Finding Savage Model 1903 gun parts?

My dad has decided to try to get a Savage Model 1903 .22 rifle back in shooting condition. It is missing the bolt, operating bar stop and operating bar stop pin.
I have searched the web a few times over looking for the parts to no avail. I’ve contacted all the “major” places that I could- Numrich, Bob’s, etc.

I do know the parts from a 1906 and 1909 will work. Also, the bolt from the 1914 will work too(not sure on other parts).

Does anyone know any ideas on who to check with for some parts? Maybe someone with one of these laying around for parts? Anything?

Thanks!

i have used ponderosa parts.com with good results in the
past let us know if you find what you need

Welcome to IDO Beached! Thanks for sharing the info.

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Welcome to IDO Beached! Thanks for sharing the info.

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X 2 welcome to IDO

Given the list of parts you’re after, have you considered buying a parts gun off of one of the big online auction/classifieds sites?

When you’re talking that vintage of gun, once a gun’s externals are worn or damaged, they can have very little value as full guns. For example, if the barrel and reciever are rust-pitted, they generally aren’t going to be worth the price of restoration compared to just buying a model that’s in better condition. That kind of gun makes a prime candidate for parts stripping in my opinion, especially when you are looking for items like the bolt, which, while not impossible, will probably be fairly difficult to find as a single part.

I bought a very damaged Winchester 1894 once just to get the butt plate and a few other original parts. Since these guns were once very common, the collectable value of guns that are in NRA grade fair to poor is practically nothing because it’s commonplace to see many NRA grade good all the way up to fine guns on the market. There’s simply no money in restoring a fair to poor gun for the collector.

Grouse

Ponderosa has a bolt- but it is stripped. So, unless we can find the parts for that, not much help.

As for buying other guns and parting for ours…Most are missing parts as well- including the ones we need.

Still looking….

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As for buying other guns and parting for ours…Most are missing parts as well- including the ones we need.

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What sites are you looking on?

I did a quick Google and I assume I’m looking at the right gun. Is your Savage the box magazine-fed .22 “gallery rifle” style with the octagon barrel? Similar to a Remington Model 12 and the Winchester 1890/1906/62?

They aren’t as common as the Winchester, but I’ve seen these Savages come up on sites before tagged with keywords so that they appear with the Winchesters and Remington gallery rifles of the same style. They generally sell for $300 and up in shooting condition, but many of them have significant rust and other condition problems, such that I can’t believe they ever sell at all.

There are currently two complete Model 1903s on Gunbroker.com. One at $200, one at $300. Neither has attracted a bid and I can tell you that in the condition they are in, even the more desireable Winchester models wouldn’t fetch these prices, so the owners should be open to offers. Both would have the parts you’re looking for.

I totally agree, it’s a hassle to go this route, but when you’re talking a rifle that’s a century old (give or take), it might be worth thinking about.

Grouse