Remington 1903a1 and Springfield 1903Mk1

A local shop has these rifles for sale. The Remington appears to have been restocked as there are no proof marks or other marks to be found. There is a repair around the magazine area. Stock is pistol grip and looks like it might have been sanded at one time. Bright blue bolt, not much finish on receiver, 10-42 barrel. Rs all over the place. Did not see one on forend metal but did not have time for close exam of it.

03Mk1 looks quite original with high top cover, and much of the original finish. Barrel is 1915. Condition is very good. Not blue but rather a black type of finish, not park.

Values? Thanks in advance

I have personally never found a 1903 of any kind, cheaper than $1,500 anywhere around here. The ones that I have seen are all junk too. loose fit and cracked/chipped stocks or stock parts, bent or mashed sights, poor finish, low serial numbers, usually before the better heat treat process. Most were not even matching parts, and some of them had very poor rifleing left in the barrel at all, very pitted to add to all that. So I never once elected to "throw my money away like that" I don't know how much money the local shops had in them, and I don't care, they wouldn't take a dime less for any of them.
I would love to have found a good one in my search, but I have not found a single good 1903 of any type around here. The best looking one, with all matching parts that I did find, was bubba'd up so bad, it made my eyes hurt to see it. They removed the sights, and left grinder marks all over it, then "crooked-drilled" the receiver so bad a mount wouldn't even fit it. Now, I must say, that one rifle looked in better shape than all the other complete unaltered ones I saw, as far as the bore go's. It was a shame too that someone also hack-sawed the stock off all crooked as well. "Sad sight to see that rifle in that shape" however it did have a smaller asking price of $500.00 as compared to the others.
I personally would like to know what's the deal with the high priced junkers? don't anybody grade them on condition anymore? Gee wizz!

I just got reamed from a California dealer when I asked his justification of $1,950 for a rebuilt 1903 MK1 rifle. Only thing Mk1 on it was the receiver. He told me to basically, "STFU!"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jason60chev

I just got reamed from a California dealer when I asked his justification of $1,950 for a rebuilt 1903 MK1 rifle. Only thing Mk1 on it was the receiver. He told me to basically, "STFU!"

---

I guess dealers like the ones we have encountered can just simply "Wish in one hand and crap in the other" cause I for one am not giving $1K plus dollars on a "junker 1903" rifle. You are right, they can't justify any of it, they can how ever... "dream on!"

FYI, if he has the Remington advertised as a 1903A1,,, they never made such a thing. An A1 is an 03 with scant or C stock made after 1928 or 29, remington never turned out a 1903 (A1)in a scant or C stock, they were all the straight (S) thus 1903's.

Values are in the $550-650 range if the bores are at least very good - maybe a little more on the Remington if it has a C stock. I agree with Hillbilly and Jason, that "local" M1903s are typically overpriced and underdescribed. This often comes about because they misread a bluebook or some auction site which shows a pristine M1903 and they think this applies to theirs.