1903 Springfield

[Jwaynep]

Hello, I wanted to ask a question to anyone that may know an answer. I'm looking at a 1903 Springfield rifle that was bought by a gentleman in 1950. it is still in the wax paper/ cosmolean wrap and the box it was shipped in. My friend has the rifle and wants me to find out a little more about it. I have researched the rifle and it isn't worth much, (extremely bubbafied). A local gunsmith told my friend that the box is worth more than the rifle. The box is intact but old and brittle, the original paperwork is with it along with the shipping tags. The buyers name and address along with the arsenal it came from. Which is: General Supply Raritan Arsenal, Metuchen, NJ. 06/28/50. He is more concerned about the box than anything else. Is it possibly a collectors item and if it is would it be worth much? Thank you for any help, Jeff

Information

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[twh]

If it is still in cosmolene how has it been bubbified? To value it you will need to post detailed pictures but the box by itself is worth nothing it's the total package that would create value.

[Jwaynep]

OK thanks for the info. The first buyer cleaned the gun in1950 and shot it twice wrapped it up and put it back in the box. The wraper was still covered. I'll get some pics and post them. Thanks Jeff

[browningautorifle]

By starting another thread you've confused the issue. If the stock was cut down there's little value. The bore was "Dark"? again less value...the grease doesn't matter. That is if this is the same rifle... Military Surplus Collectors Forums

[Jwaynep]

I apologize for starting the other thread but he gave me the wrong sn on the first post. It is the same rifle as described in the first thread except the sn. The gunsmith told him the gun was not worth much, that the box was worth more. He was thinking that the box was worth some money. He's an older gentleman and tends to get stuck on issues that concern him. Today he gave me the rifle and box because I refused to charge him for putting in a furnace and AC for him. I posted a few minutes ago about that. I just started looking at the paperwork with it and noticed that it says that it would need gone over by a gunsmith before it could be used, it also notes the headspace requirement. Sorry for the confusion.

[browningautorifle]

Easiest way for us to determine anything is to put some clear pics here and the serial number. Then we can at least look and see what's what...

[Promo]

Probably it's something worthful, probably the gunsmith tried to tell the owner some story so he'd get it cheaply. Probably he meant sporterized, because there were some NM features on it, which plain service rifles didn't have. Anyway, post pictures of the rifle and we are able to help, the other things are just like blinds talking on colours.

[browningautorifle]

Probably it's something worthful, probably the gunsmith tried to tell the owner some story so he'd get it cheaply

You should read all of his info...on this. I doubt the gunsmith was trying to get it at all. Not a diamond in the rough...

It has no sights, barrel is dark but rifling looks ok. It has 3 42 by the front sight along with several ugly punch marks. The stock has been butchered, bad.

[Calif-Steve]

Boy, oh boy. I am confused. It is a old bubbafied rifle but the box is valuable, oh, no it is... I am confused. Please post 4-5 pictures. Then we will figure this one out.

[browningautorifle]

Please post 4-5 pictures.

I'm with you there...