Home Forums Gear Free Classifieds Between War German built 1903 Sporter

This is a real nice post WW 1 German gunsmith
built Springfield 1903 Sporter. 30-06 .Very nicely made with great wood to metal fit and nice checkering . Nice bore and is very accurate. Come with Japan made Tasco 4x with post and crosshair reticle. Its really nice rifle.

$649.00 shipped from non FFL to FFL in the lower 48.

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Let try $625.00

$595.00

Do you know anything at all about the maker? Or the story behind the rifle?

I do not know the back story on it or the maker . Everything points to a German guild maker . I have collected these for years and all are unique and 90 % have no makers mark . Sometimes these are referred to as “ cigarette rifles“ because they were made between the wars, and sold to GIs or trade it for packs of cigarettes, which were a hot commodity in Germany. It’s a cool rifle overall that is built very nicely.

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Would the action fall into the low or high number Springfields?

I am trying to figure out what makes you think this was made by a German gunmaker between the World Wars. I have used and seen many sporterized 1903s, but never one that claims this particular provenance.

You need better pics, showing close-up details.

""260 Would the action fall into the low or high number Springfields?"

To find that out you will need the serial number of the rifle. The SN data is readily available on line.

Perhaps they apprentice on Springfields

Before attempting work on Mausers?

I have been collecting cigarette rifles for years . I have encountered and owned quite a few . It’s kind of a niche area that I enjoy. Many 1903 rifles were used as a basis for these rifles by German gunsmiths as they were quite common as battlefield pickups. This rifle as most in the category does not have a makers mark . it does, however, have all the characteristics of a classic German rifle. Low comb stock with cheap piece , claw mount integral bases ect. I also bought it from the estate of a ww2 soldier who returned from Europe with it after the war .
The styling of these rifles is somewhat similar as compared to guns that were modified stateside. I hope this answers your question.

The bolded bit was [part of] the answer I was looking for the first time I asked about the back story. Thank you.

I cannot tell from the pictures you posted that it has claw mount integral bases. The combination of Tasco scope and "German rifle made between the wars" doesn't automatically add up to me (but it does make some sense in a number of other possible ways). I've never seen or heard of a cigarette rifle built on a 1903 action (which is probably entirely due to my ignorance and limited experience). The only ones I have seen or read about were built on Mauser actions. Quality on cigarette rifles I have seen ranges from abysmal to extremely fine. From your pictures, I cannot tell where on that spectrum this rifle lies. Anyway, thank you for adding the additional details.

I was intrigued by the rifle. If I was at a gun show and had the opportunity to look it over and hear the back story, I would probably be inclined to make an offer on it. But online, I would definitely need to see more and better pictures and know more about the rifle. A good story - that is likely to be true - will often add a premium to an item. A while back I watched a nice FN Commercial rifle go for wildly more than I would have expected because the seller had the original paperwork showing that an American First Sergeant had ordered it from the factory in the early 1950s and brought it back home. It even had the receipt from the German gunsmith who mounted the scope and did the custom engraving on it. I'm not saying that is what it would take to sell this rifle, but it is a lot more interesting to me than here's "a 1903 cigarette rifle." Maybe that's just me?

I'm sorry if this comes across as direct. I recognize that we are strangers on the Internet and I don't mean any offense. Thanks again for posting the additional information. If nothing else, you can consider my post a free bump up to the top.

No offense taken by your inquiry I only took it is that. I’ll post some pictures of how a stateside gunsmith overcame the mounting of a scope with the claw bases. most of my cigarette rifles as I referred to him are based on mouser 98 actions but I do have a handful that are built on 1903 actions. I find them very unique, especially the way they used materials on hand to create some pretty good specimens was still allowing them to build affordably.

I’ve dealt with Ray before. I’ll go with his explanation. The stock has German written all over it.
The only issue is it needs a period correct Weaver on it!!!

An A1 seller here!

Is it known if the action is the later made “ strong “ action?

Very nice rifle!!

Yes, but the OP hasn't posted the serial number of this particular 1903 Springfield.