1903 experts - what am I looking at here?

[bigbossman]

Is this a legit conversion, or a bubba job? Local auction, trying to determine worth:

[highpower]

Definitely done after it left government service. I might add that the serial number means it is a Remington and the only arsenal made match rifles were done by Springfield on Springfield receivers and used Lyman 48 rear sights.

[bigbossman]

Definitely done after it left government service. I might add that the serial number means it is a Remington and the only arsenal made match rifles were done by Springfield on Springfield receivers and used Lyman 48 rear sights.

Perfect, thanks. I'll let it go. It is probably a rifle used in Highpower Service competition back in the day. Gramps died, and the relatives fished it out of the closet and sent it off to auction with $$ signs in their eyes.

[major burnout]

Rescued sporter.

[Macalroy38]

BUBBA!!! WHYYYYYY!

[offrdmania]

Far from Bubba'd, and not just Springfield were in on the gig. its a National Match Remington 1903.

https://www.gunsamerica.com/986663439/remington_1903_a3_national_match.htm

https://www.icollector.com/U-S-Model-1903-by-Remington-bolt-action-rifle-set-up-in-National-Match-style-with-Lyman-adjustable_i24744047

https://www.gunsamerica.com/950639224/US-Remington-M1903-A3-Match-Rifle.htm

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/67819264_m1903a3-national-match-rifle-remington-1942

[highpower]

Except that the second one you listed doesn't identify it as a real NM rifle, It just says:
U.S. Model 1903 by Remington bolt action rifle set up in National Match style with Lyman adjustable

As for the other three, they are from the post war attempt to make 1903-A3's into NM rifles. I stand by my statement that real 1903 Springfield NM rifles were built on Springfield receivers.

[kendog4570]

... its a National Match Remington 1903....

Not by a long shot. As far as I can tell from the pics, its a run of the mill 1903 Remington with a replacement scant stock, sporting Lyman or Redfield rear sight, and Lyman 17A front.

[offrdmania]

Not by a long shot. As far as I can tell from the pics, its a run of the mill 1903 Remington with a replacement scant stock, sporting Lyman or Redfield rear sight, and Lyman 17A front.

[bigbossman]

Not by a long shot. As far as I can tell from the pics, its a run of the mill 1903 Remington with a replacement scant stock, sporting Lyman or Redfield rear sight, and Lyman 17A front.

I just blew up the pic - it's a Redfield.

[bigbossman]

Here's a question - if it were a legitimate NM rifle, wouldn't it have a Star Gauged barrel? I can always go to the auction house and inspect it.....

[highpower]

Just for the record, Remington's were made strictly for the war effort and they never made star gauged barrels. If it does have a Springfield SG barrel, I am about 110% sure it would have been put on there post war by someone other than Springfield. Judging by the serial number, if it still has the original Remington made barrel, it would have a barrel date somewhere between Feb/March '42 and no later than May '42

Unless it is priced as a standard Remington '03 that had been drilled and tapped, I'm not sure it would be worth the effort. It has a scant stock which were never put on production rifles, they were only used as replacements. If it was an original Remington M1903 it would be worth some money as they are one of the rarer '03 variants. But once one has been altered, they are considerably less valuable. As a shooter, I would say it was worth somewhere in the $800-$900 range in today's crazy market.

[bigbossman]

Just for the record, Remington's were made strictly for the war effort and they never made star gauged barrels. If it does have a Springfield SG barrel, I am about 110% sure it would have been put on there post war by someone other than Springfield. Judging by the serial number, if it still has the original Remington made barrel, it would have a barrel date somewhere between Feb/March '42 and no later than May '42

Unless it is priced as a standard Remington '03 that had been drilled and tapped, I'm not sure it would be worth the effort. It has a scant stock which were never put on production rifles, they were only used as replacements. If it was an original Remington M1903 it would be worth some money as they are one of the rarer '03 variants. But once one has been altered, they are considerably less valuable. As a shooter, I would say it was worth somewhere in the $800-$900 range in today's crazy market.

I appreciate the insight. Right now, the rifle is holding at $190 with several days yet to go in the auction. I expect folks will bid it up substantially before hammer time.

I have two 1903's in military trim - one is a SA that has never seen rebuild, and the other is a Rock Island Greek return from the CMP. Frankly, I do not need another one, sporterized or not, but if I can get it on the cheap it might be fun to play with. Next time I'm out and about running errands I'll go take a look.

[kendog4570]

Yep. 1903-A3. The gun in the picture is an 03, not an A3. And that rear sight is just like a Redfield Olympic, only different. Matter of fact it is NOTHING like an Olympic. And the stock is a fugly scant stock, not an original 1903-A1 NM C type.

Someone mentioned star gauged barrels. IF that barrel is an original SA star gauged, you can bet it is a worn out tomato stake pulled off an original NM rifle.
That being said, I would buy it if the $$ was right. Just wouldn't pay for what it is not.

[smle-man]

Didn't someone recently post an 03A3 in this configuration?