1903-A3 "Smith Corona" Circa 1943

BMur · Jul 6, 2021

Brother in law just passed. Helping the family clean out his house that was the "family house" so all the siblings grew up in this house....It's full of junk!

Anyway behind a pile of storage in the large basement and in a very expensive rifle case was this Smith Corona 03-A3....I collect antiques only so I don't have but a few shooter Curios in my collection....I was offered this by the estate at a very low price so I jumped on it. Don't know much about these but I can clearly see that this is a matching rifle. Not a put together. I did find some info on the internet that after the war the ordinance dept refurbished these? If so they sure did a good job.

Does anyone collect these? Apparently it belonged to the family cousin "Jimmy" a WWII vet that passed in the early 1960's from Alcoholism. "poor guy".....

Nobody alive in the family can tell me much about him except that he had several guns....Somehow this one didn't get found when he passed 60 years ago! It's in amazing condition.

Murph

bmcgilvray · Jul 6, 2021

A most excellent rifle, the '03A3.

I've had one since I was 18, back in 1975. Here it is.

Golddollar · Jul 6, 2021

BMur said:
Anyway behind a pile of storage in the large basement and in a very expensive rifle case was this Smith Corona 03-A3....I collect antiques only so I don't have but a few shooter Curios in my collection....I was offered this by the estate at a very low price so I jumped on it. Don't know much about these but I can clearly see that this is a matching rifle. Not a put together. I did find some info on the internet that after the war the ordinance dept refurbished these? If so they sure did a good job.

Does anyone collect these? Apparently it belonged to the family cousin "Jimmy" a WWII vet that passed in the early 1960's from Alcoholism. "poor guy".....

Nobody alive in the family can tell me much about him except that he had several guns....Somehow this one didn't get found when he passed 60 years ago! It's in amazing condition.

Murph

Not just YES but HECK YES! There is definitely an interest in the old World War II service rifles. I used to compete in the DCM/CMP matches with a Remington made 1903A3. I had a Smith-Corona that I unfortunately sold during a bout of unemployment. If you like it, keep it and shoot it a little bit. Otherwise, take your time if you decide to sell it.

quikdraw67 · Jul 6, 2021

SWEET find!

I have a CMP Remington 03A3, and it shoots great.

Yours looks like it came out of a time machine.

Congrats!

Scharfschuetzer · Jul 6, 2021

That is a fine find. There were significantly fewer Smith Corona 03A3s made in comparison to the more common Remington 03A3 rifles.

As an added tidbit of info, many 03A3s were rebuilt during or after WWII. To find one in all original condition, while not completely unusual, is still nice.

jdlii · Jul 6, 2021

Very nice example. The cartouche marks on the left side "FJA" and the ordinance mark are legitimate. "FJA" stands for Frank J. Atwood the officer in charge of the arsenal at the time the rifle was "accepted" on behalf of the U.S. Army.

The stamps, just forward of the receiver screw for the floor plate, are rebuild stamps and are also legitimate. I don't have my book in front of me but, if you look at Scott Duff's web site, you will find information on those stamps.

Prices of 03A3 rifles, especially Smith Corona rifles, have gone up dramatically in the past year. Your example, subject to a complete inspection and bore condition, could be worth North of $1,000.00.

Congratulations on the acquisition! These rifles are capable of MOA accuracy with hand loaded ammunition and will hold the 9 ring or better, on a 200 yard target, with ball ammo.

From the photographs, it appears that there may be an Ace Tigger Shoe on the tigger. If so, please note that the trigger shoe is not legal for DCM vintage rifle matches.

Enjoy!

Muley Gil · Jul 6, 2021

Here's my Smith-Corona:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/firearms-knives-other-brands/650014-1903a3.html?650014=#post141145709

LVSteve · Jul 6, 2021

Is it me or has the whole gun been coated in some kind of varnish?

BMur · Jul 6, 2021

Target trigger

Yeah,
It’s got some type of Allen screwed on modified target fat trigger. I noticed it also but I like it so I’ll leave it in there. Don’t plan on selling it. I’ll shoot it for sure. It’s a step up from my 7.7 and 6.5 Japanese shooters I’m sure. They both shoot well but this rifle as mentioned is suppose to be very accurate so we shall see.
Any recommended loads?

Murph

Golddollar · Jul 7, 2021

BMur said:
Yeah,
It’s got some type of Allen screwed on modified target fat trigger. I noticed it also but I like it so I’ll leave it in there. Don’t plan on selling it. I’ll shoot it for sure. It’s a step up from my 7.7 and 6.5 Japanese shooters I’m sure. They both shoot well but this rifle as mentioned is suppose to be very accurate so we shall see.
Any recommended loads?

Murph

With GI ball cartridges I could put 3 shots into 2 1/4 inches at 100 yards with the issue iron sights. Handloads are a matter of testing individual loads for individual guns but with mine I could put 3 shots into 1 1/2 inches.

I separate my fired brass according to the gun it was fired in, so that that I can neck size the brass for the next reload. The Smith Corona 03A3 that I sold apparently had an eccentric chamber so I had to full-length size the brass for each reload.

merl67 · Jul 7, 2021

I had no problem ringing the 12" steel plate at the range with my Remington 03-A3 much to the amazement of my friend with his scoped AR15 who was having a difficult time making hits off the bench. I was standing...I do believe if you ever shoot it you wont get rid of it.

Frank46 · Jul 7, 2021

Definitely a collectable. If the inside of the barrel looks anything like the exterior then you should definitely keep it. Ball ammo is kind of next to impossible to find. But Federal does make M1 Garand specific ball ammo and should do well in your Springfield. Frank

cmansguns · Jul 7, 2021

You have a "rare" one!!!

When I was collecting 1903-A3's one of the most sought after was a Smith Corona (actually L.C. Smith-Corona...typewriter makers), and especially one with a "C" prefix!

You got one of the 4200 (out of the literally thousands made) that were part of a Smith Corona serial number overrun in 1943. Smith Corona was serial numbering from their assigned block and at s/n 3,708,000 went to s/n 3,712,199 before Ordnance caught the duplication with Remington's 2nd block assigned serial numbers and since SC made the error, the Government made SC stamp a "C" prefix to their 4200 overruns.

Yours, with s/n C 3,712, 0XX jives right up with the barrel stamp of 43 and if you post the missing XX you'll see how close to the 3,712,199 that was November 43 you are.

Since your rifle is also pristine, you should check the tip (crown) of the muzzle for a "*" (Star) stamp, indicating a Star Gauged barrel of exceptional dimensional accuracy.

One of the best books on the 1903 Rifle is by Joe Poyer, titled "For Collectors Only", "The Model 1903 Springfield Rifle and it's variations".

I don't know if it is still available, but I've got a copy I can send you if you wish to borrow it for answers to all the other marks and identification of internals.

You really have a wonderful specimen, and being one of 4200 in that condition, I wouldn't let that guy go for less than $2,000 in today's market, and if on GB with the right proper description, I wouldn't be surprised to see it go for a lot more.

Heck my all correct Remington went for $1100 in a normal private sale to another collector and that was bucoo years ago.

cmansguns · Jul 7, 2021

more thoughts on your SC 1903-A3

Checking my notes and books a little further lets me disagree with post #6 above. Those stamps on the bottom of the stock are basically "unique" to only Smith Corona.

Smith Corona was the only WWII 03-A3 manufacturer to use diamonds around numbers or letters for stock inspection and stamping. Specifically, 2 or 6 in a diamond, 8 in a box, 7, 9, 12, 23 in a circle, or 18 stand alone were used only by SC according to expert publications.

Maybe that's why the rifle was inside an expensive rifle case. The WWII vet probably knew exactly what he owned. Maybe not as a collector or $ value...but as a veteran who may have shot that rifle competitively in the service, or in action somewhere (doesn't seem to exhibit any combat service usage but no one will ever know).

Boy..........if that rifle could talk!

kb1903 · Jul 7, 2021

smith corona 03a3

have been collecting 30's and a3's for 50 years. I have only seen 1 "C" prefix S/C in all of those years and immediately bought it. Many were said to be issued to the Coast Guard.

There should NOT be star guage mark on the crown, only 1903 match rifles got that. Looks like a really nice, un-rebuilt rifle, but unfortunately the stock has been sanded and refinished.

Don't shoot it a "bit". Shoot it ALOT! Great shooters.

BMur · Jul 7, 2021

Rare Bird

Thanks for the detailed input Charlie B.
I don’t see any varnish on the stock. I wiped it with a Hoppes cloth before I photo’d it but you guys are the pros on these curios. I wish I knew more about Jimmy but the older kids that knew him are mostly gone now. I guess he must have shot it because it has a target type trigger over the original. No reason for that trigger unless you’re pulling it at the range!

I have shooter grade antiques but I’m the type of collector that doesn’t shoot rare birds in high grade condition. The C’ prefex And rarity stated kinda makes it a safe queen to me now. I only bring low finish put togethers to the range and field with me. It’s a comfort zone that I like! Not worrying about dropping it or scratching it or having someone walk up and pick it up like it’s on Public display. I’ve had that happen to me at the range before with a few of my minty Antique SAA Colts. It did not go well! So I don’t do it anymore. I’m generally a very friendly person but have zero respect for rude people.

Murph

Scharfschuetzer · Jul 7, 2021

Duplicating Army Ammo

BMur said:
Yeah,
It’s got some type of Allen screwed on modified target fat trigger. I noticed it also but I like it so I’ll leave it in there. Don’t plan on selling it. I’ll shoot it for sure. It’s a step up from my 7.7 and 6.5 Japanese shooters I’m sure. They both shoot well but this rifle as mentioned is suppose to be very accurate so we shall see.
Any recommended loads?
Murph

If your are reloading the 30/06 round, you can fairly well duplicate the GI rounds easy enough.

M1 Ball: See the M72 Match ammo below.

M2 Ball: 150 grain Sierra Match King over either IMR or H 4895 powder with standard primers. The velocity should be around 2,700 fps. A good starting load is 46 grains of powder.

M72 Match: 175 grain Sierra Match King over the two 4895 powders and again with a standard large rifle powder. The velocity is listed at 2550 on the match ammo box, but at the muzzle, it is more like 2,600 fps. Drop 3 grains of powder from the M2 load for your starting load.

Why 4895 powder? It's very close to the non canister powder that the government arsenals used when loading the round in WWII and it is easy to duplicate the arsenal ballistics with it. Naturally other mid burning rate powders will work too.

Have fun with that old war horse and let us know how it shoots.

Puller · Jul 7, 2021

Very nice acquisition. Seems I have observed that there have been several very fine estate acquisitions that have been posted in recent weeks.

BMur · Jul 7, 2021

took another look

No star on the muzzle. The bore is excellent. Gonna stow it today for now. Thank you everyone for your input and knowledge on this WWII collectable.

Murph

minconrevo · Jul 7, 2021

Some owners of '03's and '03A3's run cast bullets through theirs with excellent results. Cast puts nearly zero wear on the barrel. Would suggest a visit to the CMP Forum for a hint of the resources available. Please don't do anything with your fine rifle until you research.

1903-A3 "Smith Corona" Circa 1943

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