Can I bother someone to check a serial# for me in their SRS?

[rcathey]

I have to say I'm disappointed that my rifle isn't the way it left Springfield and I'm disappointed that I didn't know the parts were wrong. It's still a nice rifle though.

Mine isn’t either. I’ll have to get some pics up later.
The sporter, as it left Springfield, looked a lot more like a chopped down military rifle (for obvious reasons) than a fine prewar sporter.
A lot of folks used them as a basis for nice sporters.



Mine had extensive work done to it. And I love it!

[browningautorifle]

It's still a nice rifle though.

Don't sweat the minor things that you can't change. I don't have one at all and would love that one. I can't afford to play in that financial theater though...very nice rifle.

[GUTS]

So the side mounted scope mount, the safety, the front sight and bolt are not native to this rifle? How about the scope mount holes on the receiver? What is modified about the bolt, was it drilled for the Buehler safety and can it be fixed? Can the BAR sight be put back on without the muzzle end of the barrel again or would the barrel be scratched up under the back extension of the sight base? And finally, is it worth what I paid or did NRA Sporter fever get the best of me?

[Promo]

The bolt is native to this rifle. The handle however had been modified, I suppose to clear the scope that had been mounted to it. The bolt originally has a NM polish on it which is very distinctive. Replacing it with a correct one would be tough and to my guess expensive. Safety should be replaceable without much trouble, nothing modified. Front sight I'm not sure how the current one is affixed to the barrel, I hope no additional holes drilled. It seems the original markings are still sitting below that front sight, so original one should be re-installable.
Re the holes on the receiver: I can't tell for sure if these were done from factory. But at least these are the most often encountered scope block installations of that period. They are period correct for this rifle. If it was mine, I'd rather use the anyway installed ECHO rail by Herkner since removal of that scope base would unveil serious holes in the receiver, as well as non-factory inletting of the stock.

Personally your winning bid at $ 2100 (is this already with buyer's premium?) sounds a bit high to me, I would not had paid that (but I already have two original condition rifles, so would not had made sense to me to get a third, sportered rifle). On the other hand there are enough NRA Sporters out there which are in original configuration and have a higher price tag on them than what you paid for your rifle. It therefore might be a reasonable price, considering the issues the rifle has. Don't worry that much on the price since you anyway have bought it - try to make the best of it!

[GUTS]

Thanks for the information my friend. I am going to sell it and take a loss and try not to get so excited again when I don't have time to check something out completely.

[rcathey]

I think you paid about what one is worth in original condition.
The one I have is in an aftermarket stock and I paid $900 on GunBroker for it (so a decent approximation of market value).

Given yours is close to original condition than mine, I’d put it in the neighborhood of $1,600.

If I were you, I’d double down and send off to the SRS for documentation. There’s always the possibility it was sold to someone “interesting.” That could increase the value.

I would advise keeping it. If another comes along in better condition, you can always sell this one to fund the purchase.