Finally scored a M1903...

[amadeus76]

So I'm perusing Texas gun trader the other night and I see a M1903a3 for $725. Because I've long wanted one of these and because I almost always see beater 1903's for $1000+ I click on the link thinking it'll be a quick pass. The pics look good so I contact the guy thinking it's a repro built on the reconditioned old drill rifle receivers with the 2 groove barrels. Nope. Guy says it's an original Remington and has a 4 groove barrel. So I take a trip out to look the rifle over and as soon as he starts to pull it out and i see how clean it is I think to myself, "unless there is something seriously wrong with this gun I'm taking it." The thing practically pristine with an impeccable (S stock) stock. The finish is well preserved, and while obviously sanded down and refinished you can still see the original cartouche marks. And the barrel and chamber are very clean... The guy (at least in his 70's) says he's had it in a closet for awhile and has only shot it a handful of times. Turns out he's selling off his collection cuz his sons aren't interested. I ended up giving him $700 for it and while everyone tells me that's market price, when I do see 1903's they're always beaters at around $1000, so I'm happy.

After dry firing it some it's got a pretty nice trigger overall. Very little take up and suprisingly light... That isn't to say it's light by today's standards. But compared to my Lee-Enfield and M48 it's very light. Better even than the stock trigger on my M4.

I'm thinking about converting it to an faux-a4, but as well preserved as this is maybe not.

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[Salt Flat]

Amadeus, Congrats on your acquisition. Please don't drill and tap to make an 03a4 clone. Find a sporter that has already been messed with or buy a Gibbs etc. What you have right now is a neat piece of history that will appreciate with time. Please post some pictures so we can drool! Salt Flat

[browningautorifle]

Salt Flat's right, you can get one as a basket case and send it over to ChuckinDenver to finish up. It'll come back about perfect...he's done lots. Save the good one for what it is...

[Orroe]

I agree with the others, don't mess with it since the rifle so pristine. Find a beater 03A3 to make a Faux-A4. Would like to see pictures of a fairly price M1903A3, like your region of the country, rifle around my area are over priced.

Owen

[Rick the Librarian]

"Pictures, or it didn't happen!

[amadeus76]

I might look for another (sportarized) rifle to convert. The more I handle this a3 the less I want to chop it. I have seen a few sportarized 1903 rifles around... Manufactured 1929 and 1918 for a decent price. But they all have the rear sight forward of the receiver. Can those still be converted without issue?

[Ovidio]

I dream of that rifle, but here in Italy you go from 1500 to more than 2000 € for a really good one.
Tendency is over 1800.
With that money I buy soooooo many Mausers in great conditions, or even Enfields or Mosins, that I decided to stick to my Garand for now concerning US rifles.
P17 could be found in good conditions at roughly 750-850 €. One of them could be my next rifle, but later.
I already went berserk Saturday with my two new Mausers..................

[jdmcomp]

There were snipers based on the 1903, some using the Warner Swasey scope, and the Marine versions using versions of the Unertil (and similar) scope. But all 1903A4 rifles are built and can only be built on the A3 rifle.