Hey Kentucky, If you have a set of dial micrometers you might check the boltface. Alot of these were reamed to .308 Norma Mag. by their owners and this requires a mod to the boltface. remove the bolt from the rifle by manipulating the mag on/off. check to see if the bolt face is bigger than .530 after rotating the extractor to the top of the boltface which will put it in line with the bolt handle and aforementioned "lug". If you've already shot it and the brass comes out looking like 30-06 nevermind. If you haven't this simple check will tell you if its had this treatment, however it won't tell you everything. check the headspace or have it checked. at least do a simple chamber cast by plugging the bore about .25 of inch ahead of chamber in the rifling and pour a melted crayon in there it should take at least 2 standard size crayons (box of 64.) check to see if it was reamed to .30 gibbs a standard boltface wildcat that would make your headspace excessive for standard 30-06.

In regards to your question of value, it only has value as a shooter and not a collectible...not that having a good shooter is bad. One thing you shouldn't have to worry about is that being an 03-A3 the receiver was properly heat treated unlike some early Rock Island Arsenal 03-A1s which supposedly could crack due to improper heat-treating; a problem I feel is more likely due to excessive pressure from poor loading practices than metal defects. I personally don't know of anyone having this problem, and I have a custom 03-A1 that falls within the "suspect" serial number range that has no problems at all...of course it has never had anyone try to load it up to match a .300 Magnum either!

Too bad someone ''ruined'' it . The ''sporterizing'' really devalued it .

The German military Mauser rifles never had serial numbers of more than four digits as Gil pointed out. I suggest that someone look at Small Arms of the World to identify military rifles. Take care...
Joe

whittling,

There is plenty demand for nicely done Mauser actions, due to people thinking that the Mauser's control round feed is better then the push feed action type.

Dimitri