Sears Roebuck 1903 Springfield

[crazycossack]

I wanted to share some pics of an old 1903 I ran across recently. I was told it was bought from Sears in 1962 or so. I think the barrel, receiver, and stock are original, but think it has been rebuilt as the bolt is much later and the handguard has been repaired. I look forward to you guys comments....

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Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Fred G.]

Well, it has an early single bolt stock that's not been sanded. What's the barrel date?

[Calif-Steve]

A real USMC vet? Looks that way.

[crazycossack]

Barrel date of 10-09.

[barbarossa]

I distinctly remember seeing racks of 1903 Springfields for sale in a Sears store in San Antonio Texas in 1962. Story sounds believable to me.

[Rick the Librarian]

I remember seeing them in ads in the paper in those days. About $45, a little higher than the going rate IIRC.

[DeputyBill]

Nice representative rifle, CC!
That's interesting about Sears, too. I had never heard that before but, maybe since I'm not yet 50.
-Bill

[Rick the Librarian]

Sears used to list (and sell) a lot of guns, mostly "sporting" but some surplus. The "Ted Williams"-brand rifles and shotguns you occasionally see on Gunbroker and other locations, were marketed by Sears in the late 1950s and 1960s. I remember, in particular, when I was about 12 (very early 1960s) trying to talk my parents into getting me a .22 in the Sears Christmas catalog (which was the high point of every child's holiday season, back then).

[emmagee1917]

Ah , yes. Sears catalog. My BB rifle and pistol came from there. When I proved I was responsible , a rifle was promised me for my birthday. I picked out a lever action repeating rifle ( westerns were big on TV then ) and waited. A couple of days before my birthday a fellow came through , hard up for cash for gas to get somewhere. He stopped by my dad's shop looking to sell stuff out of his trunk to raise money. My dad gave him $5 for a single shot bolt action 765 Pioneer . I was unhappy with that gun over what I wanted , but looking back , I don't think I would be as near a good of a shot as I've been through my life if I had been given a repeater. Shot countless rounds through it , always saving my money to be able to buy two bricks by the time I'd shot the first up. Did this till K-mart had a sale on .22s at $.59 a box ( reg was .79 to .89 IIRC ) , limit 10 boxes. Took my money in to buy a brick ( I was about 9-10 ) . Teenager at the register said a brick was a box. Opened and explained to him the difference between a box and a brick , he said I was wrong and stupid , got into an argument , and I ended up leaving the store with 10 bricks for $ 5.90 and tax. Now I was a kid at the time and let my temper get the better of me , but the herd of adults that jumped in behind me to get the same deal have no such excuse. Anyway , I moved on to bigger guns and left the .22s behind till a few years ago when I bought the WW2 Reising M65 . Shot up all that old ammo from the '60s , never a problem.
Chris

[Salt Flat]

Very cool-- I like the "Look" of this rifle. It appears to really have seen some service in the trenches or on the front. I wouldn't mess with it at all except to find the correct bolt and to wipe it down with light oil. I wouldn't classify this rifle as a "rebuild" as it doesn't seem to have an arsenal rebuild stamp and the barrel has not been replaced. I like the buttplate which smacks of trench art. (USMC Modified???) Nice find! Salt Flat