The M1903 rifle is still common enough depending on what model you want and what degree of originality you want.  The best model was the Model '03A3 (M1903A3) with the rear mounted sights.  The most romantic is the original M1903 of WW1 SGT York fame -- even though he didn't use it.  :)  I'm happy to have both models.  I once owned a M1903A4 but was offered a stupid amount of money for it.

Like any US military rifle the M1903 went thru depot clean and repair probably several times during it's service life.  Mine "first year of issue" -- 1905 -- went thru at least two.  The first converted it from .30-03 to .30-06 caliber and another time it got a late WW1 reinforced stock.

There are also many modern M1903 builds on original receivers with almost all other parts including the barrels of recent manufacture.

According to no less authority as General Hatcher the M1917 Rifle, the primary rifle of US Forces in WW1, was the best rifle of that war.  Was consigned to war stocks after the war to keep Springfield Armor busy.  The M1917 Rifles did not age well and extraction problems were a major problem 20 years after WW1 when the Philippine Army was issued them during the Japanese invasion.

The low number receiver "problem" is also reputed to be an attempt to generate production at Springfield Armory.  An insignificant number of M1903 rifles blew up.  All with minor injury and almost universally caused by greased cartridges and 7.92 Mauser cartridges (!).  These rifles were never withdrawn from service.  The sky wasn't falling then -- or now.

-- Chuck

Dead link.

-- Chuck