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Hardcase
03-25-2013, 12:48
My wife is curator of the Eagle Historical Museum (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eagle-Historical-Museum/127174937296032?ref=ts&fref=ts) in Eagle, Idaho. The museum is creating a military history exhibit at the Eagle City Hall, focusing on World War I and World War II. One of the artifacts that she is searching for is a representative US rifle. I suggested the M1903.

Here's the rub. My M1903 is a bubba'd sporter, which I would happily loan to the exhibit, but it's not exactly representative of the rifles that our men carried in the wars. So, I'm putting it out to you folks: if anybody has a drill rifle, a parts gun, working or not, that they'd like to donate or loan to the Eagle Historical Museum or sell for a low price (the museum runs on a shoestring budget), please let me know. Even if it's a box of parts that could be assembled into a displayable representative of an M1903, that would be fabulous. Condition isn't terribly important - operability makes absolutely no difference (in fact, a non-operating rifle would make the city attorney very happy!)

In fact, if anybody has the parts to restore that bubba'd gun back to battle form, that would even work - it's a Mk.I and needs the stock metal and all of the rear sight pieces. In that case, I'll just buy a stock and donate the rifle to the museum.

Any donation, of course, is tax deductible, and, if you live in Idaho, there's even a state tax credit. Also, your generosity will be noted in the exhibit. Please feel free to reply here, PM me or email me at headamp@gmail.com.

Johnny in Texas
03-25-2013, 04:57
Try contacting the CMP they may have some junkers around still. The local VFW may even loan them one.There are nice looking replica guns for sale also.

http://www.paradestore.com/detail.aspx?ID=1162

Hardcase
03-25-2013, 06:01
Thanks, Johnny, that's a great idea!

Hardcase
03-27-2013, 12:48
Thank you, friends, for the excellent suggestions, here and via PM. We're negotiating a long-term loan with one of the local VFW posts.

Ernie
03-27-2013, 01:29
See my post to you on CMP forum.VFW can not loan a rifle. Those are US Army property and controlled by a strict deed of trust document

Just a fyi.

Dad
03-27-2013, 04:24
IMA seems to have the correct configuration WWl M1903 in cast resin for $179.95.
http://www.ima-usa.com/nation/u-s-militaria/garand-u-s-rifles/u-s-m1903-springfield-rifle-resin-display-gun.html

D.

John Kepler
03-27-2013, 06:33
Do be advised that 3 out of every 4 American soldiers in "The Great War" were issued the M1917, not the M1903.....a group that included Alvin York.

chuckindenver
03-27-2013, 08:51
contact Rock Island, they may be able to help out.

John Beard
03-27-2013, 10:05
Contact the CMP. They have a website at www.thecmp.org. Go to the Ask Orest forum and ask Orest for a M1903 drill rifle. He may be able to oblige you.

Good Luck!

J.B.

1mark
03-29-2013, 09:50
PM sent