Sporterized M1903A3 value

[mttgrrd1976]

Hope this is the right place for this.
About three and a half years ago I bought an M1903a3 sporter for $260. It was in sad shape.The stock and metal were both missing most of their finish. The gun shop assured me it would fire safely so I took there word and oiled it and fired it and all went well. It hit bulls eye easily at 25 yards with stock sights. One out of 80 rounds was a little snug upon extraction; it was the thirtieth round and all others cycled flawlessly
After that I disassembled the rifle for stock refinishing and repair- inletting and bedding with epoxy putty , repairing the bishop stock where the recoil lug makes contact ,as well as cold blueing of the metal. The original trigger was replaced with a timney / no safety and an S&K no drill scope mount. After that I took it back to the range and everything went great. Then I put it in the gun safe , only removing it for periodic check and wipe down.
So my question is what might my beater rifle be worth ?
Issues:
There are three drill holes and a dent on the receiver on and next to the Remington name stamp.
The drill holes are on either side of the Remington name stamp; probably due to a previous sight install. They appear to have been filled with screws that were screwed in and then peened with a hammer- they did a horrible job!
The dent is probably from rebareling : I say this because the timing marks do not line up at all.

 

[someguy2800]

I can’t see the pictures but from you description I would say $250

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Welcome to the forum!

I cant see the pics either, but from your description $250 to $350.

 

[saiga308]

Hope this is the right place for this.
About three and a half years ago I bought an M1903a3 sporter for $260. It was in sad shape.The stock and metal were both missing most of their finish. The gun shop assured me it would fire safely so I took there word and oiled it and fired it and all went well. It hit bulls eye easily at 25 yards with stock sights. One out of 80 rounds was a little snug upon extraction; it was the thirtieth round and all others cycled flawlessly
After that I disassembled the rifle for stock refinishing and repair- inletting and bedding with epoxy putty , repairing the bishop stock where the recoil lug makes contact ,as well as cold blueing of the metal. The original trigger was replaced with a timney / no safety and an S&K no drill scope mount. After that I took it back to the range and everything went great. Then I put it in the gun safe , only removing it for periodic check and wipe down.
So my question is what might my beater rifle be worth ?
Issues:
There are three drill holes and a dent on the receiver on and next to the Remington name stamp.
The drill holes are on either side of the Remington name stamp; probably due to a previous sight install. They appear to have been filled with screws that were screwed in and then peened with a hammer- they did a horrible job!
The dent is probably from rebareling : I say this because the timing marks do not line up at all.

uploaded it using this site so we can see it
https://postimages.org

 

[mttgrrd1976]

View attachment 825584 View attachment 825585 View attachment 825586 View attachment 825587

Hope this is the right place for this.
About three and a half years ago I bought an M1903a3 sporter for $260. It was in sad shape.The stock and metal were both missing most of their finish. The gun shop assured me it would fire safely so I took there word and oiled it and fired it and all went well. It hit bulls eye easily at 25 yards with stock sights. One out of 80 rounds was a little snug upon extraction; it was the thirtieth round and all others cycled flawlessly
After that I disassembled the rifle for stock refinishing and repair- inletting and bedding with epoxy putty , repairing the bishop stock where the recoil lug makes contact ,as well as cold blueing of the metal. The original trigger was replaced with a timney / no safety and an S&K no drill scope mount. After that I took it back to the range and everything went great. Then I put it in the gun safe , only removing it for periodic check and wipe down.
So my question is what might my beater rifle be worth ?
Issues:
There are three drill holes and a dent on the receiver on and next to the Remington name stamp.
The drill holes are on either side of the Remington name stamp; probably due to a previous sight install. They appear to have been filled with screws that were screwed in and then peened with a hammer- they did a horrible job!
The dent is probably from rebareling : I say this because the timing marks do not line up at all.

I am new to using forums and posting images so here goes

 

[mttgrrd1976]

View attachment 825584 View attachment 825585 View attachment 825586 View attachment 825587

I am new to using forums and posting images so here goes

https://postimg.cc/gallery/35f92ky40/

View attachment 825652

View attachment 825653

View attachment 825654

View attachment 825655

uploaded it using this site so we can see it
https://postimages.org

Thanks for the advice.

 

[TIMC]

Looks like one of the old golden state rifle builds. The had some decent sporters. $250-$300 depending on condition is about right.

I bought two and put them back in C-stocks. They came out nice, one turned out to be an absolute tack driver. They were fun projects.
This is how it started:


This is the finished product:

 

[mttgrrd1976]

Looks like one of the old golden state rifle builds. The had some decent sporters. $250-$300 depending on condition is about right.

I bought two and put them back in C-stocks. They came out nice, one turned out to be an absolute tack driver. They were fun projects.
This is how it started:
View attachment 825677

This is the finished product:
View attachment 825678

Man thats nice !

 

[eastbank]

four sporterized war rifles, first, smith corona 03A3, second Remington 03A3, third springfield armory 1903(high number), fourth german 98 mauser. all in original calibers. they all have ex bores and they all were bought for way less than what it cost of sporterize them. they have been ex hunting rifles for many years for their owners.

 

[Offfhand]

Here's another "Bubbaed" '03 that came out pretty well. work by R.F. Sedgley..

 

[TIMC]

Man thats nice !

Thank you, the stock has a hand rubbed tung oil finish. The scope is an old Weaver K3 made in El Paso Texas. With my hand loads she will put rounds in the same hole at 100 yards.

 

[bannockburn]

Offfhand

Bubba definitely had nothing to do with that beautifully sporterized R.F. Sedgeley '03!

Thanks for sharing!

 

[CapnMac]

The most valuable sporters are the ones the Armory did themselves during the 30s. Those, with proper documentation, are right up into 4 figures and above.

Some of the post war sporters by higher-end folk--like Sedgely--are also valuable. Not surprising for work that is from 50 or 75 years ago. But, provenance is key, naturally.