Four WWI 1903's

[Doug Douglass]

My absolute favorate firearm subject......the very accurate Model 1903 rifle. Nice photos. One of these days I am going to get my wife to post photos of some of mine. I type, I am computer stupid.

[Fred]

I'd like to see any photos of any of your rifles that you'd care to post Doug! Put them up here!
That goes for the rest of you guys. Please, if you have a rifle or rifles that you'd like to show photo's of, Please Please Please put them up here for us all to see and enjoy! Show us some good photography!

[rayg]

Jeeze Fred, nice rifles. The last time you took a group family photo like this it was of your beautiful Long Lee Enfield's. Then you got bored with them because you couldn't up grade them and went and sold them all and started to buy 03's. You buy the best, What rifles are going to collect next? Ray

[DWL in TN]

Fred, not to be nit-picking, but did you ever consider "aging" those two new slings to match the vintage looks of your original rifles? Maybe just me, but a "new" sling on an old rifle kinda sticks out like a sore thumb! With all our experienced collectors on here maybe someone could tell us the best way to age a sling to match the rifle, or we could just keep an eye out for original ones you could get.

What? no bayonets??

[rayg]

He could take the slings down to the Central American jungle for several months, that would age them quickly. But he doesn't want to go back there again so he can apply Pecard's or similar leather dressing and a hair dryer to heat the leather so the dressing soaks in the leather. That should darken the leather. If not apply brown shoe polish over that. Ray

[Fred]

Those slings are pretty green aren't they? Pecard's is what I need to put on them all right. But First I'd like to use a little dye or stain on them. Brown if I can find it. I still have enough Pecard's to treat them afterwards. Heck, I hurt every time I see what original 1907 slings are going for in fine shape. $150.00 and up! I remember when in the mid eighties, A guy came walking into a gun show in Kansas City with a paper grocery bag full of them. I counted about 65 or 70. He told me he'd take $1.00 each for them. I paid the man and left to another table to tell a buddy of mine what I just got. I should've taken the slings with me. We got back to my table and my (former) best friend who was sitting at the table with me proudly told me that he'd made me a profit on the whole mess of them to some guy that'd come by at $1.50 each. I never told him that I wanted to sell them, but he was sure I'd approve of his move
Ray, I'm just going to keep getting the occasional 1903 and eventually another Krag to keep this time. Also a Garand. After that, mayabe a 97 Winchester riot gun for home defense and that's it. I sold all of my Enfields and equipt. along with all of my cases of military .303 to fund my 03 purchases.

[rayg]

Try the Pecard's first. Put it on heavy then use a hair dryer to heat and soak it in. Usually that will darken it and make it look aged. If not, then use the dye, Ray

[Fred]

Hey, thanks Ray!

[BryanJ]

Hey, thanks Ray!

After purchasing my first M1903 recently, I've been reading this forum and I'm back to 2013, when I ran across this particular thread. Some threads are so good, they should be recycled every so often so that new members (like me) can get a chance to read them. Those are some beautiful 1903's in this thread and some pretty good stories to go along with the rifles. Enjoy!

[Fred]

I'm glad that you like the rifles Bryan! The only one of those that I still have is the 2nd rifle from the bottom, Next to the Rock Island 03. Its a minty, unworn and unaltered Springfield Armory 1903. I've kept that one as well as one more. A Rod Bayonet 1903.

[BEAR]

Amazing fence post

[BryanJ]

That is one amazing rifle and your photography is pretty amazing as well! I enjoyed your story about roughing it in the jungle.

[Fred]

Yea, that was 28 years ago Bryan. I wouldn't be enjoying it so much as an adventure today. LOL. Except for digging in the tombs. That was interesting of course.