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Springfield 1903 Navy's Trophy rifle

nmpartsguynmpartsguy Member Posts: 54 ✭✭
edited January 2007 in Ask the Experts
I have a chance to buy a Springfield 1903 Navy's trophy rifle with documentation. It is in overall good condition, probably around 75%.
I know this is a rare rifle and I have never seen one offered for sale before. No sale price has been mentioned.
Any ideas?
Thanks.
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Comments

  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    BUY it if you can are you sure it is not a Remington model 720 these were mostly in 30-06 but there were others in 270 and I think one other caliber.
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  • HerschelHerschel Member Posts: 2,035 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Which type 1903 is it? Some 1903 NRA Sporters were awarded as trophies. I agree with Perry Shooter. Buy it if you can.
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  • nmpartsguynmpartsguy Member Posts: 54 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    It looks like a 1903 NRA sporter. It has a round emblem in the stock with a year and whom it was awarded to. A rifle like this is pictured in Brophy's book.
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  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    sleep on the guys door step NICE GUN value ??? these presentation guns don't come up that often research on who and when it was won would help I know they give out a rifle each year to a navy shooter that was the combined pistol and rifle high score in the DCM/ CMP/SERVICE hardball team match I had a member on my team from Va beach area that won it twice.
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  • nmpartsguynmpartsguy Member Posts: 54 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    A fair price to pay??????
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  • HerschelHerschel Member Posts: 2,035 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The NRA Sporters, if complete and not trashed go from about $1,000 to near $4,000 depending on condition. I have no idea how much more the presentation model would be.
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  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,892 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If "rare" means "expensive", you'd better take a pass.

    As you said, you don't know anything about this model. It may well have been completely rebuilt & refinished. Or, it might be a fake with phony documentation. Or, it could be shot out. I just can't see from here.

    Before spending big bucks, you should take a lot of high quality digital photos of every part of the rifle AND THE DOCUMENTATION & let some folks familiar with the rifle take a look at it.

    Neal
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  • beachmaster73beachmaster73 Member Posts: 3,011 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Contact CDR Jim Adell, USNR(Ret) at the Garand Collector's Association. Jim is the free world's expert on every Navy Trophy Rifle ever issued. In addition to winning many rifles of his own in National Competition he maintains the most complete and up to date list of actual Navy Trophy rifles by serial number. Now I've only ever heard of the Remingtons and Garands being issued as Trophy rifles, but who know there could be a few 1903's out there especially if the Marine Corps was involved. Jim does this work gratis to prevent newbies from being scammed. Beach
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  • HerschelHerschel Member Posts: 2,035 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    beachmaster, Rifles were given as trophies at the National Matches before the M1 Rifle was invented and they weren't all Remingtons. Some American Rifleman magazines from the 1920-1930 era show pictures of winners posing with the NRA Sporter they won. The Springfield 1903 Rifles by Brophy has pictures of trophy 1903 NRA Sporters. I recall seeing the Remington and M1 trophy rifles displayed at the Arcade at Camp Perry in the 1950's and 1960's but it was not a new idea at the time.
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  • nmpartsguynmpartsguy Member Posts: 54 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks everyone for all the info.
    The year, and the Midshipman's name that won it, are on the emblem, along with a picture of a sailing ship.
    The person that has this rifle also has the original picture of their family member being awarded this rifle by the Secretary of the Navy.
    Thanks again!
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