Buy the gun not the story

[scmcgeorge]

Aside from the story.... any thoughts on GB auction # 325113925 RIA Model 1903 Rifle # 226776. TIA Steve McG

Information

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[Promo]

Besides the story, VERY nice rifle in absolutely beautiful condition! You have to love the early M1903

[Chuckindenver]

nice rifle...story is just that...a story...without proof. its just a tail.
please post a link to these, to make it easier for other to see. its not that hard.
Rock Island Arsenal Model 1903 Rifle, 30-06, Rare : Bolt Action Rifles at GunBroker.com

[joem]

Nice rifle, but seems a bit high to me.

[Promo]

For a pre WWI rifle in such a nice condition the price still is rather good, that's at least my experience. I expect it to sell for a higher price, maybe $ 1200 to $ 1500?

[Fred G.]

notice how in two of the photo's the rear sight windage adjustment knob was mounted on the LEFT side. Oops, he explained that at the end of the description.

[Rick the Librarian]

I'd be willing to bet the rifle is a NRA Sales rifle. A lot of RIAs in that range were. The story might be good told around the fireplace or campfire, but I highly doubt it is true.The vast number of stories about "bring-backs" are just that - stories.

---------- Post added at 05:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:42 PM ----------

Nice rifle, but seems a bit high to me.

If you find any correct, original RIA pre-WWI rifles for $1000, I'll buy all you have!!

[Calif-Steve]

Gun was in WWI? Troop killed but gave it away as he dies? Oh, please, enough bull. Nice looker, but I doubt it ever saw combat. But, who switched the rear sight knob? Looks odd to me, likely not done on active duty, has been in a shooters hand for some amount of time.

[Chuckindenver]

in the hundreds of 1903s and A3,s with bring back stories...iv seen 3 that were legit...one was a 1903A4, the other a 1903A1 USMC snipers rifle, and another A3 so rusted you can barley make it out as a 1903A3, the A4 is in a buddies collection, old lady was humping around a gunshow in fair shape, full of dust, original scope, sling, and duffle cut, with a story of her brother in WW2 carried it in Europe, with pics of him with said rifle, said it was under his bed loaded for over 60 years, he was scared {in her words} the Fkn Germans were going to come back and kill us all lol..
she wouldnt sell me the rifle, i dont think she liked my tattoos,,but did sell the rifle to a retired cop friend of mine, he still owns the rifle, along with the pics and info.
the USMC snipers rifle is in a private collection, here in Denver, in a large collection owned by an ex manager from Remington arms, rifle is rough, has seen combat, scope is bent, rusted, and sits in a displat case, with pics, paper work, ect, like the A4...i belive it to be the real thing.
the A3 is in a private collection, of a close friend, who was a vet, but after WW2, and was stationed in France, said he picked it up off the ground one morning during guard duty, just as it is.
i have seen a couple other WW2 weapons that were likely real bring backs...but all had proof {capture papers} or other documents, pics, magazine articles ect, to back up the story.
but 90% of my dad or grandpa brought this back from the war...or just feel good stories.

[TDH]

Are you sure? Why the story I got on that thar rifle gun was it was the one that ole U.S. Grant used when he single handedly stormed the shores of Montazuma and the halls of Tripoli and captured the top of Mount Ariat and never even had to reload