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The GS is asking $2000, too high for even an unissued 03a3. That is why I am trying to obtain opinions of the members of this board to determine a reasonable value to make a counteroffer.
It is a small GS and I have known the owner for many years. I truly believe that both he and the seller believe they have an unissued firearm as neither really knows the original history of it. To them, it is a rare and valuable rifle. To me, I am treating it as a possible investment opportunity. (I already have two 1903's as shooters.)
I have other military arms besides the 1903's that can be easily identified as rebuilds / modified. This one is stumping me. Upon close inspection by me, the pieces do not look like they have been refinished. The parts that should be marked with an "R" are correctly marked, the lettering is crisp which leads me to believe it was not refinished, the stamps on the stock appear to be correct, the screws are not marked/damaged and the surfaces are not worn. It just "looks" so good. However, as noted above, it has a couple of anomalies that are unusual, but based upon my limited research thus far, are in the remote realm of possibility.
If I had the rifle and disassembled it to investigate further, I might be able to assure myself of its actual condition, but unless I purchase it, that option is not available.
I would greatly appreciate any advice that could be offered to find the "smoking gun" attribute on this rifle to determine its true condition. I thought this might be the parked front band and the lack of a barrel date but even those are possible from my research.
If it would help, I could go back and attempt to get some better pictures with better lighting conditions, though that might be in a couple of weeks.
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07-24-2015 10:59 AM
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As you have a good relationship with your local shop, it is probably best to politely decline and leave it at that. No need to go into any details on why you declined. They will sell it to someone else eventually, and you will have avoided a bad investment.
IMO, and I've bought and handled dozens of these guns, it is four times overpriced for an entirely refinished and rebuilt rifle in poor condition. Refer back to my pics on the previous page for a correct looking M1903-A3 with original finish and markings.
If you'd like a decent rebuild, Gunbroker currently has at least a dozen listed in the $6-800 range which are better representatives than the one pictured in the OP. Or, keep an eye out for a nice one on a forum trader. Patience and diligence will help land a nice one.
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Thanks to all that replied, especially martin08. I will take a pass on this 03a3 and wait to see what comes by in the future.
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Originally Posted by
martin08
As you have a good relationship with your local shop, it is probably best to politely decline and leave it at that. No need to go into any details on why you declined. They will sell it to someone else eventually, and you will have avoided a bad investment.
IMO, and I've bought and handled dozens of these guns, it is four times overpriced for an entirely refinished and rebuilt rifle in poor condition. Refer back to my pics on the previous page for a correct looking M1903-A3 with original finish and markings.
If you'd like a decent rebuild, Gunbroker currently has at least a dozen listed in the $6-800 range which are better representatives than the one pictured in the OP. Or, keep an eye out for a nice one on a forum trader. Patience and diligence will help land a nice one.
Price as Martin says. Ray.
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Contributing Member
Not one, but two re-build stamps...RIA and OG....
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I wouldn't be surprised if the owner got hold of a Bluebook or something similar and looked at the value for a "pristine" rifle and just "assumed" his rifle fit the bill!
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
--George Orwell
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Legacy Member
Originally Posted by
Tom in N.J.
Not one, but two re-build stamps...RIA and OG....
The "OG" stamp may not be an issue.
There were a number of 03A3's believed to have been sent from the factory to the Ogden Arsenal, where they were inspected, not rebuilt, stamped "OG" and stored.
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Here's a Remington I picked up last week for 775.00. The bore gauges a "1" and is nice and shiny.
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Originally Posted by
Calfed
The "OG" stamp may not be an issue.
There were a number of 03A3's believed to have been sent from the factory to the Ogden Arsenal, where they were inspected, not rebuilt, stamped "OG" and stored.
I have not heard that theory but it makes sense. I have always heard that OG got unissued rifles, inspected them and stored them. Apparently many were sold by DCM about 50 years ago. There surely are quite of few of them out there that appear near new and are not altered or rebuilt but are stamped OG. I have a Remington and a SC like that but the SC got a Remington butt plate somehow, probably by a prior owner.
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