1903 Winchester

[Smith357]

I have a Winchester Model 1903 made in 1903 Serial # 42xx.
I hate trying to grade 100 year old guns but my guess is it's about 65-70%, hell for it's age it's just about perfect, not many thing get to be 100 years old and still look this good. Anyway I was wondering if I could get some help in here to possibly give me a more precise gradeing of it's condition.

Also the Blue Book mentions that approximately the first 5K rifles were made without a safety, but doesn't ascribe a higher price to them I'm curious to here from any Winchester Collectors if there any sort of premium on the pre-safety models. I'm hoping that one of the Winchester collectors here can let me know if there is a premuim, because the blue book does not always go into the deep detail that the collectors do and information I seek is true collector type stuff. I will most likely take it to the next OGCA show and have the Winchester Club Members take a look at it, but right now I curious for insurince pourposes as it is a family heirloom, aka Grandpas gun, and not for sale.
Regards,
Guy Smith

 

[Mike Hull]

Although I like those rifles, I'm not an expert on them, so won't venture anything else, except to say that it looks to be a bit better than the 65-70% you graded it at.
JMO, but I'd say 80-90%.

Good luck in finding the info you want.

 

[Onmilo]

$300.00 to $400.00

The .22 lr Model 63 rifles realize about 50% more than the .22 Auto caliber Model 1903s. HTH

 

[Smith357]

$300.00 to $400.00

The .22 lr Model 63 rifles realize about 50% more than the .22 Auto caliber Model 1903s. HTH

As stated in my original post, I have a blue books and am aware of the base values, my question was; is there any sort of premium on the first year pre-safety models?

 

[Onmilo]

A bit more but condition is everything and in the condition pictured the premium will be small.

.22s aren't the same as 1911s and such and such, to realize a large collector return the gun must be pretty much Mint to new in the box.