Collector rifle question

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TIMC

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Ok guys, got a question for you. I have a 1903 springfield rifle made by remington in 12-41; this rifle was given to me several years ago by my dad who I lost last year. My dad never fired the gun and when he gave it to me he never made any request that I not fire it he just knew I would really appreciate it. As I get older I get to thinking why am I not enjoying the gun other than just looking at it? True it will loose value if I shoot it but since I never plan to sell it then what is the difference? I will never know if my heirs will keep it or sell it off and since my daughter is my only heir right now and doesn't make a lot of money I think most will be sold off.

So what's your opinion, should I shoot it and enjoy the rifle or keep it as a safet queen and just admire it?
1903rifle.gif
 
Why would it lose value if you shot it? I am sure it has been shot before and this is not a rare gun or a special version...it is a used Springfield 1903. Shoot it...enjoy it..take care of it. You kids will still inherit a very fine gun even if you shoot it on a regular basis.

Also...why does value matter unless you plan on selling your father's rifle?
 
It has not been fired other than the proofing at the factory. No it is not a used rifle. It was built by Remington in anticipation of a British contract then held in storage when WWII broke out. My dad bought it for $25 at the end of WWII through the military. He had it since then and gave it to me about 10 years ago.
 
Me too

I understand you situation. I have a "Never Issued for Duty" Long Branch 303 that sat in the warehouse until a friend's Grand Farther (Black Watch) got a hold of it when he lived in Canada some 50 odd years ago. Do I shoot it? or look at it? has been tossed around for years.
 
You can shoot it, maintain it and it well not suddenly wear out. I have several mil-surps that I got in unissued condition. I shoot them regularly and they are in the same condition as when I acquired them. It's not like you are going to let it bounce around in the bed of your truck too and from the range.
 
Fire away! As far as the "collector" part goes it starts with condition.
Which is everything.
Just take caes of it (cleaning) and enjoy.
 
Maybe your Father never fired it but its been fired by someone.
Shoot it , sell it, hang it on the wall. Its up to you
 
As long as you keep it in nice shape, shooting it isn't going to have the least bit of effect as far as "collector value" is concerned. A lot of the value to collectors of old military rifles stems from the fact that they were used in bygone wars.
 
As long as you keep it in nice shape, shooting it isn't going to have the least bit of effect as far as "collector value" is concerned. A lot of the value to collectors of old military rifles stems from the fact that they were used in bygone wars.
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Well this one was around in WWII but it was never issued and never used, this is my delima. Yes it has been fired but that was only the proofing at the factory.
 
What makes you think it was never issued?
Its very doubtful, may not have been issued since rebuild.
Post more close up pics
 
but it was never issued and never used,
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I find it highly unlikely that a 1903 made in 12-41, I have one by Remington as well with the same date, was not issued to someone somewhere. It may have not gone to Guadalcanal but I am sure it went somewhere to some Soldier or Marine and was used in training at the very least. After the events of 12-07-1941 the military was scrambling to get it's hands on all the weapons it could, 1903s included.
 
Run a patch soaked in Hoppes down the barrel and let it sit for a couple hours. Then run a clean patch down the barrel. If it comes out greenish blue, it's been fired. I, too, seriously doubt that any '03 Springfield made in 1941 has been unfired.
 
Shoot it. You have no written provenance, so value is subjective. Shooting it and keeping it well taken care of will not hurt the value.

Cheers,

ts
 
What makes you think it was never issued?
Its very doubtful, may not have been issued since rebuild.
Post more close up pics
Click to expand...

I have some paperwork around here somewhere that my dad gave me with the gun. and the fact that he had owned it since 1945 when he bought it through the military at the end of WWII so he should know.
The US did keep a lot of rifles in reserve that were never issued; I don't know why so many people can not believe there are still some out there that have not been used.
 
Run a patch soaked in Hoppes down the barrel and let it sit for a couple hours. Then run a clean patch down the barrel. If it comes out greenish blue, it's been fired. I, too, seriously doubt that any '03 Springfield made in 1941 has been unfired.
Click to expand...

Heck I have been doing that every few months for years just to keep her clean and rust free and my dad had been keeping it cleaned and oiled since the 40's. Like I said neither he or I have ever fired it so I certainly would not see any copper fouling after 66 years of cleaning.
 
I would not shoot it. I have several rifles/pistols that I no longer, or have not shot, due to their value. Someday down the line, the wife will need some live on money and these guns are money in the bank. But, it is your gun.....chris3
 
Its possible just highly unusual. Just about everyone who says they have a original ,unfired, unissed miliatry rifle is mistaken once they post more pics and info.

If yours truley is unissued/unfired and can prove it I would not fire it but keep it as a collector piece.
Post pics, love to see a piece of true history
 
If you don't want to shoot it, that's fine. '03 Springfields are still relatively plentiful and with the millions manufactured are unlikely to become rare anytime in the foreseeable future. I fully understand that you have an emotional attachment to it because it was your dad's gun, but it's not a several thousand dollar collector's piece.

All the other posters have suggested that you shoot it if you like. Firing it is not going to affect any value and you don't seem to be inclined to part with it anyway, so what's the issue?
 
Shooting it makes no sense if it is an unfired collectors peice. Keep it as is and save the value for your children. It would be much more in value and at auction as unfired. You are holding on to a peice of history not just a firearm.

Just my opinion
Jim
 
Thanks for all the replies! I have made my decision and taking her out to the range Tuesday to put a few rounds down range. Kind of cool to think I will be the first one to fire it since 1941 when she was proofed. No I will not regret it other than maybe thinking I should have taken her out when the rifle was given to me 10 years ago.

Value is irrelevant and the difference between 100% and 95% is not that much but with the thought it will never be sold in my lifetime value really doesn't matter. The rifle ill still be a nice heirloom to hand down when I'm gone and if it gets sold off then at least one in the family got to enjoy shooting it!

Thanks again for all your thoughts.
 
It looks like your rifle has a "high hump" handguard, which was standard from about 1910-1919, and so ostensibly wouldn't be correct for a 1941-produced Remington. I've read that Remington, since it used old Rock Island production machinery, reverted to the "high hump" style. On the other hand, I have a 1942-produced Remington M1903 with a full pistol grip stock and a non-hump handguard. So this doesn't prove anything, but to me, the "high hump" handguard does raise some questions about the gun's originality.
 
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