iPhone 5 or earlier Sprint iPhone 5 help

[Gandek]

Picking up a iPhone 5 (Sprint only not unlocked) for my collection and obviously I'd like to simply get it past the activation and any setup menus, but I don't have a old sprint sim. Could I just activate it using a T-mobile sim and try calling them up if it doesn't work? I know you could also potentially jailbreak it, but as its a collectors item I'd like to keep it stock if possible. Phone is on iOS 10.3.3

 

[msp3]

The Sprint/T-Mobile activation (lock/unlock) profile is one and the same nowadays, however your phone must recognize it. If you let it update carrier settings, it should recognize this, but you have 2 challenges: getting past the activation screen (SIM required) and it will stay locked to Sprint SIMs only until it can see a carrier update that tells it otherwise

 

[Gandek]

The Sprint/T-Mobile activation (lock/unlock) profile is one and the same nowadays, however your phone must recognize it. If you let it update carrier settings, it should recognize this, but you have 2 challenges: getting past the activation screen (SIM required) and it will stay locked to Sprint SIMs only until it can see a carrier update that tells it otherwise

Update - It wanted a sim to activate, but I just used the emergency call trick and it worked first try to get it past it.