Archived Posts » 60,595,333
1903 Springfield...please help price this gun.
4/27/2012 6:02:27 PM
This is not a sneaky for sale thread. My friend inherited this from his dad. He wants to sell it to me possibly. Please help me value the rifle.
1903 Springfield Armory 30.06
Serial number 404XXX
No rust, no pitting, no patina. Very slight normal wear on sharp edges. Finish is not worn off anywhere. Stock is not cracked, dented or damaged. Bore looks bright and excellent.
Barrel is marked 11-44 with a S and an A and what I assume is a Springfield logo. Which confuses me as my fejestads puts the serial number as pre war. So has it been rebarreled? ?????
Any help on the value of this rifle is appreciated. Thanks!
4/27/2012 6:11:00 PM
Worthless. Don't waste your money. Tell him I'll give him a hundie to take it from him if he pays shipping.
Seriously though, that is the cleanest looking '03 I have seen in a long time.
I just restored my grandfathers that was destroyed and it cost me over $400.
Just looking at and not knowing anything more about it, would say that would go for a cool $700 - $1000
Seriously though, that is the cleanest looking '03 I have seen in a long time.
I just restored my grandfathers that was destroyed and it cost me over $400.
Just looking at and not knowing anything more about it, would say that would go for a cool $700 - $1000
4/27/2012 6:21:59 PM
It is a pre-war non-a3 reciever that has been re-barreled with a war-time Springfield barrel (a3 era). The stock has been refinished.
It is hard to tell from the pics if anything else has been refinished, but it likely has since it was rebarreled.
The front sight hood is a neat addition. If it is a USMC hood, it is worth about $75. If not, it is worth about $5.
The above poster's valuation is high.
Edit: I missed that was a low number receiver. Might be safe to shoot, might not. Why risk it when there are lots of good 03s out there. I would only buy that gun for parts.
It is hard to tell from the pics if anything else has been refinished, but it likely has since it was rebarreled.
The front sight hood is a neat addition. If it is a USMC hood, it is worth about $75. If not, it is worth about $5.
The above poster's valuation is high.
Edit: I missed that was a low number receiver. Might be safe to shoot, might not. Why risk it when there are lots of good 03s out there. I would only buy that gun for parts.
4/27/2012 6:45:29 PM
That's a low serial number receiver. Drops the value a bit. I recommend you do some research on it.
4/27/2012 7:37:07 PM
I think that's in the non-shooter range. Still, I bought a Mark 1 that looked about in that good a condition for around 800 a month ago. Those are getting harder to find, especially in that good a condition.
4/27/2012 8:36:53 PM
Receivers below 800k were subject to sketchy heat treating. I don't think the government would have rebarreled that rifle knowing that but it's possible.
Nice looking rifle either way.
Nice looking rifle either way.
4/27/2012 8:46:26 PM
The s/n dates the receiver around 1910. If you are buying it to shoot I would pass. If you want a wall hanger or help out a friend, maybe 400.
4/27/2012 10:46:23 PM
it's a 1903 that was rebarreled with a SA replacement barrel
no telling who did it or when
low number measn shoot at your own risk,
it is probably worth more as parts, depending on the rest of it,
no telling who did it or when
low number measn shoot at your own risk,
it is probably worth more as parts, depending on the rest of it,
4/28/2012 1:52:08 PM
Low numbered 1903 in primo condition are still very valuable as collectible rifles. Don't let anybody fool you into believing the low number rifles are less valuable than high number rifles just because of the heat treat issue.
The front sight cover is not a "hood". It was intended to protect the front blade during transit. It was not intended to be left in place during use.
Dutch
The front sight cover is not a "hood". It was intended to protect the front blade during transit. It was not intended to be left in place during use.
Dutch
4/28/2012 4:38:05 PM
Originally Posted By Dutch51:
Low numbered 1903 in primo condition are still very valuable as collectible rifles. Don't let anybody fool you into believing the low number rifles are less valuable than high number rifles just because of the heat treat issue.
The front sight cover is not a "hood". It was intended to protect the front blade during transit. It was not intended to be left in place during use.
Dutch
Low numbered 1903 in primo condition are still very valuable as collectible rifles. Don't let anybody fool you into believing the low number rifles are less valuable than high number rifles just because of the heat treat issue.
The front sight cover is not a "hood". It was intended to protect the front blade during transit. It was not intended to be left in place during use.
Dutch
This is the correct answer. Some people should not answer these type of questions as they are uninformed. I have three low number 03's and I shoot them all the time. That is a very nice rifle. You can read all you need to know about low number Springfield 03's here and then make your own decision.
http://m1903.com/03rcvrfail/
4/28/2012 6:27:02 PM
Just know that you cannot fire that rifle in a CMP vintage rifle match. (Yes, for me that would be a deal killer as I shoot competetively.)
This is directly from the CMP...
WARNING ON “LOW-NUMBER” SPRINGFIELDS
M1903 rifles made before February 1918 utilized receivers and bolts which were single heat-treated by a method that rendered some of them brittle and liable to fracture when fired, exposing the shooter to a risk of serious injury. It proved impossible to determine, without destructive testing, which receivers and bolts were so affected and therefore potentially dangerous.
To solve this problem, the Ordnance Department commenced double heat treatment of receivers and bolts. This was commenced at Springfield Armory at approximately serial number 800,000 and at Rock Island Arsenal at exactly serial number 285,507. All Springfields made after this change are commonly called “high number” rifles. Those Springfields made before this change are commonly called “low-number” rifles.
In view of the safety risk the Ordnance Department withdrew from active service all “low-number” Springfields. During WWII, however, the urgent need for rifles resulted in the rebuilding and reissuing of many “low-number” as well as “high-number” Springfields. The bolts from such rifles were often mixed during rebuilding, and did not necessarily remain with the original receiver.
Generally speaking, “low number” bolts can be distinguished from “high-number” bolts by the angle at which the bolt handle is bent down. All “low number” bolts have the bolt handle bent straight down, perpendicular to the axis of the bolt body. High number bolts have “swept-back” (or slightly rearward curved) bolt handles.
A few straight-bent bolts are of the double heat-treat type, but these are not easily identified, and until positively proved otherwise ANY straight-bent bolt should be assumed to be “low number”. All original swept-back bolts are definitely “high number”. In addition, any bolt marked “N.S.” (for nickel steel) can be safely regarded as “high number” if obtained directly from CMP (beware of re-marked fakes).
CMP DOES NOT RECOMMEND FIRING ANY SPRINGFIELD RIFLE WITH A ”LOW NUMBER” RECEIVER. Such rifles should be regarded as collector’s items, not “shooters”.
This is directly from the CMP...
WARNING ON “LOW-NUMBER” SPRINGFIELDS
M1903 rifles made before February 1918 utilized receivers and bolts which were single heat-treated by a method that rendered some of them brittle and liable to fracture when fired, exposing the shooter to a risk of serious injury. It proved impossible to determine, without destructive testing, which receivers and bolts were so affected and therefore potentially dangerous.
To solve this problem, the Ordnance Department commenced double heat treatment of receivers and bolts. This was commenced at Springfield Armory at approximately serial number 800,000 and at Rock Island Arsenal at exactly serial number 285,507. All Springfields made after this change are commonly called “high number” rifles. Those Springfields made before this change are commonly called “low-number” rifles.
In view of the safety risk the Ordnance Department withdrew from active service all “low-number” Springfields. During WWII, however, the urgent need for rifles resulted in the rebuilding and reissuing of many “low-number” as well as “high-number” Springfields. The bolts from such rifles were often mixed during rebuilding, and did not necessarily remain with the original receiver.
Generally speaking, “low number” bolts can be distinguished from “high-number” bolts by the angle at which the bolt handle is bent down. All “low number” bolts have the bolt handle bent straight down, perpendicular to the axis of the bolt body. High number bolts have “swept-back” (or slightly rearward curved) bolt handles.
A few straight-bent bolts are of the double heat-treat type, but these are not easily identified, and until positively proved otherwise ANY straight-bent bolt should be assumed to be “low number”. All original swept-back bolts are definitely “high number”. In addition, any bolt marked “N.S.” (for nickel steel) can be safely regarded as “high number” if obtained directly from CMP (beware of re-marked fakes).
CMP DOES NOT RECOMMEND FIRING ANY SPRINGFIELD RIFLE WITH A ”LOW NUMBER” RECEIVER. Such rifles should be regarded as collector’s items, not “shooters”.
4/29/2012 4:05:47 AM
I shoot my low numbers but thats me. The rifle survived a second Blue Pill when that barrel was replaced so it wouldnt bother me. You need to do your own research though.
The stock is also a wartime replacement. Not much there thats original to the receiver date other than the receiver. Nice looking rifle, but the rebuild with newer (and mixed) parts and the park refinish that came along with it has ruined any real collector value the rifle may have had.
$550 tops.
The stock is also a wartime replacement. Not much there thats original to the receiver date other than the receiver. Nice looking rifle, but the rebuild with newer (and mixed) parts and the park refinish that came along with it has ruined any real collector value the rifle may have had.
$550 tops.
4/29/2012 4:08:21 AM
Originally Posted By GUTS:
This is the correct answer. Some people should not answer these type of questions as they are uninformed. I have three low number 03's and I shoot them all the time. That is a very nice rifle. You can read all you need to know about low number Springfield 03's here and then make your own decision.
http://m1903.com/03rcvrfail/
Originally Posted By Dutch51:
Low numbered 1903 in primo condition are still very valuable as collectible rifles. Don't let anybody fool you into believing the low number rifles are less valuable than high number rifles just because of the heat treat issue.
The front sight cover is not a "hood". It was intended to protect the front blade during transit. It was not intended to be left in place during use.
Dutch
Low numbered 1903 in primo condition are still very valuable as collectible rifles. Don't let anybody fool you into believing the low number rifles are less valuable than high number rifles just because of the heat treat issue.
The front sight cover is not a "hood". It was intended to protect the front blade during transit. It was not intended to be left in place during use.
Dutch
This is the correct answer. Some people should not answer these type of questions as they are uninformed. I have three low number 03's and I shoot them all the time. That is a very nice rifle. You can read all you need to know about low number Springfield 03's here and then make your own decision.
http://m1903.com/03rcvrfail/
If its a USMC sight cover, and it looks like may well be...hard to tell from the angle of the pic, it was designed to be left on the rifle and serve as a hood. Uncle Sam's Misguided Children made it so!
4/29/2012 2:54:12 PM
Thanks guys for the input.
As usual, great info!
As usual, great info!
4/29/2012 6:10:08 PM
Originally Posted By GUTS:
This is the correct answer. Some people should not answer these type of questions as they are uninformed. I have three low number 03's and I shoot them all the time. That is a very nice rifle. You can read all you need to know about low number Springfield 03's here and then make your own decision.
http://m1903.com/03rcvrfail/
Originally Posted By Dutch51:
Low numbered 1903 in primo condition are still very valuable as collectible rifles. Don't let anybody fool you into believing the low number rifles are less valuable than high number rifles just because of the heat treat issue.
The front sight cover is not a "hood". It was intended to protect the front blade during transit. It was not intended to be left in place during use.
Dutch
Low numbered 1903 in primo condition are still very valuable as collectible rifles. Don't let anybody fool you into believing the low number rifles are less valuable than high number rifles just because of the heat treat issue.
The front sight cover is not a "hood". It was intended to protect the front blade during transit. It was not intended to be left in place during use.
Dutch
This is the correct answer. Some people should not answer these type of questions as they are uninformed. I have three low number 03's and I shoot them all the time. That is a very nice rifle. You can read all you need to know about low number Springfield 03's here and then make your own decision.
http://m1903.com/03rcvrfail/
Wow great read, thanks!
