I'm an older guy and just thought you might be interested (if it hasn't already been discussed over and over) that in the late 50's or early 60's as I recall the NRA sold a ton of O3A3's through the Rifleman magazine for $19.95 each plus shipping of about $5 or $6. They had a limit of one rifle per NRA member. I think everyone I knew suddenly had their Wife, their Sons and Daughters, Aunts and Uncles and friends join the NRA and get a rifle...As I recall I ended up with 6 of them...built sporters out of several and have no idea what came of the others...long time ago and really cheap...In the 50's I worked part time in a gun shop in Fort Collins Colorado and we were selling 97 Winchesters for $5 and $10 each...I shot ducks for years with an old '97. My oh my!
opos...that's exactly how I got my Rem 03A3. My father in law belonged to NRA, saw the ad, told me about it...so I joined NRA and bought a military .45ACP for the same price. My FIL bought the 03A3 and I inherited it eventually.
$5 or $10 for Mod 97s??? When were you born Opos??? 1888??
Almost....1937..we had a little gun shop and outboard shop (Scott Atwater...what a "wonderful" engine). Small town in Colorado (now a big town). Most of the guns that came in were from farm sales when farmers either retired to went broke..I had a 30 cal. Luger that was a really nice pistol as I recall...think it might have set me back around $40. Sure wish I still had it.
My dad bought a 03a3 and a m-1 carbine in early 60s from nra. Still has receipts for them. 03a3 he sportarized aargh. Did not tap metal only wood though. Good rifling great shooting. Carbine he left alone, great condition national postal meter.
Glen