World War II 30.06....? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

bd · 09-22-2006, 01:18 PM

The local sale/trade paper has listed:

Quote:

For Sale: A WW II bolt-action 30.06 rifle for $150 OBO.

Could it be anything other than a Springfield 1903?

For that price it's worth looking at whatever it is.

bd

Brickboy240 · 09-22-2006, 01:28 PM

Probably an M1903 or M1903A3 Springfield. But don't rule out that it might be a Model 1917 Rifle as well.

Some Model 1917 Enfields in 30-06 were issued to home guard units and National Guard units and security companies at US based factories that built items for the war. Some other M1917s went over to England to be used by guards in the hangars in England, where we made bombing raids on the Germans.

How do I know the M1917 was used as a guard rifle in WWII? Well, I have a great uncle that ran an awning factory in Oklahoma City in the 40s and when they were contracted by the govt. to build web belts, back packs and cartridge pouches out of canvas, the govt. sent National Guards to stand guard outside their factory and I have seen a photo of my great uncle standing next to one of the guards outside their factory doors and he had a M1917 rifle in the photo. Cool, huh?

During WWII, the 03s were mainly used in large numbers by the Marines and very early on in the Pacific Theater. Later on, they went to the Garand, Carbine, M3 Grease Gun and M1927 Thompson. The photos I have seen on Marines in Guadalcanal and the Phillipines all had Garands...no 03s. The 03s were also used like the M1917 - as a guard rifle on the homefront and the yank airbases in England.

For 150 bucks...I surely hope you're grabbing your keys and on the way to at least look at it. It is entirely possible the person that owns it has not a clue as to what its worth. Then again, it could be an M1917 Rifle or even a German Mauser!

If it IS a M1917 instead of a M1903, by all means...grab it. These were actually better shooters than the M1903. The M1917 has a better safety, a one piece firing pin and a nicer set of sights than the M1903. A decent M1917 rifle still sells for 450-600 bucks or more.

I have a sporterized 03 Springfield that Dad bought in the 1960s for 70 dollars and had a smith sporterize it. Does not have much value as a military collectable but God knows I have put the deer in the freezer with this ol' thing.

Let us know if you DO in fact, pick up a M1903 or M1917 for 150 bucks....we'll all be jealous!

- Brickboy240

**hobocircus** · 09-22-2006, 01:28 PM

$150? hmmmm, probably spray painted green, hacked off barrel and has one of those red dot airgun scopes welded on. Oh yeah, rechambered in 280 Ackley hornet improved by his uncle Stanley

**hobocircus** · 09-22-2006, 01:29 PM

Dang Brick, just seconds faster to reply!

bd · 09-22-2006, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobocircus

$150? hmmmm, probably spray painted green, hacked off barrel and has one of those red dot airgun scopes welded on. Oh yeah, rechambered in 280 Ackley hornet improved by his uncle Stanley

Hell I'd go $160 for all that!!!!!

bd

(Thanks BB)

bd · 09-22-2006, 01:57 PM

Crap!

Just made the call, it was a Springer, but it's gone. The guy said he's been getting calls all day, the paper came out last night.

Thanks for the help.

bd

Brickboy240 · 09-22-2006, 02:29 PM

Holy carp...in the right condition, that could be a 650-700 dollar rifle.

Keep looking. Twelve years ago, I too answered a "WWII rifle for sale - $125 OBO" ad in our paper and it turned out the guy had a 1943 Rock-Ola M-1 Carbine Korean War re-build in fairly good shape with four GI 15rd mags. I could not write the check fast enough and while I was there he must have had four other calls about that rifle.

Today, 125 bucks would barely get you the stock on that Carbine, but I replaced a few springs, re-finished the stock (with linseed oil...like it was originally) and had it parkerized and now looks like it did in 1943. Shoots great too.

Keep the faith and watch the classifieds...you'll hit that "lottery" someday. I used to watch them like a hawk. Got alot of my collection that way.

- Brickboy240

**einheit 13** · 09-22-2006, 05:05 PM

It could also be a Mauser varient, a Bannerman Mosin conversion (which are dangerous to shoot and really have no value)...go check it out and see what it is....

oops, just saw it was a Springer......oh well, nothing lost.

09-22-2006, 01:28 PM	#2
Brickboy240 XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 9,853	Probably an M1903 or M1903A3 Springfield. But don't rule out that it might be a Model 1917 Rifle as well. Some Model 1917 Enfields in 30-06 were issued to home guard units and National Guard units and security companies at US based factories that built items for the war. Some other M1917s went over to England to be used by guards in the hangars in England, where we made bombing raids on the Germans. How do I know the M1917 was used as a guard rifle in WWII? Well, I have a great uncle that ran an awning factory in Oklahoma City in the 40s and when they were contracted by the govt. to build web belts, back packs and cartridge pouches out of canvas, the govt. sent National Guards to stand guard outside their factory and I have seen a photo of my great uncle standing next to one of the guards outside their factory doors and he had a M1917 rifle in the photo. Cool, huh? During WWII, the 03s were mainly used in large numbers by the Marines and very early on in the Pacific Theater. Later on, they went to the Garand, Carbine, M3 Grease Gun and M1927 Thompson. The photos I have seen on Marines in Guadalcanal and the Phillipines all had Garands...no 03s. The 03s were also used like the M1917 - as a guard rifle on the homefront and the yank airbases in England. For 150 bucks...I surely hope you're grabbing your keys and on the way to at least look at it. It is entirely possible the person that owns it has not a clue as to what its worth. Then again, it could be an M1917 Rifle or even a German Mauser! If it IS a M1917 instead of a M1903, by all means...grab it. These were actually better shooters than the M1903. The M1917 has a better safety, a one piece firing pin and a nicer set of sights than the M1903. A decent M1917 rifle still sells for 450-600 bucks or more. I have a sporterized 03 Springfield that Dad bought in the 1960s for 70 dollars and had a smith sporterize it. Does not have much value as a military collectable but God knows I have put the deer in the freezer with this ol' thing. Let us know if you DO in fact, pick up a M1903 or M1917 for 150 bucks....we'll all be jealous! - Brickboy240 __________________ The top 25% of wage earners in America pay 86% of all federal income taxes collected. (according to 2007 IRS website data) Es mejor morir a pie que vivir arrodillado Volvo...the Swedish Brick! Last edited by Brickboy240; 09-22-2006 at 01:32 PM.

09-22-2006, 01:28 PM	#3
hobocircus XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The Nevada Desert on a Dry Lakebed. Living in a trailer with thunderstorms looming in the distance. Posts: 3,375	$150? hmmmm, probably spray painted green, hacked off barrel and has one of those red dot airgun scopes welded on. Oh yeah, rechambered in 280 Ackley hornet improved by his uncle Stanley __________________ Ported V-10 XD9 Service SOLD Tactical XD9 in Basic Black I like to shoot Wolf ammo out of my Hi-Point pistol and rifle.

09-22-2006, 01:29 PM	#4
hobocircus XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The Nevada Desert on a Dry Lakebed. Living in a trailer with thunderstorms looming in the distance. Posts: 3,375	Dang Brick, just seconds faster to reply! __________________ Ported V-10 XD9 Service SOLD Tactical XD9 in Basic Black I like to shoot Wolf ammo out of my Hi-Point pistol and rifle.

09-22-2006, 02:29 PM	#7
Brickboy240 XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 9,853	Holy carp...in the right condition, that could be a 650-700 dollar rifle. Keep looking. Twelve years ago, I too answered a "WWII rifle for sale - $125 OBO" ad in our paper and it turned out the guy had a 1943 Rock-Ola M-1 Carbine Korean War re-build in fairly good shape with four GI 15rd mags. I could not write the check fast enough and while I was there he must have had four other calls about that rifle. Today, 125 bucks would barely get you the stock on that Carbine, but I replaced a few springs, re-finished the stock (with linseed oil...like it was originally) and had it parkerized and now looks like it did in 1943. Shoots great too. Keep the faith and watch the classifieds...you'll hit that "lottery" someday. I used to watch them like a hawk. Got alot of my collection that way. - Brickboy240 __________________ The top 25% of wage earners in America pay 86% of all federal income taxes collected. (according to 2007 IRS website data) Es mejor morir a pie que vivir arrodillado Volvo...the Swedish Brick!

09-22-2006, 05:05 PM	#8
einheit 13 XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Virginia, C.S.A. Posts: 5,847	It could also be a Mauser varient, a Bannerman Mosin conversion (which are dangerous to shoot and really have no value)...go check it out and see what it is.... oops, just saw it was a Springer......oh well, nothing lost. __________________ Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, the third time is enemy action “It is the lack of will power, and not the lack of arms which render us incapable of offering any serious resistance.”

09-22-2006, 01:57 PM	#6
bd XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,864	Crap! Just made the call, it was a Springer, but it's gone. The guy said he's been getting calls all day, the paper came out last night. Thanks for the help. bd

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