• Smith Corona 1903a3 History
• Springfield 03a3 Smith Corona
• Smith Corona 1903a3 Value

Off hand that serial number is pretty late in the manufacture of SC's. That barrel date of 3-43 is maybe 5 months or more too early. Stranger things have happened though, possibly they were using the last of the supplies and dug down to the bottom of the barrel bin where there were still some early barrels. Most barrels if I recall at that date were 2 groove. Are their any rebuild cartouches on the stock?If the rifle is in really clean shape and maintains all SC parts, trigger housing, bolt, stock, then the likely-hood of a replaced barrel is small.

If there is a mixture of Remington parts on it, the chances increase that the barrel was replaced. According to the book 'The 1903 Springfield and it's Varients' by Joe Poyer, the 2 groove barrel is the one not original with the Smith and Corona, not 4 groove.The book describes the Smith Corona 03A3 barrel as type 5, exactly the same as the Remington produced barrel type 4 1st variation with the exception of stampings.The early barrels from 10-42 to 11-42 were six groove. The barrels from between 12-42 and 1-43 will be a mix of 6 groove and 4 groove. The barrels after 2-43 will all be 4 groove.The early barrels were produced by Savage until 11-42, High Standard produced the rest.Type 6 barrels, or replacement barrels will be counter bored, not crowned. They were produced by High Standard (HS), Johnson Automatics (JA) or Sedgely (S in a Circle).Hope this helps.

M14man, I think your asking about serial number production per year, this is what I have. Sorry my first post is so ran together, the spacing disappeared when posted.Smith Corona 03A3 Serial Numbers (estimated)1942 3,608,000 to 3,6 3,613,540 to 3,707,000 and 4,708,000 to 4,8 4,828,436 to 4,845,831The book states that the production year to serial numbers is by observation. It doesn't give an estimate of serial number by month production.Barrels were stamped with manufacturer/escutcheon/month-year marking during the manufacturing process and before the assembly of the front site to the barrel, finishing and assembly to the reciever.10-42 to 11-42 Barrels 6 grooveThe early Smith Corona barrels were made under subcontract by Savage.These barrels will not have the month/year stamp only the ordnance escutcheon located.10 inches above the punch mark, the opposite side of the barrel will have a 'P' proof stamp. The muzzle is rebated (turned down) from.620' to.618' diameter for the first.40 inches, for a distance of.166 inches ahead of the front site band.12-42 to 1-43 BarrelsProduced by High Standard, they will be a mix of 4 and 6 groove. These barrels were marked ' SC/escutcheon/month-year'.

If proof tested after assembly they were marked with the 'P' proof mark either 1.5 or 11 inches behind the muzzle on the bottom of the barrel.2-43 SC Barrels and onWill be four groove barrels, they will have the same stamping as the 12-42 to 1-43 barrels.Some Smith Corona barrels after 11-42 may show a rebated muzzle measuring in.618 inches in diameter for the first 0.45 of an inch. All Smith Corona barrels were parkerized.Replacement Barrel markingsJA and HS stamped barrels will show dates primarily for 1943 and 1944. Sedgely barrels (stamped as S in a circle) will show dates of 1944. The replacement barrels will be counterbored, not crowned.Some of this info I posted above, but I'm hoping this will be easier to read. I think I got the notion it was a 6 groove because that's the way it was advertized on gunbroker.

I 'shopped' for almost 9 months before making a bid and I was really torn between Remington and Smith Corona.I'd like to also pick up a '42 Remington 1903, but that's way down the road.My original plan was one rifle from each country in WWII, but as we all know.we are kidding ourselves when we say 'just one'. The US is well represented with the 2 major rifles and 1 carbine.

Smith Corona 1903a3 History

I also count my Norinco copy of the 1897 trench sweeper as part of my WWII collection, but I know that's a streach. I want to get all the major ww2 goodies also, most are just too expensive now like the Thompson, so I count my Semi-Auto Auto Ordnance towards the WW2 list, thats a really big stretch.

Something more along the lines of Call of Duty 2, which was once the gold standard in blockbuster FPS games. You chain kills, both ranged and melee, jump off ledges and onto unsuspecting enemies, and indefatigably charge into the next battle.CALL OF DUTY: WWIIThe weariness that series loyalists have for futuristic Call of Duty settings was all too plain when Infinite Warfare came flying in, exosuits and all. A change of direction was needed.

You gotta draw the line somewhere, I looked at the Norinco 1897 I wish I would of bought it, looked good.Your right its hard to buy just one, you want the other model or variation.The barrel groove is a pretty easy thing to over look on ww2 era guns, your usually more concerned if you got a bore left or a gravel pit going. When I first cleaned the bores on any of my ww2 rifles I felt like I was mining for copper.I wanted to mention, Welcome to G & G Richard Cunning.It sounds like you have a nice rifle,and with Moosemans approval we can raise the BS flag on the military experts opinion of a Smith Corona 03A3 being rebuilt purely on the fact it has a four groove barrel. If you could Richard, please post some pics or additional markings on the stock. Click to expand.Good question, MooseMan.

In my case the barrel date matches the reciever date to the month.Maybe it is a case of SC using the last in first out method of inventory management.Or maybe it is something as simple as the filled a crate of bin as they made the barrels, then the crate or bin was moved to the assembly area, The older barrels would be in the bottom and therefore used last.Or maybe that particular rifle failed inspection for some reason and sent to the rework department where it got a new reciever.We'll probably never know.Yes Kodiak32, the semi-auto Thompson counts. It too is on my short list.It is probably less of a streach than my Norico 1897. You are right it is a blast(.pun intended) to shoot. Just hold the trigger back and pump!It was also my research for the Norinco's purchase that brought me to this forum and all these fine, knowledgeable folks.

1903 smith corona 03He became a small arms inspector in the early 1930's. If you have any questions regarding this item, you should contact the Seller before bidding. Or maybe that particular rifle failed inspection for some reason and sent to the rework department where it got a new reciever. Sorry about the confusion, I should have been a bit more clear.

This rifle was inspected just 11 days prior to termination of all M1903A3 contract production. Althought the website is in many ways a very useful one, their date tables on 1903s and 1903A3s are very inaccurate. Yes Kodiak32, the semi-auto Thompson counts.

Smith Corona 03A3 ValueNot enough specifics about the versions of the '03 that most people would happen to own. I am sorry you have such a bitter and twisted view of those who enjoy learning and those who enjoy teaching. This was the largest grip that could be formed from the old stock blanks. When any rifle or major end item is rebuilt in an arsenal they are torn completely down, all parts are gaged and either refinished and returned to stock or demilled if not serviceable. We accept Cashier's Checks, Money Orders, Cash, Personal Checks and Cards.

Smith Corona 03A3The rifle has a lot of thick grease in the wood and all the inside parts. When the Smith Corona's left the plant their bolts would have locked up properly or the Ordnance Officer would not have approved their acceptance by the Army.

High Standard was interested in the contract, but it was already operating at near peak capacity with existing contracts and would be unable to serve as prime contractor on the new project. Thereafter, all internal accounting controls were removed, and both gaps and duplicates occurred without any corrective measures taken. Buyer Tip: If you're the High Bidder in an auction when it closes, don't assume you're the final High Bidder.

Pity a unique rifle like this was drilled and tapped! It is a Dec 1943, which was the last month they made them, I think.

Smith Corona 03A3I don't have a dog in this fight, I have a number of references available to me, but I find that Rick and John offer a level of reputable information that is not available from other sources. So the knob was broken on the firing pin inside the bolt? This sight, and its barrel-mounted fixed base, required a great deal of machining. These were used on the M1903 Modified, M1903a3, and M1903a4. Some of this info I posted above, but I'm hoping this will be easier to read. The geometric shapes in front of the floorplate ranged from 2 - at least 23. He had these rifles all his life and other than conversion of one of them to something else, they were when i got them in the same condition as they were coming off the ships in 1945.

Morin instructed Remington to begin using the letter 'Z' instead. Interesting Smith Corona M1903A3 Serial Number ArchiveWe work hard to bring the best gun discussion! The serial on that is in the 3,500,000 range. Remington used at least 3 different Ordnance Wheels. They aren't like those that came with my all-original all blued Smith Corona with no arsenal mark from the month's production just previous to yours in any case. The finish shows several scrapes and scuffs that have removed or dulled the gloss finish. I have a friend gunsmith that is 97 years old he worked in a armory rebuild and he said the rifles were stripped down amd the parts were thrown in a skid box for each part.

The grooves approaching the muzzle are light grey. The stamps were put on the rifles to show that 3 things had been done: 1. Smith Corona Model 1903a3 03There are cleaning tools stored in the butt. As to actual value a lot would depend on what's there as to correctness. Join us to discuss firearms of all kinds, gun accessories, legal issues and more. The safety lug is actually the part of the bolt that sticks out behind the extractor when the bolt is closed.

I think some o the things that prevent a new, more accurate book from being written are time, and sometimes determining exactly what is correct. The guy who sold me the rifle told me that the rifle was from his dad when he was in the National Guard in the 70's. I recently acquired a Smith Corona 03A3 with bayonet.

Shooting a Smith Corona 1903A3 at 100 YardsThe cleaning tools are in about Very Good Plus condition. The date, for example, pertaining to duplicate serial numbers is discrepant.

When his dad left service he bought the rifle from National Guard. If he has learned about these rifles, and like others before him have had the hard work stolen and published under their noses. If it were in my corral, I would use a box of factory ammo first, cover the receiver with a heavy towel for the first 3 rounds, then have fun with it.

Springfield 03a3 Smith Corona

03A3 Smith Corona rifleOther than the sling swivel, nut and bolt on it, which part or parts do you think are not original to the rifle? A military issued gun that is back out on the market, I wouldn't worry about.

Between the 2 of them I have over a dozen. We have had problems with rough carrier handling breaking the stocks at the wrist, and since we have begun to disassemble, we have not had any breakage.

Smith Corona 1903a3 Value

I'd be one of the first in line to buy it. It reveals the level of veracity of your own research and knowledge, as well as a peek into personalities.