M1903 from the CMP Good Deal!? Here's the Catch!

[@BattlefieldCurator]

🚧 Update 08/15/2024: There are no more M1903 rifles left in CMP stores and they don’t know if they will ever get any more. You can find out more about the CMP by going to thecmp.org or by checking out other sources of information to include the CMP Forums and KZbin videos. If you found this information useful, consider supporting us at our online store 🪖 bfcurator.company.site

[@Josh93B93]

I went to the CMP link and its starting they have no M1903's available and do not know when or if they will be available again, trully a shame, i feel bad for the counter people trying to get into collecting historical firearms, I wish PSA would have rebuilt these over the StG-44.

[@DelGTAGrndrs]

@@Josh93B93one left at the north store lol

[@Lockbar]

I remember back around the year 2000, CMP had 50,000 1903's that were returned from Turkey. They were $250 each.

[@davidingle8983]

That'd be about 460 today Still a good deal but not cheap at that price just reasonable

[@imperialhonorguard1483]

I just wish the CMP had shops in Oregon, California and Arizona

[@brandondavis4306]

I wish we had one here in Maine

[@HunterTN]

Never going to happen. They do bring inventory to the Western games if you can swing going to that.

[@worldtraveler930]

A Texas branch would be Really convenient for Me!!! 🤠👍

[@Skk_Bandit]

I was at Talladega and South stores a few days ago. The South store had one rack of 1903’s on it, with a rack of 1917’s on the other side. The Talladega store had a larger collection of 1903’s with about 2 or 3 racks full of them.

[@SLAYERxX420]

M1903's are currently able to be mail ordered atm on the CMP site but the stock is limited so if you really want one get your paperwork filled now.

[@JCosme1967]

Man... I found this beautiful 1903 at the North store, March of this year... 1909 receiver, re barreled 1942... muzzle reading "0" and throat was "1".... Ended up requesting the service record for the receiver to find out it was in Hawaii on December 7, 1941.

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Whoooah! That is actually pretty cool! I still need to get service records done for my rifles.

[@JCosme1967]

@@BattlefieldCurator you need to come to Camp Perry for the National Matches. I am a competitor and a volunteer. I'll be there start to finish... also shooting the warm up matches this Thu Fri Sat and Sun.

[@brandondavis4306]

How does one go about requesting the service record of a rifle?

[@JCosme1967]

@@brandondavis4306 tell him Camp Perry Joe sent you!

[@michaelsorenson3887]

Where did you request them from?

[@themastermason1]

I'm so glad with the 03A1 I got at my local shop. $750 and all she needed was some tlc on her stock and an 8 thou shim under the front sight dovetail.

[@dragracingrule]

I found my a3 on a classified for 600 and it’s in really good shape. I got lucky on that

[@dancortes3062]

The north store has had a lot of M1917 rifles recently. At $1,000 to $1,100 it is not nearly as good of a deal as the 1903s. Hopefully this fall the north store will get steady shipments of 1903s like they did M1917s. They did get one shipment of 1903s but most got snagged up quick. It didn't make sense for me to make the 2 and 1/2 hour drive just to look through the few rough ones left that nobody wanted.

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Yea you can’t really time a big restock of rifles like that, but reading the forums really helps and planning it out with friends makes it fun

[@Jeff-sl8xz]

​@@BattlefieldCuratorI wouldn't buy one for the prices they want considering that the only part of it that I'd use would be the action same thing with the Mausers that Old military garbage gets in my hands and I make a real rifle out of them everyone gets sporterized as they should be they make some beautiful custom hunting rifles when you rebarrel and restock and put a good trigger in them rework the bolt and change out the safety and your not limited to a couple of calibers

[@treyowens9674]

​​@@Jeff-sl8xz You do realize this is 2024 and not 1954 right? You don't ever bubba no antique surplus guns anymore are you out of your mind?

[@Jeff-sl8xz]

@@treyowens9674 I don't bubba anything I take a club rifle and turn it into a functional piece of beauty that milsurp stuff is ugly and like welding a club I put beautiful walnut sporter stocks on them and a new bbl and trigger rework the bolt handle and switch the safety to a more modern user friendly one these rifles are now high dollar pieces of art basically one of a kind they're custom built rifles when I get through not something that you drag out of a barrel covered in cosmoline and are barely accurate no these are more accurate than the shooter I'm making silk purses out of sows ears and they can be handed down through the generations as a finely made custom firearm

[@theshadowrunner28]

​@@Jeff-sl8xz No, you are just destroying history. Do not sporterize milsurp rifles.

[@michaelbenjmitchell1]

I was lucky to pick up my 1906 dated M1903A1 from a estate sale last fall. 1906 dated receiver rearsenaled at Augusta Armory in 1942 with a pretty rare barrel I might add. I only paid $45 for it out the door.

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Wow what a deal! Never know what kind of deals you might get at estate sales. I think it would definitely be worth it to drive a distance and be first in line for such gems

[@hatchetjack1031]

Bought a Miltec M1903 A1 that was assembled from inventory at the Springfield Armory, national monument. Made in 1928 and crated. Brand new, unfired, $1500.

[@User-nx7rs]

That's worth it

[@jasontorre3267]

The 1903 is one of my favorites. I'm currently rebuilding a barreled action 03A3. I found a Smith Corona A3, MK 1and a Rockisland 03 actions all for $800.

[@donwyoming1936]

Coincidence I got both a Smith-Corona M1903A3 & a Rock Island M1903 from the CMP about 20 years ago. Both Greek returns. The M1903A3 was never used. Ever. One of the ones from the factory crates. Still in wrap. The M1903 saw a lot of use.

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Good luck on your project! #savehistory

[@midnightblackwolf4435]

I paid for mine at the gunshow for 1500 don't regret it I love my 1903 she shoots amazing!

[@HSmith-uk9hl]

If you go to the store, take patches and a cleaning rod or borrow one from the store. In 2019 I bought a Remington 1903 and took their word on bore condition. When I got home and pushed the grease from the bore, it was a sewer pipe. The CMP folks were great and made good on it. The replacement is very nice with a VG bore but I could have saved everyone a lot of trouble if I had checked the bore before buying it.

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Good to know. I haven’t had any issues with their readings but I’ve seen some worn barrels on their M1 Garands recently. They do mark them on the tags as such. I carry a bore light with me most of the time to inspect anything I might find during my travels

[@clearsailing7993]

Back in 1968 a lot of my friends in high school had mausers. They cost 20 dollars each. We would interchange the bolts. Lucky we didn't blow ourselves up.

[@SamLee-e3b]

The Mauser action is pretty strong but yeah.....

[@toddgwinn8395]

Prices keep going up

[@The_SmorgMan]

Got a 1906 rock island in great shape with a 37 rebuild barrel for 700 in AZ over last winte

[@timblack6422]

CMP is a great deal.. got both my Garands there at the North store. One service and one rack grade

[@BattlefieldCurator]

I need to make another trip there before the end of the year.

[@NBZW]

LOL, in my possession is an 03, star gauge Springfield that was purchased through NRA in 1950, $20:00 delivered to my front door.

[@thelasthunter7906]

Having been to the CMP North Store the day of typing this, there were no M1903 springfields whatsoever. Plenty of M1917s, and mostly rack grade Garands. The best M1 I found was a 2, 2 Rack plus

[@tlwisner]

Happy I picked up[ my M1903, M1917, and Krag at the South Store back in 2020. Great place to visit and I was lucky to pick up the one and only Krag they had. I see they will drop 1000 Krags later this year sometime. Visiting the CMP South Store is just fun. Great weekend road trip.

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Right on! You might have grabbed the last Krag they had up until now

[@BattlefieldCurator]

It just depends if they restocked the next day or week

[@christopherseivard8925]

A wealth of information! On the list! Want!

[@donwyoming1936]

Feel bad for you new guys. I absolutely stocked up at the CMP 20-25 yrs ago.

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Yea Covid money really made things go parabolic

[@heaterinmytruck]

Ok boomer

[@fireemblemistrash75]

@@heaterinmytruckkinda cringe but yeah no the state of surplus gun purchasing will never ever return to how it was, even 7 years ago

[@markothwriter]

yeah, but I can still chase college girls..... so there

[@krockpotbroccoli65]

I got a 1903 for $600 a few years ago from a local gun shop. Apparently some old guy had gotten it from the cmp years ago and shot national matches with it.

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Must be pretty nice and probably an accurate shooter

[@krockpotbroccoli65]

@BattlefieldCurator Well used and a bit worn, but dead nuts accurate. The action is as smooth as a Krag.

[@kaise8972]

Great video Dan. Thank you

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Glad you enjoyed it 😁🍻 happy Father’s Day

[@Siskiyous6]

I bought 3 1903 actions at an estate auction with misc parts for $11,00 one turned out to be the pre 03 model and worth a considerable sum, the last one I saw at auction going well over $800.00/ I have finished one, it is a 10 round 25-06 with a 26 inch stainless barrel. The last one I am making into a 450 Bushmaster, They are a far more interesting gun as working sporting actions, to me, than as a safe queen

[@russwoodward8251]

This is the first rifle I shot as a kid. Great video today. Thanks!

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Glad you enjoyed it! These are great rifles from the early 1900s

[@larry648]

I have an unissued 03-A3. Remington, all original, 95%, OG marked stock. Made and right into storage.

[@TimothyHudson-z7u]

Just got an email (Sept 3) from Traci at CMP... they have no 1903 rifles... yet they seem to show up in youtube videos all the time... something is very strange at CMP

[@BattlefieldCurator]

They ran out a few weeks ago, I had posted another video where they sent an email out disclosing their inventory numbers and they were popular.

[@UltraLimitedHD]

They will let you scope the barrel - with permission, take a "Teslong" barrel scope with you. Its in your best interest to do so.

[@cheesenoodles8316]

I really wanted an 03 .... got one in great condition...it was a while ago. Picked up a 1917 a bit worn from LGS, I shoot that old 1917 more.

[@herrprepper2070]

I bought a whole slew of 1903 & A3 rifles about 20-25 years ago. Greek returns as I remember. Never sold a one. They are going to the grandkids as they graduate from college or get their DD214.

[@BattlefieldCurator]

I’m sure they’ll enjoy them

[@charlestryor3433]

The Greek returns (Blue Sky) were at local gun shop. 169 for a new carbine, 200 for new Garand. He has some like new Eddystone 17s for 100. Didn't think they were worth it.

[@Maxdcat12345]

Ohio had some. I was out there two months ago.

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Yea I heard they had some not too long ago, I just didn’t see any in a store report recently posted by someone who visited there

[@keith5223]

Thanks for the info.

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Glad you found value in it 😁🍻

[@sammartinez8084]

Great info and you are right way to much money 💰💰💰👍👍👍🤔🤔🤔

[@rickyrunner7619]

if I can't look at it before I purchase I then it is a no deal for me and it is better to walk away then to purchase someone's junk

[@TingTingalingy]

CMP has varying grades. You seem the type that thinks everyone is always trying to rip you off

[@BattlefieldCurator]

CMP grades them fairly. If there is an issue, they send you a part for free if you know what it needs or you’d have to ship it to them and they’ll fix it. Their customer service is pretty good. I’ve not had very many problems. If you go in person, they are all tagged with condition of barrel and an armorer can even help you inspect it

[@Rylansmilitarycollection2005]

I need help for buying a 1903 for a REASONABLE price

[@inspectorkemp7439]

AS of 6/26/2024 you can order through the mail total inventory was: M1903 Rifles - Service Grade: 78; Field Grade: 386; and Rack Grade: 356 M1917 Enfield Rifles - Service Grade: 203; and Field Grade: 1,067

[@mrhamburger6936]

All Cabela's rifles they buy them from people for Low dollars and then they turn around sell five times the money that they bought them for and they are not checked over

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Yep sad.

[@jbt369]

I guess that Crooks kid wasn't in the program.

[@howarddeheer8295]

What do they have for 03A3

[@markpoffinbarger9207]

Own 2 my grandfather's and a sedgly I picked up in the 80s

[@DJBarts42]

I lucked out and got mine from gunbroker for a little over $600 a few years back, absolutely love it!

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Good deal!

[@colton72395]

My dad got a 1903 back in the 70s for 20 bucks

[@josephvullo486]

Forgive me for being a novice ( I don't own a rifle) but, in watching videos between the KRAG and the 1903 Springfield, I always like the way the bolt action on the KRAG is so smooth when ejecting as compared to the 1903....Is there any way to improve this action on the 1903?

[@brandondavis4306]

I found a 1903A3 rifle at my local shop for 800 bucks, She is an absolute tack driver

[@ReshalaZavodskoy1559]

I wish I could get out to any of the stores, but they're juuust outside of my range. Too bad they ran out of mail order rack grade Garands last week, does anybody know about how often they get rifles in and/or if they say anything about them getting more in their newsletter?

[@wildoats1903]

Likely will not see Rack grade rifles for a long time

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Might be a few months or might be a few years. It depends on them.

[@ReshalaZavodskoy1559]

​@@BattlefieldCurator That's a shame to hear! I was a week out from sending in my order form when they ran out, FOMO is justified sometimes...

[@wildoats1903]

@@ReshalaZavodskoy1559 they still have expert grades available so atleast that’s a option. Love the expert grade I ordered last summer

[@ReshalaZavodskoy1559]

@@wildoats1903 Yeah, that's the little debate I'm having with myself right now. Would you say the extra $450 that the expert grade costs was worthwhile for you? I'm only tentative because it's over 1.5 times the cost and I'm not really opposed to having an "ugly" rifle myself

[@garypic4083]

Lol I got a 03a3 from a guy at work for $40.00 4 years later I sold it for $100.00 back 1990

[@nomadmarauder-dw9re]

If you camp out coming and going your trip will be a lot cheaper. Lots of State parks out there.

[@scapegoat762]

I keep hoping the CMP will get some M-1 CARBINES...

[@BrandonMirrors]

Should we be worried about the CMP selling out of all M1 models on the website?

[@BattlefieldCurator]

They may release again. I’ve seen them go out of stock and then come back in stock a year later or so. The physical locations always seem to be stocked, at least most of the time. One thing I am wondering is when they will get another large batch or when they will run out for real.

[@henryturnerjr3857]

What about those pesky state line laws? If you travel from a couple of states away. Do you have to have it shipped to an FFL in your home state?

[@tylerthegrimm]

What screwed up everything for the rest of us were these jerks who bought up all the rifles several at one time only so they go and flip the rifle for a much much higher price.

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Yes but also there’s the people that just bought them at those ridiculous prices without doing any research

[@tylerthegrimm]

@@BattlefieldCurator yeah true. It's a shame. Our history relegated to the highest bidder instead of being shared with generations to come and learn.

[@emergencynurse02]

I just got an M1 ....looking at a 1917 or possibly a 1903....we shall see

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Decisions decisions 🤔

[@johnbuck6685]

03 A3 is the name of the game

[@brianvannorman1465]

You Jon Cryer's kid?

[@nicholasfortunato7035]

Meanwhile me living in California forced to cry in my bed until the CMP opens a westcoast store 😭

[@BattlefieldCurator]

It’s interesting they haven’t expanded further east or west. They have Ohio and Alabama, just kinda north and south

[@stretchedout6600]

So I have a question maybe anyone can help. So I noticed all 1903 Springfields have a small hole on the bottom half of the handguard on the leftside is there a purpose for the hole or is it just the process when they manufacture the rifle stocks. Thanks

[@connersullins1955]

This makes me feel better about mine that I got for 550

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Awesome! 😎 finding those great deals out there (outside of the CMP) are hard to come by

[@matthewjames4334]

I’d have to make a 16 hours one way road trip just to get there…… which sucks. Its what makes me consider the RTI 1917s…… But I’ll be damned if I pay quadruple digits for an 03 online…..

[@BattlefieldCurator]

A friend of mine got a P14 from RTI, barrel was shot. Not too sure about the M1917s but the Garands looked fair to good condition from what I’ve seen.

[@matthewjames4334]

@@BattlefieldCurator I’ve got two of the “original condition” garands. And they are both pretty good About equal to a CMP field grade Most of the individual listing for the “restored” 1917s. Have shot out barrels.

[@xanderburns1332]

Paid 500$ for my rockislandA1 3 years ago

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Nice!

[@SonnyCrocket-p6h]

If I had to KEEP it, I would not give a dime for any gun other than duplicates of the 4 that I have and I'd not pay more than say, $200 each for those duplicates (altho their average price is $1000. I'm old and dont expect to wear out any of them. There's nothing that needs to be don (with a gun) e that my 4 guns cant do. 3 single stack autopistols, 2 of them are pocket autos.. A belt 9mm trainer, and a shorty silenced AR in 223, with a 22lr conversion unit. If y ou want sa hunting rifle, you're WAY ahead to use a Remington or Browning autorifle, for $500-$700

[@HDSME]

Cmp is not the same! non profit??? ! I doubt it these guns have alot of mixed parts After market stocks and parts

[@davidv.3135]

The CMP dribbles out small lots of Junk and charges crazy prices. Anything exceptional goes straight to auction. They used to give you a good deal on some sweet rifles, not anymore!

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Last time I went to the CMP, most of the Garands seemed to be Philippine returns which probably have the roughest appearance of all the returns. Some M1s come from veterans organizations. The M1903s and M1917s were from Veterans organizations… condition on them seem to be good to excellent.

[@thomasottey854]

I have a M1 that I brought from the CMP and it is great.

[@brucemiller8109]

CMP has NO 1903/1903a3, that was 2000-2008 era.

[@blafishing7581]

Ridiculous to shop at Bass Pro...or the other...IMO

[@blainechappell5383]

yall gotta stop dropping the rifle to cycle the bolt. Leave it shouldered

[@kchaney56]

1903 is a good gun but they should be about 300.

[@merlinwizard1000]

54th, 18 June 2024

[@herrprepper2070]

Next time some punk kid starts yapping about some “old guy”… refer him to the story of George “Dad” Farr at Camp Perry.

[@markpoffinbarger9207]

Low number receivers not safe sure 03 a3 are safe

[@steveb6103]

I paid $100 for my M1903 in 1982. $150 each for 3- M1's. All came from the CMP.

[@BattlefieldCurator]

Nice!

[@GarrettLoper]

Why hasn't anyone made reproduction of these

[@BattlefieldCurator]

National Ordnance did if I recall but they had some issues

[@richardlahan7068]

Wow. I won't be getting one of these overpriced rifles.

[@poindexter1387]

CMP way toooo many hoops to jump through. I think I will pass.

[@BattlefieldCurator]

I’ve jumped through them… only really got to do it once initially and then maintain membership with the GCA. Not a lot of hoops imo, too easy actually

[@TingTingalingy]

Not at all true. You just need to seek out the avenues, but obviously you already won't. You also complain when milsurps go up on value?

[@westcoastplinkin6559]

C'mon, I am in CA and everyone knows we have much more requirements to buying a firearm and even I did the CMP process. It was super smooth.

[@HunterTN]

It's never been easier to get a rifle from CMP. Scan your drivers license, birth cert, club ID, find a notary, mail it off. I'd gladly do that little bit of paperwork before I'd pay the crazy prices being asked for 1903's and Garands at gun shows, GB, or Cabela's.