$100 Bubba 1903 MK1...

[azerious85]

Ok guys, im new here and found you by accident. thank god. First off i'd like to say this seems like an EXCELLENT forum and lots of knowledgeable members. and i appreciate any help/advice you guys can throw my direction


i currently have on laway a $100 M1903 springfield mk1. i will have pics soon but now need help based on my description. the rifle has what appears to be a sporter stock with a rough cut halfway down a normal 1903 stock. no reaer sight, just a dovetail groove for one. has the front sight blade sporter post. No magazine follower or spring. aftermarket barrel with no markings, but has no pitting and throat erosion did not look to bad. plus rifling appears strong and could not see rust or pitting. reciever has been drilled and tapped for a scope, the bolt has no markings and is a of a curved style almost like a "J". my question is, is this worth $100? im trying to do a BASIC restore to MY liking. basically a shooter in an original 1903 stock and thats about it really. i would like sights too. i was concerned as there way no markings on the barrel however. i already put down $20 deposit on it and owe $86 more. so is this a good deal? sorry for no pics yet guys. let me know! and i will answer any questions you have and appreciate any responses.

Information

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[Major Tom]

I wouldn't touch it. There are too many things to repair/replace to make it a 'nice' rifle. You should be looking for a genuine 1903 that will not cost you big bucks to restore. My advice: get yer money back.

[Kirk]

From your description, it sounds like the only GI part is the receiver and it has been drilled & tapped. To a "collector", drilling & tapping a receiver ruins the collector value. For a shooter, it makes no difference. Overlooking that, to transform your receiver into a 1903 configuration would be a major project. Most likely, your barrel is not the same contour as a GI barrel and would not fit the stock. If it were larger than GI dimensions, a machinist could turn down the contour; it also has to be 24" long. That's expensive work & a new barrel would be cheaper. All of the parts you need: bolt; magazine parts, trigger guard, floor plate, upper & lower bands, butt plate & lower swivel, are readily available but cost $$. The Mark 1 had several special parts, different than a standard 1903, in the receiver; for a shooter, it makes no difference if they are there. For a collector, it doe$!

If you want to involve yourself in a "project" a transformation will take considerable time, effort & money. If you want a good shooter, shop around. A complete rifle in good condition is likely to cost less than your transformation project.

At this point, it'd even be worthwhile to give up your $20 deposit; the time & effort saved would justify that UNLESS, your Mark 1 receiver has all of the special Mark 1 parts: trigger & sear; spindle (with plunger & spring) and magazine cut off (with Mk 1 cut off screw). All of those parts are different than a regular 1903 and all of them are quite valuable, worth much more than $100. If all of those parts are there, I'd buy the rifle, sell the parts plus the barreled redeiver (ask $100 for it) & use the cash toward a complete 1903.

ViShooter (http://vishooter.home.att.net/m1903.html) has a picture of a Mark 1 trigger & sear http://vishooter.home.att.net/m1903/mk1_trgr_ctf.jpg

A Mk 1 spindle is slotted on the end like a screw (but it is not) while a standard spindle is rounded & unslotted. A Mk 1 spindle has a spring & plunger on the end that fits inside the receiver; a standard spindle has no spring/plunger. A standard magazine cut off has a round body; a Mk 1 cut off has two cuts in the body which, when viewed from above, give it a W shaped contour. A Mk 1 cut off screw has a small (1/2 the dia. of the screw) teat on the end which fits into a hole in the Mk 1 spindle; a standard cut off screw has a broad, rounded end the full dia. of the screw.

Good luck!

[gunluvver]

You have the makings of a fine hunting rifle, worth the $100. As for a restorable piece, keep looking. While searching, the most important parts are the original condition barrel and receiver. Any mods on these, and the probability of a reasonably priced restoration goes out the window.

[Kirk]

You can recognize the Mk 1 sear without removing the stock because the sear is "articulated" and has two halves. You can clearly see the two in http://home.hiwaay.net/~kirkp/IMG_Mk1top.jpg plus the slotted spindle & W profile of the cut off. Also, see http://home.hiwaay.net/~kirkp/IMG_Mk1Left.jpg The Mk 1 stock has a cut around the ejection port - if you are doing a full restoration, you'd need a Mark 1 stock as well.

[Jeff L]

A good candidate for restoration would be one that requires only a new stock and hardware. I agree with Kirk, yours is not a good one. I've come across a few "bubbas" over the years, where all you needed to do was switch out the stock, so they are out there. The trick is finding one. Good luck.

-Jeff L

[azerious85]

WOW!, thanks for the fast input guys, i'm thinking about taking the $20 hit, i dont think im gonna get that back. i dont know if i'd be able to just buy a magazine follower and spring then try and sell it locally for $200.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=134972737

has a set of two. do you think it would sell? that would make it "huntable" i'd assume, unless there is other stuff going on with the rifle i have yet to find out :-(

[gunluvver]

What part of the NW are you in? I have some A3 springs and followers that would work. I'm west of Portland.

[RBruce]

That is a decent price for two followers and springs.

[Jeff L]

Please see this thread posted by normrp. It's a great example of an easily restorable "bubba". Of course if you see an 03 missing the rear sight (not an 03A3), it will make your job a lot harder.

-Jeff L