doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com low number '03

My buddy has a 4 digit '03 that he wants to sporterize and is wondering if he might be better served using another action. Barrel is missing and stock has been worked over so I'm of the mind that all the collectibility is gone and he should go for it. Action is very good with no extra holes or modifications.

Aside from dragging the 'shoot/don't shoot' arguement to the surface again over the low# 03's,
I think a 4 digit action in unmolested condition may be worth trying to sell first.
There are those that restore the old rifles back to spec and an exceptionaly early one like that may get some attention.
There are certainly plenty of other (high & low#) 03's around still with a good bbl attached to build on that have already been through bubba sporterizing crazyness of all degrees that makes them good candidates.
JMO

I'll second that opinion. I do have nagging feeling though that it would be a neat basis for an early Wundhammer repro...

If this rifle is still not cut up, discourage him from doing it now. I have been guilty of doing this in the past, and now, even the 03A3s bring more in original shape than sporterized, except maybe either by or for someone well known. If the rifle has a pre1909 barrel date, don't let him cut it up, before having it evaluated.
Mike