1903 Remington/Springfield barrel found in my tool box...
While I was working as a mechanic, in 1973, a co-worker, knowing I was into guns, gave me a rifle barrel. I layed in the back of a drawer, in my rollaway, and promptly forgot about it.
Yesterday, thirty-seven years later, I finally remembered the barrel. Thinking that it was going to be a long, tubular, hunk of rust after all of this time, I went to the garage and found it. With a very few handling marks, and no dings in the Parkerizing, it is in perfect shape...!
Wonder of wonders, it is a 03 Springfield barrel, made by Remington, and marked 7-44. The bore is bright and shiney. The barrel has all of it's required proof marks. What a great find, and in great condition, after all of these years.
There isn't a sight blade installed, and it looks like a sight blade was never installed. And looking carefully at the chamber end of the barrel, I don't think this barrel has ever been installed on a rifle.
The barrel is a two groove barrel, which in the grand scheme of things, doesn't mean much of anything, good or bad.
Sometimes, good things really do happen.
Bill
Gunbroker.com is better place to sell than gun show.
I find that the number of people that know the value and actually come by your booth, or are willing to buy for resale at a booth is small. You need to go to the end user and cut out the middleman.
If I had that barrel I would put it on GB with a starting value of $150.00, no reserve for a week and see where she goes. I have seen new 03 barrels with sights go from 175 to 200+.
Depending on users need and "really good pictures", you might get top dollar.
Cheers
Tom
PS This is just my opinion, other may differ!
PPS If you do GB let us know, I just might bid on it!