Need Help Identifying Bolt Action 30-06

[GAMALOT]

This was my Boddies Fathers gun and he wants me to make an offer.
I want to offer a decent price.
It is a sporterized 30-06 with sling and a Bausch & Lomb Balvar 8A 2.5-8 power scope on a very interesting adjustable mount.
Metal and scope are in excellent condition while the wood needs some help.
Hope these photos get in and help but I have others if necessary.
I have no idea what action this is or what it might be worth.

Thanks
Gary

 

[Vern Humphrey]

That's an M1903 Springfield (identifiable by the mushroom-shaped cocking piece and the magazine cutoff -- the tab with the word "ON.")

In general, a sporterized Springfield rifle is worth a couple of hundred dollars less than one in original issue condition. Two-fifty to three hundred dollars would be fair.

 

[rbernie]

Sporterized Springfield '03, D&Ted with Buehler safety and what looks like the old Bausch and Lomb scope mounts - around here, that'd go for $250-$350 depending on the bluing and wood. Last one I saw went out the door for $250, but its finish was clearly thinner.

 

[joab]

Yep, I've got the same gun and paid that price.

Look under the front sight base and see if it says NATL ORD

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Look under the front sight base and see if it says NATL ORD

If it says NATL ORD, drop the offering price to $20.

 

[Man-O-War]

I have a National Ordnance 1903A3 and it has been a fine rifle. I have never had any problems with it and nobody I have ever talked to has personally seen a National Ordnance blow up, but I guess your mileage may vary. I think they get a bad rap because they are aftermarket and not USGI. Just my $.02.

 

[thatguy]

1903 Springfield as stated. Very fine rifles and once very popular for customizing. This one looks like it was built a long time ago. Around $300-$350 +/- because they are not rare, not because they aren't good.

That one looks like a fine gun and you'll love it. Offer your buddy $300. That's a good price to a friend and it saves him advertising costs.

 

[GAMALOT]

Sounds like I have a 1903 Springfield in less then original condition and worth aroud $250-300. Does this include the scope and mounting system it has?
The wood has a bit of ware but I know I can get that right.
I have not removed it, nor will I until I actually seal the deal but, are they a decent shooter?
What I really need to know is if I remove this elaborate scope mount and want to put my Leupold on it, will I have a major chore finding the mounts I need to do it?
Could the scope and mount on it possibly be worth the cost of getting my Vari X 3 installed?
Thank you all for the great and lightning fast responses.
It is a pleasure knowing I have a place to find the right answers!!
Gary

 

[joab]

I have a National Ordnance 1903A3 and it has been a fine rifle. I have never had any problems with it and nobody I have ever talked to has personally seen a National Ordnance blow up

Wasn't implying that NO are bad guns just that it would make some here feel better about it being customized, not being real GI and all.

Mine came with a Simmons or Bushnell scope(can't remember, with some kind of mount that allows the scope to swing over to the left for reloading

Bluing was almost perfect as was the wood, which I believe is a Rhinehardt Faber.
The chrome (?) bolt has some surface rust

The scope mount bases I have seem to be of a common configuration so switching out would not be a problem, however they were not standard equipment so whoever installed your's would not necessarily have copied the procedure.

Actually I like your scope set up much better than mine

 

[joab]

I'd offer $250
The scope is pretty much a non issue if you are going to replace it

 

[GAMALOT]

Apparently, and this comes from my buddy, The scope and mount was his fathers Pride and joy. Although it is nice and in great condition, I think my leupold would be nicer. Think this might have been rather expensive in it's day.
Think he expects some more financial consideration for this "supposed" wonderful Balvar and mount and I have never paid much more for any rifle because it had a decent scope. Think if it was a Swarovski it might be a bit different but I am not at all familiar with this B&L. It is however crystal clear and bright and actually brings in more light then my Redfield on my 308 and it has much better optics with out a doubt.
Regarding the front sight, There is no front sight to look under. This was sporterized with scope in mind as a must.
Thanks again.
Gary

 

[joab]

I think most people sporterizing 03s cut the utilitarian front sights off.

I did some quick checking and B-Square seems to be the source for scope mounts.

I'm about as scope ignorant as you can get so I can't offer any insight from that aspect.
I don't hunt so I buy cheap Bushnells and put them on .22s

I think my leupold would be nicer

Couldn't you just put your Leupold in those mounts, I kinda like the old quick disconnect aspect

 

[Vern Humphrey]

A few points here.

1. If you don't want the scope, offer around $250. If he bridles at that, say, "that's without the scope."

2. The maker's name should be stamped right on the receiver ring. Genuine Springfields were made by Springfield and Rock Island (government armories) and by Remington and Smith-Corona (Remington made both 03A1s and 03A3s, S-C made only 03a3s.) If the maker's name is covered by the scope mount, just take it off to check.

3. The receiver is obviously drilled and tapped for scope mounts. Weaver or similar mounts should fit just fine. No need to go to a B-Square.

 

[GAMALOT]

Again, I don't feel right in removing the scope until I buy it. It is sighted in absolutely perfect- shot it today at 150 yds and was quite impressed with the BULLS.
As for my leupold going on this mount. I doubt this would work because my scope has the adjustments built into the tube and this scope is a straight tube with no adjustments. The adjustments come from the mount only. The rings appear to be too close together for my scope and I have no desire to have double adjustments for windage and elevation.
Thanks again and I am searching all over it for ID marks but they are apparently under the front mount.
Gary

 

[joab]

I doubt this would work because my scope has the adjustments built into the tube and this scope is a straight tube with no adjustments. The adjustments come from the mount only.

Told you I was ignorant.

The only markings I know of are under where the front base is.

If you look to the right of the front base there should be a serial number.

If you look in front of the base you may be able to see the last 2 letters of the maker if it's RD it's a Natl Ord

 

[GAMALOT]

UPDATE, Had to do it! Took the front mount off and it is US Remington, made in USA #3818XXX.
Looks like it has been drilled for two different mounts, has four holes under the front mount!!!
Gary

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Two fifty without the scope. With the scope, a few bucks more. For friendship sake, you might sweeten it to $300.

 

[GAMALOT]

Thanks to all! I do like the gun and someone did a fantastic job on the blueing and jeweling the bolt. Very deep blue like what is on the Sakos and high end guns and the bolt is smooth as silk.
The wood can be made to look very nice with a good stripping and many coats of True oil. Also has the Monte Carlo stock and removable sling so should make a nice hunting rifle.
The scope, to me is a total non issue since I have been searching for a gun to put my Leupold on. It is a 4.5-14 power Vari X 3 I won in an ice fishing contest and it has the 50MM objective so it would not look very good on my Winchester Madel 88s or 100s.
Think I will offer the $300 and hope I can get a few bucks for the scope and mount later.
Gary

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

good lord that's a lot of magnification.

do you ever see shots long enough to make use of the 14 power?

 

[Jim Watson]

I get kind of sentimental over these old sporterized military rifles and think it would be a shame to divorce the old couple. That was a cutting edge scope and mount and you say yourself it is still better than most. A Balvar 8A and its adjustable mount cost about $120 in 1969 when a Remington 700 to put it on was $135. But if you just must, the scope and mount are probably worth as much as they ever were, which would bring the cost of the rifle down to next to nothing, by current standards.

 

[mnrivrat]

Something you may also consider is that the mounting holes may not be compatable to a different set-up. If your going to change mounts you may have to have new holes drilled and tapped.

 

[GAMALOT]

As far as the Leupold and it's magnification. I won the scope in a contest and never look a gift down! No, I will never need 14 power however it is a nice scope sitting in my drawer and probably worth around $500 if you wanted to buy it today.
As for the Balvar. It too is a nice scope and works great. I just wonder if sitting in the woods in a freezing rain will cause problems that can't be fixed or will destroy an otherwise nice optic.
I will use the gun as a shooter to hunt with and seem to have much better luck in these conditions with cheep scopes that can be tossed and replaced when they get the FOG.
Since the action appears to have been drilled twice for scopes, I think I should be able to make standard mounts work in about any case.
Think this rifle will be set up as a nice long range "Chuck" gun and if I ever need a long shooting deer rifle. Here in the NY mountains I believe 30-06 is a bit overkill in most cases and rely on my .308 most of the time. I am sure there is debate over this but the area I hunt rarely affords much over a 100 yard shot and usually it is more like 25 yards.
A few times I have sat in a favorite spot and watched nice bucks about 300 or more yards away on the other side of the mountain. Never tried to shoot them with the .308 which I keep sighted in perfect at 75 yards.
This gun will be another toy and my only bolt action rifle.
Gary

 

[thatguy]

The '03 is so popular that just about every accessory and part is made for it. You can change or install just aboutg anything on this rifle.