I applaud your idealism but I believe the economic realities of this area of gun collecting and the cost of just "one" such restoration project, will quickly illustrate my point to you. Those of us who have been doing this many years and have spent untold amounts of money [as our wives constantly remind us] are always glad to have collectors such as yourself, who are obviously willing to take on projects such as this that basically entail, jacking the old rifle up and driving a new one up under it. Since these rifles are in some ways supposed to reflect "investments" of sorts, I could not carry on this hobby very long, if every rifle I bought ended up costing me twice or thrice what it is worth. I am not advocating this wonderful pastime be reduced to the bottom line alone, however neither can it be ignored when making decisions on these wonderful old works of art, in a marketplace where I have paid well over $300 just for a 4oz. pristine, new in the box LYMAN 1A WINDGAUGE COCKING PIECE SIGHT for a 1903 Springfield. I believe most of the experienced collectors out there while maybe not agreeing 100% with me, have most likely arrived at about the same place as me, on this issue. I wish you luck and warmest regards, however you decide to collect these wonderful old rifles. Jerry
