Nice Rem. 03A3 Found, Need Apx. Value

[Jay Johnson]

It's a nice one, all R marked parts, stock is a little dinged up but not sanded with correct acceptance marks and no rebuild stamp; the stock is the most beat part about it. Parkerizing is 98% except the top edge of the butt plate which has light surface rust, the lower swivel has a light amount of surface rust as well, I think both areas would clean up OK. Barrel is a RA 9/43 and it's really dirty, but not dark. If I had to guess, this one sat in a closet for a long time. Overall, I'd rate it 96-97% as issued.

The tag was $1400, I offered $900 hoping for a counter/recounter to get it for about $1000-$1050, dealer said it was on consignment and he'd ask the owner about my offer; it's been on consignment since 12/4/12.

What's a realistic ballpark figure on it? Is $1000-$1100 too much?

I do not have pictures...

TIA for your thoughts.

Jay

[Allen Humphrey]

Jay
It is so hard to tell for sure without pictures but from your description I would say 900 is top dollar. Spend a couple hours looking at recent completed gbroker auctions to get a better feel.

[Calif Steve]

I would like to see a photo or two. Just off the top, I would not pay $900.00 with a little bit of rust. Stock is dinged up? No, too much money. I guess $650.00? Something like that.

[Jeff L]

Seems like the milsurp rifles on consignment in local shops are generally too high. I think typically because the use the bluebook values incorrectly. They always seem to miss the asterixes at the bottom of the page thay say to decrease value by a certain % for condition of correctness issues. It does seem to be a sellers maket right now. +1 for checking prices on GB (not the asking price, but closing prices). My 2 centaovos.

[Art]

I would want to run a patch or two down the bore to make sure it really is just dirty. If the bore is bright and the muzzle is good I would agree with Alan Humphrey that $900.00 is top dollar for an all original 03A3 in the condition you describe. I would not pay more than that.

As Calif. Steve said, pictures would help a lot.

[Jay Johnson]

Thank you guys for your input, we'll see what the owner says, maybe he's tired of waiting for it to sell and will take my $900 offer.

[Darreld Walton]

Someone's got nards the size of basketballs to offer a lump like that for $1400!
Rack rash and corrosion do NOT increase a rifle's value! With what may be a nasty bore (you flat don't know without a scrubbing), and more corrosion under the woodline, perhaps a mix of parts thrown in for good measure, the fella is asking top dollar for a "farm fresh", out of the Railway Express box, with DCM/Depot release papers, rifle, and that is NOT what you're looking at!
Consider that it was not all that long ago that the CMP dumped such rifles that were returned from Greaseland at "around" $500. Abusing and neglecting a rifle for several years, or perhaps even decades, shouldn't be rewarded with an almost three fold increase in 'value'.
Something else to consider, (and something that seems to be lost on 'would be' buyers), is that on a consignment sale, you're NOT dealing with the owner, you're dealing with the scab who's selling it for him, and he'll tell you anything he wants to to keep the price (and his commission) as high as possible.
Counter with $500, and don't spend a nickel more than $650-$700 for the thing.
"They" made MILLIONS of 'em!!!

[firstflabn]

shouldn't be rewarded with an almost three fold increase in 'value'.
you're dealing with the scab who's selling it for him,
and he'll tell you anything he wants to to keep the price (and his commission) as high as possible.

"They" made MILLIONS of 'em!!!

Just wow. The arbiter of all private exchanges has spoken. All hail!
Musta got outbid on something and it still hurts.
And, please give us the serial number ranges on those "millions" of 03A3s made.

[Jay Johnson]

Someone's got nards the size of basketballs to offer a lump like that for $1400!!

I was actually thinking the same thing, I suspect it's the shop that priced the rifle like that, they tend to go stupid high on Milsurp, especially when it looks close to correct. Jeff can probably attest to this, the shop is Imbert & Smithers over in his neck of the Bay Area; as for 'lumps', they have two Krags that are bastard children and they're asking so much for them I handed both back to the counter guy in about 12 seconds of looking them over. So why do I go in there? Because they're one of the few shops that still deal in used firearms other than hunting shotguns and bolt guns.

[Tom]

Wow! I'd hate to see Darrel in a bad mood. A 96-97% A3 with correct parts is a "steal" at around $1k. All guns have gone up, even 22's. The days of $500 for correct A3's is gone.

I, do however, agree with Jeff that gunshop consignors read the book a little high. I had one I was tired of, and all they wanted to know was that there was no scope holes. It was mil correct and about 85% (stock had been lightly sanded) and the employees almost fought over it at $900.00. It never made it to the sales rack. That was 6 mos ago. I have all Smith's now so I wonder what I'm sitting-on. Grandson will get them all.

[CPC]

My only comment it that without pictures one can only speculate especially with words like rust, dark barrel, etc., what a value would be as percentages of finish are ill defined in any reference. Plus as been discussed before, everyone sees something a little different in each rifle. I have not read the word blued anywhere in the conversation, only parkerized. We know an original rifle would have some parts that are not parked. A friend found a similar rifle recently and said almost exactly the same thing.. all R parts, great looking rifle, etc. and the guy wanted $1.2K for it. When I looked at it, it was a very nice rifle but all the parts were green or parked, etc. so it had been through a rebuild at some time but I it did not have a rebuild stamp and was no where worth $1.2K. Pictures really do make a difference on a high value weapons because slight problems can vary prices considerably.

[coltgrabber]

For what it's worth, I bought a Remington 03A3, barrel date 1943, in 99% condition a couple of weeks ago at a show. The stock had been replaced, apparently at the arsenal or unit, with a P marked (no circle), "R" marked in the cutoff, no inspector, stock for $825.00. Rest of the "R" marks were where they were supposed to be. Park was greenish where it was supposed to be. Asking was $895. This rifle is so minty I would not put it on a table for under $1,000.00, however. If it had been the original stock, I suspect it would have been $1,000. I know where I can buy a 100% correct/condition Smith-Corona for $925.00 now. Are these things just cheaper in Arkansas?