doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com National Match sporter 1903

Were the stocks on NM sporter 1903s marked with anything anywhere on them? I came across what appears to be one that someone has cut the buttstock off and added a recoil pad to it. It does have a star on the barrel crown and is complete with Lyman 48 and Lyman 17 front. Overall condition looks good except for the stock. What would one of these be worth with a modified stock. It is plenty shootable just not original.

Don't get me wrong, I weep a bit whenever I see a quality/collectible/historically significant stock with an aftermarket pad installed, but strictly speaking they are functional. My arthritic shoulder would welcome a pad on a .30/06 I intended to fire all day in a match.

If indeed the example you are describing is in otherwise excellent original condition, I should think the pad would knock 25-30% minimum off its value, to me anyway.

I found one in your location (Wenatchee) a few years ago, nice original in a non original sporter stock. As to value it would probably depend on if the bolt was original, original finish and if there were extra holes drilled. Pictures are about the only way to come close to telling value. Sorry I don't know about any special markings. There is a SRS (springfield reserch service) that has records that might tell what it was and when. You might try asking about that at jouster.com in the 1903 forum.
Brad

If you will post the serial number or send it to me I'll run it.

According to E.C. Crossman in his "Book of the Springfield", Springfield NRA sporters came with a 14.125" pull and used a buttplate like that of the 1922 target rifle. This buttplate is flat on the side facing away from the shooter and could easily replace a rubber recoil pad with no additional fitting, provided the stock has not been shortened too much. These buttplates occasionally come up for sale, and adding one to the rifle you describe would possibly restore it to original condition.

The Style "T" rifle is very similar to the NRA sporter, except that is is fitted with a globe front sight, has a headless cocking piece and reversed safety and is drilled and tapped for bases to fit the Winchester 5 A telescopic sight.

Are we talking NRA Sporters or National Match?


http://www.nramuseum.com/the-museum/the-...tion-rifle.aspx

Does it have cross bolts?

It is what I believe to be an NRA Sporter. I mistyped National Match last night when I posted. I guess I was up too long and should have went to bed earlier.

I plan on making another trip to look at it closer tomorrow if it is still there. I will check further on the things that have been brought up.

Many thanks for all the insight that has been posted.

An SRS listed NRA Sporter with a deteriorated pad and original but checkered stock sold on an internet auction yesterday for just over $1,100.00. Condition and originality make all the difference in what the rifle in question is worth.

Herschel,

I ran the number and it comes back as a "ST" which is a "Special Target" which I have no idea what that means. Do you know what that designation is? I read the stuff in my D.C.M. record book but still confused. Sounds like something a person should get a letter on.