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Need 1903 Springfield advice?

TrinityScrimshawTrinityScrimshaw Member Posts: 9,350 ✭✭✭
edited May 2006 in General Discussion
My father in-law is a WWII vet who is also a life member of the NRA. He has collected several military rifles of his time spent in the Army, and is considering departing with them. The problem is that his health isn't very good, and he could go at anytime. I would like to make him an offer on them so that they do not end up in other hands and get sold out right. He has an imported Garand that is nice, but it is an import. He also has a nice US 30 Cal Carbine, but I already have one. The one that I am most interested in is his 1903 Springfield. He bought it through the NRA back in the late 50's or early 60's when you could still buy guns my mail order. This gun is as fine of an example of a 1903 as I have ever seen. I looked at one on GB for sale and it said it was 85%, but if it was 85% my father & laws rifle is 150%. I don't want to rip him off, but I am afraid of what it could really be worth. Does anyone know of a good sight where I can gleam some knowledge about this rifles, and maybe get a fix on what it could be worth?

Trinity +++
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Comments

  • p3skykingp3skyking Member Posts: 23,916 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Bruce Canfield (sp) has a couple of good books out. Springfields come in many variations and specific parts go with specific parts to be "correct".

    Whether it's a "low number" plays heavy on the market value also unless it's very early.

    Offer him $600. which is real cheap for a nice collector grade, but about average for a mismatched but pretty piece. No one gets hurt.
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  • TrinityScrimshawTrinityScrimshaw Member Posts: 9,350 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    p3skyking,

    I thought about doing that, but he told me that he had read an article in the NRA magazine American Rifleman that said they could be valued as high as 15 to 17 hundred dollars. Maybe it is, but maybe it isn't. I am afraid he has this high of a price fixed in his head, and if I try and go any lower he might think I am trying to take advantage of him. I'm thinking of just letting it go for fear of upsetting some in the family including him.

    Trinity +++
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  • iceracerxiceracerx Member Posts: 8,860 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I think you missed your real opportunity. You needed to chat with you father-in-law about that 03 long before now. You need/needed to ask him about how he came to own it. If he bought it back in the 60's from the NRA he bought it for $20 (or maybe it was 25, but no more).
    The NRA was selling memberships for $5.oo and you could get a M1 Carbine for an additional $15.oo. I have the Carbine my Dad bought that way. There were other choices for new members and I think my Dad said that 03's were $20.oo, but he already had both the 03 and the A3 and who needed to own more? But then again, maybe he didn't get it from the NRA

    just my .02
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  • TrinityScrimshawTrinityScrimshaw Member Posts: 9,350 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    iceracerx,

    We have spoken about it many times. He still has the original paper work showing he bought it for $14.50 through the DCM/NRA program. The rifle was listed as unserviceable, but all of them were, because they were not being issued any longer. I do not know if it is a rebuilt 03, or a brand new one. It has been several years since I have seen it, but as I recall it was in great shape.

    I don't want to see it disappear, and I would like to see him get something for it, but if he dies before I buy it I will never see it. My Mother & law already thinks I have too many guns, and would just give it to another relative she approves of more.

    I would like to have it not only because of what it is, but also because he & I hunted a lot together. He and I were both in the Army, and no other relative was in the military. No one else I feel would consider it a family heirloom like I would.

    Trinity +++
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  • brier-49brier-49 Member Posts: 7,103 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    maybe you should just ask him outright if he would consider selling it to you. simple straight forward with no beating around the bush. you never know he might just say yes and sell it at a reasonable price. it does sound like you get along ok.
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  • haroldchrismeyerharoldchrismeyer Member Posts: 2,213 ✭
    edited November -1
    If you have plenty of money, and he doesn't, then give him what he thinks it is worth. Otherwise, tell him you would like something nice to remember all the good times you have had together, and what that something is, and that you are afraid that if you don't get it before his death that you won't ever get it.
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  • FrancFFrancF Member Posts: 35,279 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by TrinityScrimshaw
    iceracerx,

    We have spoken about it many times. He still has the original paper work showing he bought it for $14.50 through the DCM/NRA program. The rifle was listed as unserviceable, but all of them were, because they were not being issued any longer. I do not know if it is a rebuilt 03, or a brand new one. It has been several years since I have seen it, but as I recall it was in great shape.

    I don't want to see it disappear, and I would like to see him get something for it, but if he dies before I buy it I will never see it. My Mother & law already thinks I have too many guns, and would just give it to another relative she approves of more.

    I would like to have it not only because of what it is, but also because he & I hunted a lot together. He and I were both in the Army, and no other relative was in the military. No one else I feel would consider it a family heirloom like I would.

    Trinity +++



    I would like to add my Pop did the same in the 50's. Think he paid about $20 for it and it was brand new, (still is) all numbers match etc. Got a new unissued 1911 the same way. cost $35 or so back then and it's about 95%.

    Worth checking!
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  • SperrySperry Member Posts: 5,006 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The first number in my head was [also] $600.

    Besides, even if it is worth more, it is not like you are gonna sell it for a profit.
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  • HPHHPH Member Posts: 112 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    When my Dad updated his will shortly before he died, the lawyers gave him a sheet which he could use to specify who would receive his personal items (including firearms). I urged him to fill it out, because he had several guns that I knew my brothers and I all wanted. He never did, though, so we had to work it out amongst ourselves. Luckily we all get along well enough that we were able to settle the matter amicably.

    If he doesn't wish to sell it to you outright, you may want to express your concerns to him about what will happen to his possesions upon his passing. If he realizes that his prizes may go to someone he doesn't approve of, he may have a change of heart.
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  • wlfmn323wlfmn323 Member Posts: 4,712
    edited November -1
    carefully look it over, the last rifle that i had contact with a friend bought listed as unservicable had two holes drilled in the receiver for parade purposes, he had tried to shoot it to see what the problem was and has a beautiful peice of brass with two perfectly round holes in the sides!
    dont know if he has knocked the round out of the barrel yet or not.
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  • Ray BRay B Member Posts: 11,822
    edited November -1
    My dad also bought an '03 through the NRA in the late 50s. while it came directly from storage and had cosmoline on it, it was a Remington '03 that had been made early in the war, prior to conversion to A3, but it had seen much use during WWII, so was rebuilt. The new barrel was a 4 groove from Rock Island, and the stock, while of original lines, was a replacement. Basically the rifle looked new, but since it was basically a parts gun, it's value didn't approach the amount collectors will pay for an gun in similar condition, but of all original parts. I sold the rifle to a fellow that shot military matches. It was a fine shooter and he did very well with it. It seems to me that the rifle is serving it's purpose in doing so, much more than if it were just sitting in a gun safe.
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  • tsavo303tsavo303 Member Posts: 8,913 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=49256378

    Don't get into an argument with a dying old person w/ unrealistic prices. buy it out of the estate and be Gracious while he is here
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  • MIKE WISKEYMIKE WISKEY Member Posts: 10,044 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    or go to www.odcmp.com and show him what you can STILL buy them for.
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