNer. The bluing and stock were original (serial number puts it in the 1943 mfg date), however the barrel on mine is a criterion barrel. Rifle is a tack driver.

Some of the 1903A3 were shelf queen so it depends if you are looking to shoot it or not. Personally, I'm a little leary of a shelf queen and unfired.

Do you care about original bolt?
 
Col-De_Groot said:
I'd like to be able to shoot it, all matching is preferred and I'd like it to be from WW2.
Click to expand...


Then you are looking for a Remington 1903 or an 03A3.
Look for condition and originality. You will pay a premium for quality and condition.
Really nice ones are not all that common, and are not inexpensive when they do appear.
 
Pay very close attention to bore condition when looking at an 03 or 03A3. A lot of them are well worn and/or pitted from firing corrosive primed military ammo.

A Remington 03A3 would have the best chance of having matching parts. Most Rem made parts are stamped with the letter "R".

I've sold a couple of nice high number M1903s with excellent barrels in the $1000-$1200 range.
 
I re-stocked my original Springfield Armory M1903 with a Boyd's walnut stock. It's all original, First World War, production. Serial number 976673, the barrel shows a 9-18 number, making it a September 1918 rifle. Did it go to Europe? I don't know... Unfortunately some rube painted the original stock black with some kind of a junky paint that ruined the original stock. Which I still have.
I have never fired it.
 
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