1903A4 Springfield

Well, just a point of clarification: The 1903A4 sniper variants were made by Remington, not Springfield Armory. However, a number of sniper variants were based on the 1903 rifle. Since you mention the split stamp and serial, it sounds like yours in a Remington.

Weaver M73B1 and Lyman Alaskan optics were standard. The missing optics would probably cost around $500 to replace.

The 03A4 was standardized with the C-stock (full pistol grip) but scant-stocks were used as well. Perhaps a couple hundred to find an excellent replacement stock with correct markings.

I've seen collector-grade 1903A4 specimens for upwards of $5,000. Just a guesstimate, but I'd wager you're in the $2000 area. The more 'correct' your rifle is, the more it's worth.

Bruce Canfield's book '03 Springfield Service Rifle has some great info & pics on the '03A4.

You might try posting it on the CMP forum.

Why would you sell a great '03 like that??

Post some pictures for us!! If you want to sell it, list it here, those rifles are getting harder to find. What type of scope is on it now?

I have two of the rifles, one parkerized, one still in it's issue Remington hot oil blue for almost all parts except the receiver.

Parkerized is fine as most of the rifles that saw service were damaged badly (snipers were targets ala "Saving Pvt Ryan") and returned, repaired, and hustled back to the lines because throughout the war they were in short supply.

Weaver K4 is a nice choice for shooting and I've used one of those on my parked rifle in preference to the pretty crummy Weaver 330c/M73b1 issued in the first go arounds of the rifles.

If I were you I'd find a C stock. The after arsenalized stocks did not carry all of the Remington factory inspection marks, and some have been observed on original arsenalized rifles with no markings whatsoever. These generally show signs of having been belt sanded in a hurry which would seem to follow with the late war urgency that field units put on the rifle's return to service.

Even if you aren't able to bring it to full 'correct' configuration it's going to be a high demand item, or even the way it sounds like it is although it would cost a buyer a big chunk to get it presentable and convincingly correct. The laid over serial number is enough to put a good premium on the rifle as-is.

The K4 used 7/8" rings, right? So what rings do you have for the Redfield mount, if it's still present?

My 1903a4 has the Weaver M73B1 scope, and it is very low powered, maybe 2x? Hang on to it, the fun of these rifles is restoring and shooting them!! I shot my first deer with my m-1 garand!!

Pictures would be nice!! I may be interested!

OK, is that all you have of it?

That is not the original trigger guard and mag box. It's one from a Springfield 1903a1 - cast steel instead of the 1903a3 & 4 stamped steel version.

Can you photo the other side? Where's the stock?

Is the serial numbr prefixed with the letter "Z" ?

krs said:

OK, is that all you have of it?

That is not the original trigger guard and mag box. It's one from a Springfield 1903a1 - cast steel instead of the 1903a3 & 4 stamped steel version.

Can you photo the other side? Where's the stock?

Click to expand...

Not to be a nit picker, but on page 80 of Peter R. Senich's book U.S. Marine Corps Scout-Sniper WW2 and Korea, he states that some unit armorers used the 1903 trigger guard and mag housing, because it could be disassembled for cleaning without having to remove the receiver from the stock. Just use a bullet tip to release the catch and viola,clean mag.

Pretty darn good first post seaknight1975.

Welcome to THR.