Looking at a Springfield 1903

[Gun Runner]

Friend asked me ifin I was interested in a 30/06 he had. It was left to him by a family member. S/N 1445xxx, which after looking it up tells me it was made in 1934. Last time it was shot was in 1980. Has a Remington wood stock, that has been shortend. BBL has been turned down, the bolt has been replaced with a new one. No numbers on the bolt. It is the right bolt for a 1903. Action a little stiff, but some slick 50 should cure that. BBl is clean and in good shape. Some body put a Marbles rear sight on it (sliding buckhorn), and a new dovetailed  front sight. It appears to be around 70/75 percent condition. Any ballpark ideas what a fair value for it might be?

Gun Runner

[jro45]

I was looking at one yesterday at a gun shop. He had one that the rifling was almost gone for $150.00 then he had another that had real good rifling he was asking $990.00 for it. So I hope this helps  

[Coyote Hunter]

Gun Runner –

A “fair” value is one that makes both the buyer and the seller happy.  I wouldn’t go any more than $125 for it.

For me it’s all about “opportunity cost” – what else could I get for the same money?  Although I often look at military rifles at the gun shows I have never bought one.  The problem is there are simply too many good, used, modern firearms in the $200-$300 range for me to justify buying an older rifle and spending money on it.  Heck, if I want an inexpensive .30-06 rifle that will shoot as-is or for the basis of a project gun, I’ll run down to any of a number of local stores and buy a new Stevens for $199.  Or a new Savage with an Accu-Trigger and scope for $329.

Here’s some of acquisitions I’ve made in the last 5 years:
$250 == Marlin .45-70 (made in 2000), like new
$350 == Marlin 375Win (made in 1981), included $100 of ammo and dies, excellent condition
$225 == Marlin .30-30 (made in 1989), excellent condition
$400 == Ruger .257 Roberts (made in 1989), with Leupold M8 4x scope, like new
$225 == Ruger .357 Blackhawk, stainless, like new
$375 == Ruger .300 Win Mag, NEW

That said, if you’re a fan of military firearms the “fair” price might be much higher than anything I would be willing to pay.

[lilabner]

Sounds like this rifle has been semi "sporterized" which takes it out of the category of a collectable military rifle and makes it a hunting rifle. I have a 1903 manufactured the same year which was sporterized in the 1940s by a professional gunsmith - custom stock, buehler safety, new trigger assembly, trigger guard cut down and customized, like new 4 groove GI barrel installed, bolt modified, speed lock installed, beautiful blue job. It has been in our family for over 60 years and has taken a lot of game. It is a beautiful rifle. It weighs in at 9 lb. 3 oz. with a 3x9 scope mounted and an empty magazine. I no longer carry it on mountain hunts because it is too darn heavy for these old bones to tote but used it hunting whitetails from a blind last year.  If in good condition, a rifle like the one you are talking about would be worth about $200.  If I wanted a rifle in that price range, I would buy a new Stevens 200.

[jerkface11]

While you might get a savage or a stevens for the same price, price isn't everything. Will a stevens be have an action as smooth as a springfield? I doubt it. I paid $320 for my sporterized springfield. And it's worth more than that to me. It has a slick smooth action. Beautiful metal work. A gorgeous stock. And it shoots nice little groups. I guess i could have bought a pakerized plastic remchester though.

[Big Paulie]

No matter how you look at it, the rifle is not worth more than $125 to $150 tops.  Since the bolt has no serial numbers on it, I highly suspect that it is a cheap replacement bolt, such as the ones sold by Numrich Arms,  which are pretty crudely made.  They are almost always sticky and ill fitting.   Don't count on the bolt getting much "slicker" no matter what you spray on it.

   And since it is a replacement, you really need to have the head space checked.  Another added expense.

   I say, . . pass it by.  It is a money sink.

Big Paulie