Time to sell your 1903A3's

What do you think the reason is? If I had some paperwork and a rebuild stamp, I'd sell my rifle!

1903 springfield 1903a3 w/ paperwork DCM NRA : Curios and Relics at GunBroker.com


Uh-oh! A buyer with no rating! :eek:

People get old and start moving stuff. That's why I'm a beliver that we don't "own" these hunks of wood and rust, but hold them for the next generation. I've got some flack from the repressed bubba bunch about that, but I hold to it. :lol:

I agree. We just guard these pieces of American history for a short while and then pass them on to the next generation.

Fairly high price for an A3. i hope the buyer does the right thing and follows through.
Notwithstanding the RIA and OG stamps I don't see evidence of a rebuild. Eight subinspector marks is unusual.

Just shows what a complete set of high resolution pics can do for you.

Regards,

Jim

OK so here's what's going to happen: the buyer will get cold feet and bail. The seller will re-list it with a starting bid of $1900. You'll see. :D

-Jeff L

agree high dollar...but thats the best auction iv ever seen, great pics, lots of history, paperwork, and not a lot of BS, the only mistake i can see is the sight cover,, its the only SC part on the rifle...
nice finish, likely never been rebuilt, just checked, stamped and put back in a box...nice rifle, first class auction for sure..iv been saying for years..
you want to get top dollar??lots of pics, keep your discription brief and to the point, and dont give a history lesson..keep the BS to a min,.

That was a stupid amount of money for an M1903-A3. I fail to see why a DCM sales receipt would add more than nominal value to an A-3. The receipt tells you nothing - most high condition A3's were sold by DCM in the 1950s or early '60s. There is no news there. You don't need paperwork to determine if the rifle is original and the paperwork doesn't tell you if it. Documentation adds value if confirms some unique feature (identification of a National Match 03 or M1) or provides historic context (issue to a particular unit or significant individual). The sales recipt with the rifle in question does neither. I can't get excited about M1903-A3 rifles, they really don't have any historic association and, frankly, after you have seen one original RA and one original SC you have pretty much seen them all. However, I note that nearly every post involves M1903A3 questions or comments so I am obviously missing something.

One must remember there is a TV show on HBO that is once again going to drive rifle prices to the point of insanity. Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, and now the Pacific are the three things that drove rifle prices up the most is the last 15 years. All the 03A3's in the first two shows and somebody just had to have one. Just my .02 worth.

remember, we all have our pet rifles and pistols that we want..but to make a number rise so much, at least 3 guys have to have the same weak streak for said rifle.
could be anything from...that was just like my dads rifle, or something other.. we all collect things for personal reasons... and cash be damned so to speak if we want it...

I saw one sell for over $1500 a short time ago and thought the selling price was insane! I have one nicer than the one above and paid 1/3 the price that one sold for four years ago. 1903A3's in 'as new' condition are uncommon, but not particularly rare.
(Of course mine doesn't have rebuild stamps, so maybe it wouldn't sell for astronomical prices!) ;)

I think Chuck is right about the selling technique, and people just looking at good photos, but not really knowing what they are buying(?)

I agree with Tom, BTW. 1903A3's don't have any real combat History (That's why there are so many in new condition), and with all the stamped parts and manufacturing shortcuts, they don't have the allure to me of the 'old world' quality of earlier 1903's. I bought my 1903A3 because of the condition, (and because I couldn't afford a nice 1903 at the time!)

Honestly, this just has to be a 'fluke' - :dunno:

Well, I agree with alot of what you guys said. The NR buyer probably won't pay, crazy amount of money, they're popular (TV, inexpensive, most anyway), too many people with money wanted it, it was a fluke.

But no historic association? No real combat history?

Maybe not alot, but it is still a variation of the 1903. It was used in combat on many WWII battlefields. It was the last bolt-action rifle built for the military. Distributed to numerous countries as post-war military aid.

Lets not forget the A4. Used throughout WWII, Korea, and into Vietnam. It was an A3 with a scope mounted. Period.

The 1903A3 was a purpose-built, no frills rifle. It did its job well. No, its not a jaw-dropper, but I'll always have one. And ever since I've owned one, it always makes the trip to the range.

Like a late war K98k, or last ditch Arisaka, its a result of War. Its U.S. Military firearms history.:cheers:

Well, as an update on the auction, the "NR" buyer of this high-dollar 1903A3 followed through with his purchase, and has since bought a 1903/A3 ordnance manual and a couple of bayonets. It also appears that the other bidders (it takes at least two to have an auction) were not rookies, so only time will tell whether $1975 is a new high-water mark or was just a fluke.

Cheers,
Peconga in Boise, Idaho

Fluke. The seller probably couldn't stay in his chair as he watched the auction. Then he most likely prayed the buyer would make good.

After the bid reached $1000, all bidders except 2 dropped out. $1,000 is a more accurate value.

As much as I like the Rem A3 I own, I'll gladly sell it for twice it's value.

Interesting to have both Ogden and Rock Island check-test marks. Quite a travelled rifle!

Seems like a very high price, but some guys collect for condition only. I have seen mummy wrapped rifles sell for less recently. I don't think the sling was a Kerr sling. Looked like a faded out or bleached cling.

No, that's not a Kerr sling. Maybe early tan pattern, but I've had more copies than real ones...