Found another M1903 for you guys to look over!

Ok , some of you might have seen this rifle for sale. I think im way way off on trying to deal with the dealer at the price he is asking. Im trying to trade or sell a M1 Garand I have to buy one unless I find a low price one. I figured my M1 would have gotton me a nice one or a par one with a little money added by them.

Heres the details by the owner:

Springfield 1903 Mark I (altered for the Pedersen device), .30-06, 24" barrel in original military configuration, in about 95% condition, with a very good bore. The only significant wear is on the bolt and the sight hood, cartouches visible under finish on left wrist of stock. Also numbered "8" over "44 1" in stock in front of trigger guard/mag. housing; 3 "P's" in circles and an "H" behind trigger guard in stock. Top of barrel behind front sight is marked "SA", over the flaming bomb, over "4-20". Serial number is in the 1,174,000 range, with double heat treated receiver. I don't know whether these came with a glossy finish or not. If they didn't, perhaps someone has added some or waxed the stock, but it had not been sanded or refinished.

This does look very good in the photos. Stock is correct and I think barrel is correct. Appears to be a nice find. What is the price, if I may ask? For some reason I suspect this is for sale at real money.

Would 3,600 be real money? He offerd me 1,200 for my Garand off the price and he said thats what the 03' books at.

At $3600 ... that rifle is a steal ... for the SELLER!! Grossly overpriced, to the tune of about 5x to 6x.

The rifle has been rebuilt/refinished. The receiver has the Hatcher Hole, which dates to WWII. Don't walk away ... RUN!! The barrel, receiver and stock are all that is correct. I have no clue where the seller got the $3600 pricetag - that is about double what a correct Mark I would be worth and about 10% of the worth if it still had the Pedersen Device.

It is a nice-looking rifle, but I think the seller has been smoking something illegal to come up with $3600!!

Thanks , I agree. I dont understand what book he used to look up the prices but ive Never seen a 03' for that kind of money. I figured that might be a thousand dollar rifle.

Is the Hatcher Hole what people call the hole for the Pedersen device?

Part of my last email :

Jay,
The Mark I’s are what they are. We put this one at 95% but it is as good as I’ve seen outside a museum. At 100%, the gun books at $4,950.00. So we shaved some off. As with all the other stuff, it’s a matter of condition and rarity. I wish we had the Perdersen device to go along with it ($18,000 to $25,000).

As I said, the guy is smoking something illegal, to come up with $4950. The rifle may be 95%, but 95% REBUILT! The seller is either grossly ignorant or grossly dishonest - either one is reason to steer clear.

The cutoff has been definitely replaced. If it has 2-3 Ps aft of the trigger guard, it is a sign that the rifle (or the rifle that the stock was attached originally) has been rebuilt (or inspected) at least twice! The Hatcher Hole is the small hole on the left side of the rifle, which was added to provide a safer outlet for any escaping gasses when a bad cartridge let go. The ejection port for the Pedersen Device is the capsule-shaped hole just aft of the Hatcher Hole.

The Mark I was manufactured in 1918-1920 ... about 20+ years before it would have acquired a Hatcher Hole.

Now thats knowledge you can use! Im going to pass that info on to the seller and maybe , just maybe get a better deal. I just hope if he is honest and didnt know better that he didnt pay 3k for the rifle and thats why he cant drop his price.

We will see. Thank you again Rick.

A "better deal" would be more like $800-900 tops!! I seriously doubt if he is going to lower his price 80% or so. If I were you, I'd look somewhere else. If you want to email/PM me we can discuss this in more detail. Do some "homework" studying M1903s and then start looking. JMHO, of course.

RtL

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rick the Librarian

A "better deal" would be more like $800-900 tops!!
...Do some "homework" studying M1903s and then start looking. JMHO, of course.

RtL

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Jay, I was thinking exactly what Rick has already stated, FWIW.
There's no substitute for being well-informed thru education! This is a subject that has new things for me to learn every time I delve into it. My guess is you're an honest guy who wants to share in this gratifying hobby & I commend you for stepping cautiously before parting with your hard-earned money. Be patient; many good people here can assist you directly & indirectly, via their shared knowledge within their posts.
Good luck!

Both of you are right, im trying to learn everything I can about each rifle im looking to collect. I have the 03' book I was told about on order along with a 3rd Scott Duff book about the Garand. This hobby is real fun , I enjoy the history of it all and after being in the Military I knwo where it comes from.

I agree , I dont think his price will go down 80% , just sad to see that I wont be able to get that one. It seems im going in the right direction with rifles, I go from a ex drill rifle junk to a rebuilt one but at least this ones not junk , not worth the 3,800 price, but not junk. I will still be on the hunt for one and try selling a Garand I have to buy or trade for one. This forum really really does help. , Jay

For some reason I thought real money was involved. I have to agree with Rick, at $1200.00, I would be offering less. The Mk1's are fun, but understand all of the correct Mk1 parts are expensive and difficult to find. Pass on this one.

For anything that high id sure have to sell something I have to buy it. I figured id buy one in the 800-900 range for a correct WW1 dated 03' . Its passed on also. I did give the guy some of the info you guys shared on the rifle. Maybe he will learn something., Jay

I have been seeing many Mark I 1903's being offered on GunBroker for what appears to be very inflated prices. I think that these sellers think that just because it is a Mark I, that it is truely very valuable. On many that I have seen, the only Mark I feature left on the rifle is the receiver....replacement stocks, No Mark I sear, replacement bolts, etc.....and they still ask stupid money for it. I remember at a gunshow in Florida several years ago, this guy was selling a plain 1903 manufactures about 1927. His sign said "Last Year of Production" which he said justified his price of $1500.
I suppose all it takes is one uninformed buyer for these guys to make thier money.

Could be one of several things:

1) They bought the rifle for an inflated price and are trying to get their money back

2) They REALLY do think they have a treasure (usually as a result of misinterpreting the Blue Book or anothert source

3) Members of the IOTOS Club ("It only takes one sucker")

:D