every now and then...

[trigger643]

Every now and then I get lucky. I am an ecclectic collector. I like lugers. I just plain like firearms, Especially military and vintage target firearms. I like the accuterments. A fellow died here in Louisiana that was an avid sharpshooter and his family put his weapons up for sale on consignment at Clark's Custom Guns here in Bossier. I immediately purchased a Clark's 1911A1 "Hard Baller" circa 1968.

I fingered a Springfield National Match 1903A1 from the estate. There was so much wrong with this rifle I knew it couldn't be legit. It had a 1927 receiver and a 1924 barrel. It was a put together, I decided. The more I fingered it, the more I was convinced that it was a piece that was totally wrong and totally fake. For months I watched the price drop. Every month, a few hundred off, and then a few more hundred. It went from $2,000 down to $800.00 in six months. I decided this month @ $740.00 it was worth Parts. So I bought it. And I started to research it. Well, everything was wrong with this gun for a 1924 or a 1927 NM because it was sold through the DCM in 1930 and had been rebuilt, then mildly customized by it's competitive owner. There is nothing more pleasing to me than owning a weapon that is more accurate than I am. And this rifle is accurate, this rifle is right and it is legit. Knowledge is power and the more I learn the more I appreciate how much I don't know and every now and again I get lucky in my ignorance.

[Lugerdoc]

Glen, Good for you. You may consider yourself lucky, but you also have an eye for quality. I hope that some of your new St.Louis contacts were of help. TH

[trigger643]

Tom, I called the fellow in St Louis with the Springfield parts, we talked a bit and he never called me back with a price. It has a split hand guard. Low/Medium comb, as you can see, and needs a Springfield marked or unmarked, lower band retaining spring. Perhaps since you are local, you might be more apt to get his attention. The spring will be SP or U or unmarked and about $3.00. The handguard will be about $30.00, for a used, uncracked, unmolested piece. Glen

[trigger643]

Gentlemen. I could have saved myself $100.00 had I removed the buttplate from the rifle before sending my money to springfield Research. For, contained there in, in the lower hole was a capped brass tube rapped in paper. Inside this tube were two invoices. Today was better than Christmas.

Invoice #1,
Shipping Ticket #4
Springfield Armory, Mass.,
August 8, 1930.
Shipped to: xxxx,
Routing: Express Collect,
Date Shipped: Aug 9, 1930.

(1) U.S. Rifle, Cal..30, Model 1903. NATIONAL MATCH, with Type "B" Stock, with Target. $45.50.
(1) Gun Sling, Model 1907, leather. $1.31.
(1) Cover, front sight $.05.
Packing charge $1.34.
Total $48.20.

S A L E : Recd 8/7/03 $48.20, Total Sale Price $48.20. "Copy DCM"

Invoice #2
Shipping Ticket, Springfield Armory, Mass.,
Building No. 16,
August 11, 1933.

Ship to: (same individual)
Date Shipped or Delivered: 8/12/33
B/L No.: Job Order 1975.11

"U.S. Rifle, Cal..30, M1903, No. 1273767-SA, National Match, with Type "B" Stock, headless firing pin and reversed safety lock, with Lyman Receiver Sight Base, and front sight cover, ---REPAIRED---

(1) Barrel, assem., National Match $9.83
Assemblying and Adjusting Hdspace $1.50
Packing charge $ .50
Total: $11.83

Note: -- Container is suitable for return shipment. Old barrel to be returned.

S A L E
recd 7/20/33 $12.68
Total for Sale: 11.83
REFUND: $ .85

Copy DCM.

[Edward Tinker]

What a fabulous find!

Can't get much greater than a find like that?

Ed

[trigger643]

The papers are worth more than that rifle, so long as the rifle is included. I just got off the phone with a springfield collector in KC. about $3,000 as is, about $5,000 when I get the parts to correct the few alterations that were made along the way... restored? oh, no, I didn't think so. "Corrected" is a more appropriate term. For these rifles were modified all their lives by competitive shooters looking for that edge. Getting those parts back on that they took off or modified is realitively easy. And now I've slipped back into that grey area of what is "restored" vs "correct"... This rifle has had 3 owners since 1930... two of them competitive shooters modifying this rifle for that "edge" and me with my hands in my pockets... so what is truly original? vs. correct, vs restored?