Help Identify 2 Rifles

[Tripper]

I'd like help in identifying

[Bhobbs]

They are just sporterized M1903a3s. They won't be worth what an unmodified rifle would be but they could be worth a few hundred dollars.

[NeoWeird]

I didn't go to the albums, but you should look for other markings as well. There was a time when 1903s and M1s were dirt cheap - the way Mosins are now (or rather the way Mosins were a couple years ago). It was VERY common to buy one and sporterize it into a decent hunting rifle.

However, there were several companies and smiths who did it for commercial gain, like Golden State Arms. Some of these have a reputation as junk, others have a reputation as being great collector pieces - it caries from company to company. If there are no other marks (usually on the barrel but sometimes on the receiver itself) than they were probably one of pieces and won't be worth much; if they do have markings they can be worth a bit more. Unfortunately, they will probably never be worth more than a non-cporterized version even if from a reputable smith/company, and that gap will only increase as time goes on. Not that they will lose their value over time, just that non-sporterized versions grow in vale faster than their sporterized couterparts.

[FLIGHT762]

Will researching the serial do me any good?
Tripper

The Springfield is likely to be a 1903. See if the serial number is above 800,000. Springfield 1903's with serial numbers below 800,000 are the brittle variety. I have a sporterized 1903 in the 500,000 serial range. I did some research through a reloading manual by P.O. Ackley. He blew up many receivers and recommended if you had a low serial numbered 1903, to keep the caliber in 30/06 (not a high pressured magnum) and to put in a nickel steel bolt (it will flex a bit and prevent shattering).

I took a look at my old Springfield 1903 and discovered whoever sporterized the rifle, they put a nickel steel bolt in it. I've used the rifle a number of years as a back up and have taken one big Hog with it. I handload for it and use moderate loads.

If you want to read a bit more about the Springfield receivers, here's a good article:

http://m1903.com/03rcvrfail/

[morfeeis]

my dad has a nonsporty(?)A3O3 that ive been able to put a few rounds down the pipe and i loved it. i'd say keep the Remington, thats the one my dad has.

[Tripper]

Ok, new info, I took the scopes off to get to the serials and make/model info.
the one i thought was a springfield is a remington, and the one i thought was remington is a NATL O?D, i have a question mark there cause thats where the hole was drilled for the scope mount. (i'll change the references above too
serials are
Remington: 328xxxx in the 3 million range
NATL: 500xxxx, in the 5 million range

does that help any for ID

Tripper

[Matt@EntrepriseArms]

I've seen rifles like that with scopes go at auction for less than $200.00. Ditto for Mausers. They could always fetch more - just depends on the bidders, of course. I still kick myself for not buying one I had seen at an auction that someone had converted to a left handed bolt. It sold for $120.00.

Sporterized military generally just aren't worth much. If they were unaltered, they might have fetched 3-4x that amount.

They usually make decent hunting rifles, though, so I would view them as utility rifles rather than any sort of collector piece.

Thats just my $.02

[Mssr. Eleganté]

The National Ordnance isn't a real USGI rifle. They were post war civilian clones using USGI parts on a newly made cast receiver. They have a really bad reputation.

[Jeff L]

It was common to sporterize 03s in the 50s and 60s (they were plentiful and cheap). The NRA even sold how-to booklets on converting USGI rifles into sporters. Nat Ord receivers are known for failures, same for Santa Fe. The only sportier 03s worth anything were pre WW1 done by folks like Griffin & Howe.

[forgiven]

Good ole hunting rifles, enjoy.