I have been wanting to get as close to 'as issued' Springfield Model 1903 for the longest time. I really want War time (1917-18) production. There are a ton of mismatched guns out there that are in really rough shape. I saw this near mint version on YouTube and now I am all fired up! How much would something like the gun in the video cost? What should I offer someone for a gun like this?

YouTube Link

Everyone should have one of these.

Good luck with your search, sir.

Keep your eyes open on the classifieds in here. Once in awhile someone lists one for sale - I picked up a beautiful Rock Island 1903 from here a couple years ago. Extra special to me because it was rebarreled by the Marine Corps in WW2.

I have a few but wouldn't want to part with any of them. You will probably have to fork over about 1400 to 1600 for a decent one. I paid $2200 for one that was new in the wrap at the Tulsa gun show some years back. There is a bank in Rockwall that has a cabinet full of them in their lobby.

In WWI there was a saying the goes something like this.

The Germans went to war with a hunting rifle.
The Brits went to war with a battle rifle.
The Americans went to war with a target rifle.

I passed on a beautiful 1903A3 right before prices shot up, still regret it. The A1s and A3s are a good bit cheaper than the WW1 ones if you're willing to settle for one of those, still plenty of history behind them.

Man, Id just wait till Silent generation and Boomers kick the bucket. I anticipate alot of Gen X, Millennials selling these old junky wood guns in garage sales and Facebook marketplace or trading for Starbucks gift cards.

I have a 1903 and 1903A3 example in my collection. Really awesome rifles. Mine came from the CMP back when they had them. The 03 I received from the cMP was a Mark I cut for a Peterson device.

On your quest, do be aware that some low serial number rifles are not advised to be shot. This will of course greatly have an impact on the value of ones in that serial number range. So you might want to avoid rifles from the Springfield Armory below 800,000 and at Rock Island Arsenal below 285,507. The CMP has a good page explaining it. Among collectors it can become similar to a high fence/low fence hunting debate on the various aspects of it, but risk to benefit, I would not shoot one and they are not allowed on CMP ranges. You might also want to avoid early bolts that may end up swapped onto late serial number rifles. How to tell is also on that website.

https://thecmp.org/sales-and-service/m1903-m1903a3-rifle-information/

Sadly and likely correct. Let's see.

Men that used these in combat have been dying en masse since the late 1960s and it hasn't done a thing about the supply or the price.

My grandfather carried one of these in combat as a Marine in the Pacific and it was one of his favorite guns. He owned a bunch of Western Auto stores in the Detroit area and made a point of stocking lots of these in his stores. They used to get shipped to us in barrels and I would have to sort through them and clean them as a kid. A 1903A3 was the first centerfire rifle I was trained to shoot with and I still love them. I remember the first time I pulled the trigger on one; I was firing from a bench and was leaned heavily into it and it still rocked me back on my heels and I bet the muzzle was pointed 60° up in the air.

>assuming millenials and gen x aren't smart enough to use their phones to look up prevailing market values for valuable items
Okay, boomer.

I have a 03A3 made by Smith-corona with a two groove barrel.
The other is a Springfield that the CMP has refurbished.
Both are definitely shooters and I have taken them out to 800 yds

Just a idea. I found a sporterized 1903A3 reasonably priced and picked it up. Still had the original sights. Then i found a NOS blemished stock and a hardware kit. Pieced it together as the tinkerer I am. Enjoyed the process and got a decent rifle. Not a original per se but put it together for about the price of a mosin nagant. Had a 1917 sporterized but couldnt find a used reasonable priced stock, sold it and regret it to this day.

I've got a 1903A3, but really want a 1903. My A3 shoots great, but it's a thumper. It's my most painful milsurp to shoot.

Do you even supply and demand in the future bro?

I too have a Smith Corona and love shooting it. But have only shot out to 300 yds.

I love the Springfield in all it's variations. When I was in high school I asked a gunsmith to build me a Springfield in 270 Winchester. We worked out the stock specifications exactly to my liking, had him put a timney on it. It didn't occur to me at the time I was watching him take a 1943 03A3 apart from cosmoline. Complete rifle that had been back to the armory for refitting. The barrel turned out to a a super bright two groove. I decided to use it and he turned it down to a nice light profile. He replaced the bolt handle, put a Bueller safety,and after bluing mounted a 4 power Leupold on it was good for 1.2 groups right off the bat with Remington cheapo 150 gr. I still use this rifle as back up and late season lucky rifle which it is. I admit the 03 is a nicer rifle overall. I am guilty of ruining any collector value this one might have had. But I carried that rifle everywhere from Texas to Wyoming and Washington state. I cannot overstate what an effective cartridge the 30-06 is. Or the rifle itself. I think it loved the tour I gave it.

Also be aware of rifles that the receivers are stamped National Ordnance.
They built 03A3s in the 60s and 70s using cast receivers and the rest were USGI parts.
The cast receivers were known to explode.
My dad bought one a a gun show in Baton Rouge in the early 70s as his dad had carried one across France in WWI.
I ended up finding a Smith Corona 43 receiver and had my gunsmith turn it into a shootable rifle.

Love my 03-A3. Remington made in 42 I believe. Looks to be a re-stock at some point. Has RIA cartouche so I’m thinking it stayed in the States and made its way to Rock Island? All metal parts are pristine. It shoots well for sure. Also, as mentioned above, a hammer to shoot. Nothing beats an American made rifle IMO. Love my other milsurps but this one and my Swiss K31 top the list.