1903 Springfield and Winchester 1917 - The Firearms Forum

bluesea112 · 10-07-2011, 02:21 AM

I am considering buying these two rifles, so I am hoping y'all can give me an idea of what I should offer:
1) 1903 Springfield (Rock Island Arsenal)
2) Winchester 1917
The Rifles have beautiful walnut stocks, and both are chambered in 30-06.
Not a single scratch on either rifle. Guns are in mint condition. Check out the pics.
Thanks for your help!
Bluesea112

oneshot onekill · 10-07-2011, 06:04 AM

Well... Sporterized rifles are very hard to value. If they were done by someone well known like R. F. Sedgley, they can be quite valuable. But as a general rule, sporterized rifles are worth far less than the rifles were worth in their original configuration. Without knowing who did the work it's a crap-shoot.

300 H&H · 10-07-2011, 06:36 AM

Rock Island 1903's I believe should have a serial number higher than 800,000 for most to consider it safe to shoot. After 800,000 a double heat treat process was used. The older method resulted in some recievers being brittle.

That said nicely done sporters. Maybe $800-$1k for the pair.

Regards, Kirk

Jim K · 10-07-2011, 02:28 PM

No, the RIA low-number cutoff was 285500; Springfield Armory was 800,000 (approximately)

I concur with the comment on sporterized military rifles. While those appear to be very well done, the fact is that they are probably worth less than the unaltered military rifle would have been. But since they can never be feasibly "restored", I would WAG those at about $450 for the M1903 and $400 for the M1917 unless, as noted, the work was done by a noted gunsmith or the rifles belonged to a prominent person.

Jim

bluesea112 · 10-07-2011, 02:50 PM

Thanks for the info guys. Y'all saved me from a bad deal. He wants $1300 for the pair. I think I will pass.

Thanks again!

JLA · 10-07-2011, 04:12 PM

Yep charles. since they are sportered they arent worth much more than a modern bolt action rifle. Id say somewhere around 400 each.

Great rifles though. Next you see them, see if they have the 2 groove barrels. The 2 groove were wartime manufacture and done that way to speed up the barrel making process. The 4 and 6 groove barrels shoot better.

popgun · 10-07-2011, 08:00 PM

actually 4 or 6 grove barrels shoot no better than a 2 grove. some were even used on sniper rifles

Brisk44 · 10-07-2011, 08:53 PM

They sure are beauties though.

10-07-2011, 02:21 AM	#1
bluesea112 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: West, TX Contributor Posts: 1,257	1903 Springfield and Winchester 1917 I am considering buying these two rifles, so I am hoping y'all can give me an idea of what I should offer: 1) 1903 Springfield (Rock Island Arsenal) 2) Winchester 1917 The Rifles have beautiful walnut stocks, and both are chambered in 30-06. Not a single scratch on either rifle. Guns are in mint condition. Check out the pics. Thanks for your help! Bluesea112 Attached Images -->

10-07-2011, 06:04 AM	#2
oneshot onekill V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: DeBary, Florida Posts: 189	Re: 1903 Springfield and Winchester 1917 Well... Sporterized rifles are very hard to value. If they were done by someone well known like R. F. Sedgley, they can be quite valuable. But as a general rule, sporterized rifles are worth far less than the rifles were worth in their original configuration. Without knowing who did the work it's a crap-shoot.

10-07-2011, 06:36 AM	#3
300 H&H Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,796	Re: 1903 Springfield and Winchester 1917 Rock Island 1903's I believe should have a serial number higher than 800,000 for most to consider it safe to shoot. After 800,000 a double heat treat process was used. The older method resulted in some recievers being brittle. That said nicely done sporters. Maybe $800-$1k for the pair. Regards, Kirk

10-07-2011, 02:28 PM	#4
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: 1903 Springfield and Winchester 1917 No, the RIA low-number cutoff was 285500; Springfield Armory was 800,000 (approximately) I concur with the comment on sporterized military rifles. While those appear to be very well done, the fact is that they are probably worth less than the unaltered military rifle would have been. But since they can never be feasibly "restored", I would WAG those at about $450 for the M1903 and $400 for the M1917 unless, as noted, the work was done by a noted gunsmith or the rifles belonged to a prominent person. Jim

10-07-2011, 02:50 PM	#5
bluesea112 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: West, TX Contributor Posts: 1,257	Re: 1903 Springfield and Winchester 1917 Thanks for the info guys. Y'all saved me from a bad deal. He wants $1300 for the pair. I think I will pass. Thanks again!

10-07-2011, 04:12 PM	#6
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,320	Re: 1903 Springfield and Winchester 1917 Yep charles. since they are sportered they arent worth much more than a modern bolt action rifle. Id say somewhere around 400 each. Great rifles though. Next you see them, see if they have the 2 groove barrels. The 2 groove were wartime manufacture and done that way to speed up the barrel making process. The 4 and 6 groove barrels shoot better. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

10-07-2011, 08:00 PM	#7
popgun V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 403	Re: 1903 Springfield and Winchester 1917 actually 4 or 6 grove barrels shoot no better than a 2 grove. some were even used on sniper rifles

10-07-2011, 08:53 PM	#8
Brisk44 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Iowa Contributor Posts: 1,747	Re: 1903 Springfield and Winchester 1917 They sure are beauties though.