M1903 vintage sporter build/ find

[Doco overboard]

Found this old sporter, it has a R42 bolt 03A3, dockendorf globe with lyman peep. Bore is shiny with sharp lands and grooves and head-spaces good. Would it have any value at all in its present configuration or would it be ok for a shooter in an issue stock? the barrel date and receiver match #145529 7-34 but have been polished hard when re-blued. The bottom metal is steel with a mauser style door and the rifle has been well maintained. Would it be a mail order or one off build from back in the 50's ? and retain the spare parts for some thing else?
Thanks for the comments.
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Information

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[browningautorifle]

Looks like a standard sporter, one off for an individual. Anything could be added as these were the go to for sporters at the time. There were literally millions of all eras and they were stone cheap. Nothing wrong with it and it'll give decades of great service yet...

[Doco overboard]

Thanks for the reply, I guess it wouldn't hurt to re-fit for heavier sling swivels then and wring it out. The in-letting is rough and the bedding of the bottom metal needs adjusting as well, no spacer for rear of guard. Seems as if the priority was more for aesthetics than function. Maybe I can get it to shoot well and just enjoy it the way it is.

[browningautorifle]

That's what I'd do...just shoot it before doing anything.

[m1903rifle]

Found this old sporter, it has a R42 bolt 03A3, dockendorf globe with lyman peep. Bore is shiny with sharp lands and grooves and head-spaces good. Would it have any value at all in its present configuration or would it be ok for a shooter in an issue stock? the barrel date and receiver match #145529 7-34 but have been polished hard when re-blued. The bottom metal is steel with a mauser style door and the rifle has been well maintained. Would it be a mail order or one off build from back in the 50's ? and retain the spare parts for some thing else?
Thanks for the comments.
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I think you have left out a digit in the serial number. If so, please let us have the full number. There are a lot of 1903A1 National Match riffles in the 1.455 million range.

[Doco overboard]

Sorry for the typo, it is #1455294. The barrel has the remnants of where the locating pins were drilled before the rear sight base was removed. Would this preclude that the rifle was anything but a match rifle? I am not a scholar on all things that would indicate anything but a standard issue rifle, but the bolt rails have not been polished that I can tell and no unusual marks remain on the barrel exterior. Unless they were draw filed off before it was re-blued. There is no hatcher hole present for what its worth and it may not be visible from the pictures. I did try a polished single heat treat bolt and it did operate significantly smoother than the present one, so I might try it when I range test it. Thanks> Brian

[Calif-Steve]

If it had a GI rear sight on it then almost certainly it was a Service Rifle. Not sure, but you have an Argentine Mauser Trigger Guard on it. Really a lovely rifle, nice find.

[m1903rifle]

Sorry for the typo, it is #1455294. The barrel has the remnants of where the locating pins were drilled before the rear sight base was removed. Would this preclude that the rifle was anything but a match rifle? I am not a scholar on all things that would indicate anything but a standard issue rifle, but the bolt rails have not been polished that I can tell and no unusual marks remain on the barrel exterior. Unless they were draw filed off before it was re-blued. There is no hatcher hole present for what its worth and it may not be visible from the pictures. I did try a polished single heat treat bolt and it did operate significantly smoother than the present one, so I might try it when I range test it. Thanks> Brian

From the SRS records:

1455255 NM 09/03/37 ENGINEER RIFLE TEAM 1937 NM
1455299 A1NM 07/06/36 DCM RIFLE SALES 1922-42

Does the barrel have the star gage mark at 6:00 o'clock? A NM Springfield would have had the rear sight base and sight just like ( as far as looks at least ) a Service rifle.

[Doco overboard]

Thank you for your interest, the barrel is marked 7-34 and sadly there is no star gauge present in the 6:00 position that I can see. However something worthy of note that was really quite surprising to me is that today I received a phone call from the auctioneer, and he told me that when he went through his effects he found or was given the original build receipt from the original buyer. I was impressed that he had taken the trouble to find my personal info and give me a call. All I know right now is that it was built/sported in 1958 and maybe it will contain some more info that I will share when it comes through the mail. The exterior has been well polished but not so greatly at the muzzle that the crown has been destroyed and a star gauge mark wiped out as best I can tell. Ill pull it apart and look at the rest of it better. I will say that the bore is mirror bright, has the most well defined lands and grooves of any vintage US martial arm that I own, including the shooters with CBI replacements that I built myself. Amazing 5 digits off, that why I like old guns. Thank you for sharing the SRS

[ed skeels]

That is really nice!
Polished bolt, match rifle set up, wonder what the history is.
If only they could speak.
Ed