Saw SA #237 today...

[Homer2]

...and it was priced at under $800. Guy also had a 25,000 range rifle as well for around $600. I'm not that into buying 03's right now, especially one's I can't fire, but I love to look.

About #237. Looks like it had a early 1st variation bolt with the straight handle, finger groove stock with no early cartouche and what looked like a WW2 handguard. Rear sight looked like a normal WW1 era. Didn't look too closely at it. Front sight had a WW2 cover on it.

The barrel had NO markings on it. Nothing. It almost reminded me of a commercial barrel as the muzzle wasn't rounded, but had a bit of an inlet. Hard to explain, but like it had a larger diameter than the bore drilled just to make a mark on the crown. Looked like it was made that way and not tampered with, just different than my other 03's.

If it's an original barrel, I may consider going back. If it's a commercial replacement barrel, it still looks pretty nice, but no thanks.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[John Beard]

...and it was priced at under $800. Guy also had a 25,000 range rifle as well for around $600. I'm not that into buying 03's right now, especially one's I can't fire, but I love to look.

About #237. Looks like it had a early 1st variation bolt with the straight handle, finger groove stock with no early cartouche and what looked like a WW2 handguard. Rear sight looked like a normal WW1 era. Didn't look too closely at it. Front sight had a WW2 cover on it.

The barrel had NO markings on it. Nothing. It almost reminded me of a commercial barrel as the muzzle wasn't rounded, but had a bit of an inlet. Hard to explain, but like it had a larger diameter than the bore drilled just to make a mark on the crown. Looked like it was made that way and not tampered with, just different than my other 03's.

If it's an original barrel, I may consider going back. If it's a commercial replacement barrel, it still looks pretty nice, but no thanks.

Your description does not indicate that the rifle likely had its original barrel. The only unmarked original barrels were rod bayonet barrels and a few experimental M1905 barrels. The barrel you describe may be that of a Sedgley Ersatz rifle.

In all likelihood, the rifle should be valued as an accumulation of various parts with the low serial number receiver perhaps being the most valuable.

Hope this helps.

J.B.