thoughts on 1903?

[jayveesea]

hello,

i have acquired an unfinished 1903 Springfield project, where it looks like the goal was to sporterize it. the condition is as follows...
- the receiver/action, bolt, and barrel are all assembled together and look to be in decent condition
- the receiver is a SA and one of the low numbered ones (582xxx)
- the barrel is a SA and dated 8-42, the barrel had a ground down rear site base (which i have removed)
- the stock was shortened and sanded (and has a crack in it), and is of the scant variety.

i am not really interested in a sporterized 1903, so i am curious what others would do with these parts??? right now i am thinking about trying to find a stock for it and putting it back to somewhat original condition... but is there much point in trying to find the "correct" stock (since the barrel does not match)? or is the whole thing pointless since it is low numbered receiver?

thanks,
-jvc

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Short answer...probably. What can you do after? Hang it up and look at it? If you sell it, the next guy will trot it out to shoot it immediately. Then he'll come here and tell us...

[jayveesea]

thanks for the feedback.

i am curious if there is any suggestions from anyone who would go ahead and try to restore it. would you look for a finger-groove "S" stock? or maybe a scant stock for 1903 (since the barrel was replaced in '42)?

thanks,
-jvc

[Eaglelord17]

Personally I don't feel it is worth the effort to restore it especially considering it shouldn't be considered a shooter at all (in my opinion the US government when they sold the low numbered rifles out as surplus should have either deactivated it or stripped them for parts and destroyed the receivers as they are a potential explosion waiting to happen).

[Salt Flat]

Jay, Assuming the barrel is not cut, here is a very rough estimate for parts to restore. stock 150 to 300, Rear sight base 50 to 80, rear sight 30 to 50, handgaurd 30, Band set and stock hardware 50 to 100.
So a low total of $310 to a hgh of $560. So you can see it really is not very cost effective. If you look around you can buy a shootable high number 03 or an 03a3 for not too much more. I have some sporterized rifles like yours that I have more or less earned to accept as they are. They are still interesting to look at and at some future point may provide some great parts for a project that has a little more potential. Salt Flat

[Calif-Steve]

Salt Flat is correct. Not a good idea and lots of money on a low number, too boot. Pass on this one.

[jayveesea]

thanks for all of the feed back! it was very helpful.

-jvc