doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com National Match Action will rise AGAIN!

Bill: This action may not be a candidate for restoration to a Military Weapon, but if I've learned one thing in 50 years in guns, its' this...given enough time [maybe even minutes] someone will need or want a NATIONAL MATCH BARRELED ACTION and when they do, what are they going to do? They didn't make many to begin with, there are even fewer extant and everyday they get harder to find and boy howdy they ain't cheap. The action doesn't eat a thing, or use my credit cards and who knows, maybe a brand new Custom 1903 Sporter may rise from the NM'S ashes! No matter what, as always I appreciate your kind Thoughts and Wishes! Warmest Regards Jerry

With all due respect, sir, the value of that barreled action to me would be as the basis for a classy sporter project, even though there's a fair amount to be overcome with it, primarily re-hand polishing and rust bluing. As such I would view it as I would any other '03 barreled action with a good serviceable barrel still on it. To me, it lost its original panache the second someone polished and blued it, D/T'ed it, and threw away the original stock and sights. To take and 'convert' it back to originality would yield an ersatz NM rifle with incontrovertibly d/t'ed holes for scope mounting.

Gary: I personally agree with you wholeheartedly re: the best use of the bareled action. I just thought it might be salvageable to some military collectors, looking for an affordable NM alternative, to a pristine example. I however believe it does have more than a moderate value premium, even being an altered NM. Just my opinion, nonetheless it's not going anywhere for the price of "any other barreled action" I believe collecting pickiness is one thing, reality is entirely another matter and you cannot tell me one can go ANYWHERE, I HAVE BEEN IN THE U.S. [and I buy all over the country] and buy a DT'ed 1925 NM action with the original [I believe] Star Gauge Barrel for the same as an average 1903. Albeit it missing the trigger, floorplate and sights. If so let me know, I will direct all the people trying to get this one for that price, to them.

It's a bubba'ed Springfield. They're all over the place. Many of them used to be really fine rifles - alas they are no longer. The 'net is covered in once-fine rifles that took a tour through somebody's garage gunshop and aren't worth the cost of restoration. That's not to say it can't be a fun project, and you're "doin' the Lord's work" as we say, but that doesn't mean it makes any sense at all.

If they're "all over the place", then you and the other people of that opinion won't have any problem picking up a few, for a few dollars. Post some pics when you get em"!

AL,

Shucks,.... I'd like to put it back into action as a Military Bench Rest match rifle! I've got all the parts to put it back in correct form. The refin does not bother me! Send me a PM with what you are comfortable with and perhaps we can make a deal!

Regards,
Ken

The real 'bona fide' is when that specific serial # is listed in SRS as a NM or similar. Otherwise, most any nice original mid-years 1903 can be converted to NM specs in 1-2 hours, 3 at the most. D&T 2 holes, lap action and inscribe bolt at the minimum and then add headless cocking piece and reverse safety if wanted as options, then use fake star stamp on muzzle. Voila!

A shame, but there it is nevertheless.
Regards, Joe