Log In
Members
Home
Add Reply
Add Topic
Hey guys are these very collectible? What would be a decent price to have to pay for one in good shooting shape. Not collector grade but in maybe 75-80%. Good clean/bright barrel inside???
Thanks
Steve
Shells can be hard to find which I think hampers how collectible they are. Fun gun to shoot for sure but at the price of 22 mags or more not a everyday shooter. In this area I’d guess $300.00 a fair price.
If it’s in 80% I believe $300 would be a bargain. One thing is for sure, they are not making any more of them. Last time I looked cheaper than dirt had 22 auto’s for just over $100 a brick. I have a couple and they are very fun little rifles.
Erin
The Model 1903 is collectable, and as of today, I believe that they are undervalued. A true 80% condition standard Model 1903 is easily an $800 rifle. Ammo is actually much easier to obtain these days, and can be purchased for about $20 per 50-round box –
http://ammoseek.com/ammo/22-winchester-auto
http://www.luckygunner.com/22-win-auto-45-gr-lrn-aguila-50-rounds
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/index.php/cName/22-rimfirelr-mag-22-winchester-automatic
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
As I have been looking I have seen them all over the spectrum in price. Anywhere from the $300 to $1200. Now the $1200 one looked like it was recently taken out of the box. So it was really nice………..I have a 63 that shoots the .22LR and is basically the same gun with the exception of some cosmetics. The 1903 has just always intrigued me.
Steve
January 26, 2011
Offline
Steve
I’ve owned a couple of them. The first one was about 50% honest wear gun and I sold it for $550, I think. The one I own now I am calling 80% with nice wood. I got it a couple years ago and will let it go for $850 at the next show if the opportunity presents itself. They are classy looking little guns. The majority of them that I see are in poor condition, or at least very well used.
~Gary~
I found a really nice one today that the guy was asking $600 for. Bluing was near mint. The one thing that was not correct or at least I think was not correct was the sights. It did not have that half moon sight in the rear. Can those be found? I would think they were made just for that rifle and would be near impossible to locate one.
Steve
slk said
I found a really nice one today that the guy was asking $600 for. Bluing was near mint. The one thing that was not correct or at least I think was not correct was the sights. It did not have that half moon sight in the rear. Can those be found? I would think they were made just for that rifle and would be near impossible to locate one.
Steve
Steve,
There are quite a few Model 1903 sights for sale on eBay right now. The correct sight is the 40A and they don’t seem too hard find.
Don
After speaking directly with collectors I have come to realize that you should look for a rifle that does not have any cracks in the stock no matter how well they have been repaired. The bluing should be relatively nice. All of that seams to equal coughing up a little more than you want but you will be happier in the long run. So those $300 guns although may be fine shooters would not be the most desirable one to own. I tend to be on the cheap side and think sometimes you can get something nice for a fraction of what it should cost but those deals are far few and between. I am truly hoping I can find something nice for $600 or so.
Steve
Have a question about the original finish. Were they varnished back in the day?
Steve
- Can I jump in here. I had a Winchester 1903 22 auto for about 40 years. I recently passed it down to my nephew. He doesn’t shoot but give him several boxes of ammo. I still have quite a few boxes and one brick of ammo. Winchester, Remington and Scrounger. Anybody interested in them. I know they are hard to find and would send pictures and consider offers.
Good Evening Bruce,
I would be interested in getting some photos of the ammo.
Thank you for you time and consideration….
I sold mine a few years ago for $2,500. Just a plain rifle, but it was one of the scarcer WW1 US marked types with its original Lyman rear sight. Big Larry
Big Larry said
I sold mine a few years ago for $2,500. Just a plain rifle, but it was one of the scarcer WW1 US marked types with its original Lyman rear sight. Big Larry
Wish I would have known that, I have been looking for a good (and legit) one for awhile now. I would have preferred to give you my cash since I know yours would have been correct.
I also have a soft spot for the standard 1903 as it is a well machined quality firearm and I wholeheartedly agree with Bert that they are currently undervalued.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
It was a real nice one too. I had many US marked Martial 22’s, but never did I find a M1890 US marked. I used to have a friend that was into 22 martial arms and US marked shotguns who had two US marked M1890’s and would not part with either. I gave them all up and sold them all. The M1903 came from Tappaderes Winchesters. I put it up for sale and sold it in one day. Never have seen another. Big Larry
I have another question about them. Was there ever a carbine model? One with a shorter barrel? There is a guy that has a nice deluxe model but he is calling it a carbine model and the barrel is shorter than the standard ones I have been looking at.
Thanks
Steve
slk said
I have another question about them. Was there ever a carbine model? One with a shorter barrel? There is a guy that has a nice deluxe model but he is calling it a carbine model and the barrel is shorter than the standard ones I have been looking at.Thanks
Steve
Steve,
At least some of the early production Model 1903s were made with a 20-inch barrel versus a 23-inch barrel. Winchester did not refer to them as “Carbines”.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
1 Guest(s)
