My friend bought one for $14.50 too, it was a Remington 1903A3 exc plus condition. Later he bought a DMC Colt M1911 for around the
same price.
Certain military retail outlets Like the Great Lakes Naval Base, sold barreled action 1903A3's for $10 each to anyone, also 1903 barrels
were $3 each. Most of the barrels had light rust down the first half inch or less in the bore cause by "boots" marching in the rain. They
said that the barreled actions came from damaged stocks during training. Low number 1903's were not sold to the public