Seeing the ad for the 1903/A3 stock blank in the classifieds brought back to mind the 1903A3 rifles I purchased through the NRA in 1957. The first offering went for $34.50 shipped for serviceable. When it came in, removing all the cosmoline revealed a Smith Corona in excellent condition. Obviously the first offering was not a sell-out, so shortly thereafter the serviceable grade rifles were offered for $20 something and I couldn't resist. #2 came in, sealed in a reinforced foil wrapper....a brand new Remington (w/2 groove barrel). Decided to drop #2 in a $12 Bishop stock blank and hunted with that rifle for a while.
In 1961, while TDY on a post AMU, we went to the Texas State HP rifle matches at FT Hood where they held an "Any Any" rifle match on Saturday morning. This was a 300 meter offhand match with no restriction as to sights or rifle. The team CO gaive the day off but offered to furnish ammo to anyone who wished to compete in that match. One team member said he'd love to see all the fancy Scheutsen rifles but didn't want to shoot an M1. Jokingly, I offered to loan him my Bishop stocked A3 which I had in the trunk of my car. He looked the rifle over and, surprisingly, took me up on the offer.
Monday morning we showed up on the range and I asked him how he made out. He recalled that as he walked up to the firing line with the A3 over his shoulder, someone said, "Hey, boy, where ya going with that rifle, rabbit hunting?", getting a snicker from all those in hearing range. Well, there was no snickering when the scores were tallied and he had placed 2nd in the match.
Then he said, "I'm going to buy that rifle", and I replied it was not for sale. Well, they say everything has a price and so it does; can't remember what he offered, but it was several times the $35 or $40 I had in it. So much for the myth that the 2 groove barrels were not as accurate as four groove.
Often regret having sold that rifle but I did keep the $35.50 Smith in as issued condition and, in fact, took first marksman with it in the 80th commemorative 1903 match at Texas State HP matches the first year I resumed competitive shooting in 1983.
Now let's hear about that pet firearm that you regret selling/trading.
In 1961, while TDY on a post AMU, we went to the Texas State HP rifle matches at FT Hood where they held an "Any Any" rifle match on Saturday morning. This was a 300 meter offhand match with no restriction as to sights or rifle. The team CO gaive the day off but offered to furnish ammo to anyone who wished to compete in that match. One team member said he'd love to see all the fancy Scheutsen rifles but didn't want to shoot an M1. Jokingly, I offered to loan him my Bishop stocked A3 which I had in the trunk of my car. He looked the rifle over and, surprisingly, took me up on the offer.
Monday morning we showed up on the range and I asked him how he made out. He recalled that as he walked up to the firing line with the A3 over his shoulder, someone said, "Hey, boy, where ya going with that rifle, rabbit hunting?", getting a snicker from all those in hearing range. Well, there was no snickering when the scores were tallied and he had placed 2nd in the match.
Then he said, "I'm going to buy that rifle", and I replied it was not for sale. Well, they say everything has a price and so it does; can't remember what he offered, but it was several times the $35 or $40 I had in it. So much for the myth that the 2 groove barrels were not as accurate as four groove.
Often regret having sold that rifle but I did keep the $35.50 Smith in as issued condition and, in fact, took first marksman with it in the 80th commemorative 1903 match at Texas State HP matches the first year I resumed competitive shooting in 1983.
