Posted on 12/23/2011 9:52:25 PM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo
The ones we had were fully working ones but all we ever fired in them were blanks, at funerals. I’d love to own one today but it would probably cost an arm and a leg.
We had hundreds of them still “new” packed in cosmoline in our armory. When we broke a stock, which sometimes happened, it was the individuals job to get an unfinished stock from the armory and finish it.
My guess is that the M1903 is now “unsupported”...if something breaks (1903s are notorious for breaking firing pins) they don’t have the parts left in stock. With the sheer volume of M1 Garands made, and being used and supported into the 1970s, the Army should still have at least some ability to support the Garands.
That said, were it up to me, I’d say “let ‘em keep the ‘03s”.
Most of the stock of M1903s and A3s was sold off in the 1950s. Of what remained for drill and ceremony, I believe most were either crunched in the 90s (yes, tragically, it did happen) or sold through the CMP program in the late 90s/early 2000s. A large number of ex-MAP M1903s and A3s was repatriated from Greece around 1999/2000 and sold through the CMP (though most were well worn and need a lot of work).
Depending on condition, quality, model etc. M1903s and M1903A3s are still fairly plentiful, and not always expensive. Just do a lot of looking.
Too late, Woodrow Wilson already sent them to Villa, Carranza and Obregon already. The good news, they won against Huerta’s Mausers.
ROTFLMAO..
But I wouldn't put it past him.
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