Should I pick up this Rem 1903?

[wideym]

Today I found a Remington 1903 bolt action on consignment at a local gunshop.

It has been reblued and the stock looks like it was refinished also. Other than the mag follower it looks original. It's the original model with the ladder front sight, not the A3. The price is $425 out the door.

I don't know much about WWI or WWII rifle prices or availablity, so is this a good price or should I pass.

 

[Jeff F]

thats not a bad price for a Springfield. I have been looking for a decent one for quite awhile now at the gun shows, the nice ones I have seen were pricey. The ones that were really beat up were over 400.

 

[Gator]

If it hadn't been refinished, that would be a great price. If you just want a shooter, and it is in otherwise good condition, it might be worth it to you. You will have a hard time finding an original finish 03 in good condition for anything near $425.

 

[MutinousDoug]

Other than the stock that looks like it's been refinished and the metal that looks like it's been re-blued and something about the mag follower doesn't look original. What exactly looks "original" to you? Do you mean: not "Bubba'ed"? That is something different, entirely.
$425 for arsenal rebuild that is a shooter isn't out of the question for an 03. A gun with a re-finished stock and re-blued hardware is not "original".

 

[wideym]

When I wrote that it looks original, I mean they look original to the rifle, except for the mag follower which is shiny chrome or nickel. Did 03's come with shiny mag followers from the factory?

I may not know alot about old U.S. milsurp rifles, but I can recoginze if parts are missing or altered.

I've have a sporterized 03' I bought from a cousin a few years ago. It only cost $150, but looks like crap. Shoots okay though.