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86Krag, It is hard to suggest a value on the customized 1903 NRA Sporters. Each has to be judged on an individual basis.
I suggest you do a search of completed auctions on gunauction.com or gunbroker.com. The completed auctions will show you what someone bid or what the actual sales price was. Many are listed again and again with outrageous minimum bids or reserve. The minimum bids are meaningless unless someone bids the amount. You will have to click on the box entitled "smart search" or maybe it is "advanced search". Make sure you bring up the screen of completed auctions. You can select the period of time to be searched. Since there are not a lot of the 1903 NRA Sporters at auction I suggest you search the longest period you can. You should do a search of NRA Sporter or1903 NRA Sporter. Also, make sure it is accurately described. Your rifle is listed on the Springfield Research Service sales list. That is the acid test to prove what it is. There are some authentic 1903 NRA Sporters in existence that are not on the list. Cobbled up parts guns are sometimes represented to be one of these. Beware of them unless an expert can tell you the item is authentic
Within the last year I bought an SRS listed NRA Sporter for about $1,150.00. It was on an internet auction. The metal had about 50% original finish, the wood had been modified similar to your rifle. It had many minor dings and a recoil pad had been added. The checkering was not as good quality as that on your rifle. This year I bought another SRS listed NRA Sporter that had the stock tastefully slimmed down and an aftermarket buttplate added. The stock had not been checkered. I would say the metal was 80% original. I bought it at a gun show for $900.00.
Your gun is in better condition and has better workmanship than either of these. Yesterday at a gun show I talked to a man who had sold an original configuration and about 80% finish SRS listed NRA Sporter for $1,700.00. I had seen the gun at gun shows with a price tag of $2,500.00.
I am providing this information of real world sales. A few years ago I paid $3,650.00 for a 99% original metal and wood NRA Sporter. I was glad to get it at that price.
I trust this information will be of some value to you.
---------- Post added at 01:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:05 PM ----------
86Krag, It is hard to suggest a value on the customized 1903 NRA Sporters. Each has to be judged on an individual basis.
I suggest you do a search of completed auctions on gunauction.com or gunbroker.com. The completed auctions will show you what someone bid or what the actual sales price was. Many are listed again and again with outrageous minimum bids or reserve. The minimum bids are meaningless unless someone bids the amount. You will have to click on the box entitled "smart search" or maybe it is "advanced search". Make sure you bring up the screen of completed auctions. You can select the period of time to be searched. Since there are not a lot of the 1903 NRA Sporters at auction I suggest you search the longest period you can. You should do a search of NRA Sporter or1903 NRA Sporter. Also, make sure it is accurately described. Your rifle is listed on the Springfield Research Service sales list. That is the acid test to prove what it is. There are some authentic 1903 NRA Sporters in existence that are not on the list. Cobbled up parts guns are sometimes represented to be one of these. Beware of them unless an expert can tell you the item is authentic
Within the last year I bought an SRS listed NRA Sporter for about $1,150.00. It was on an internet auction. The metal had about 50% original finish, the wood had been modified similar to your rifle. It had many minor dings and a recoil pad had been added. The checkering was not as good quality as that on your rifle. This year I bought another SRS listed NRA Sporter that had the stock tastefully slimmed down and an aftermarket buttplate added. The stock had not been checkered. I would say the metal was 80% original. I bought it at a gun show for $900.00.
Your gun is in better condition and has better workmanship than either of these. Yesterday at a gun show I talked to a man who had sold an original configuration and about 80% finish SRS listed NRA Sporter for $1,700.00. I had seen the gun at gun shows with a price tag of $2,500.00.
I am providing this information of real world sales. A few years ago I paid $3,650.00 for a 99% original metal and wood NRA Sporter. I was glad to get it at that price.
I trust this information will be of some value to you.
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Here are some more pictures.
And once again thank you for the help
Library Slideshow by taws80 | Photobucket
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I looked at your new pictures and think you have a fine rifle. The work is both professional and well done. I do not recognize the workman but feel I have seen this work before. As I have time I’ll check through some of my “Unknown” files and see if I have anything that matches. A nice rifle, enjoy.
Have you had it out of the wood to see if it might be signed?
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I have checked under the stock and buttplate and could not find any writing or stamps.
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Absolutely beautiful rifle. Good find!
My NRA sporter was also modified. Early 1924 sn also w/o the sn on the bolt. Though mine had a barrel replaced in 1935.
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That's a beautiful rifle.
