noob here, can you tell me more about my new 1903a3?

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08-23-2009, 06:03 PM
beetle

noob here, can you tell me more about my new 1903a3?

Hi There.

completele milsurp noob here. I recently picked up a Remington 1903a3 to use as a shooter. However a recent opportunity came along to purchase what seems to me to be a very nice Smith Corona in the 4.8M range. I ended up buying it without knowing a lot about it. When I compare it to my Remington there are some differences that I'm hoping you guys can help me understand better.

First an overall comparison between the two. On the bottom is my Remington. On the top is the new Smith Corona. Right away you can see that the Smith Corona has a pistol grip.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...08/19031-1.jpg

Second thing I noticed is that the receiver and bolt are all blued compared to the mix of blued and parkerized parts of the Remington.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...08/19032-1.jpg

Third the front sight has a hood over it. The tag was the description as recorded by the seller.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...08/19033-1.jpg

Fourth, the metal butt plate doesn't appear to have the cutout for the kit.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...08/19034-1.jpg

Finally I noticed that the "knob" (sorry don't know the term for it) is polished as opposed to the blued version on my Remington.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...08/19035-1.jpg

Overall the stock and blue finishing appear to be in great shape. Can you experts help me by telling me more about my new Smith Corona? Because of the nice condition I was planning for this one to be a safe queen, and using the Remington to be my shooter.

I'll be happy to take more detailed pics if you need any additional info.

Oh, I also picked up a 1917 in similar condition at the same time, so I'll post an inquiry thread over on that board as well. If you know about 1917s appreciate any info you could provide on that thread as well.

Thanks very much!
08-23-2009, 07:06 PM
Calif-Steve

I am not exactly certain who put all of the milled parts on the S-C. Not the factory, that is for sure. What did you pay for the S-C?
08-23-2009, 07:51 PM
Rick the Librarian

As Calif-Steve said, a number of the parts on the SC have been replaced - by a former owner, not by the military. The stock, trigger guard, bolt, upper band and other parts have been replaced.

To the experienced shooter after World War II, the M1903A3 often looked very rough. Often, the stamped or crudely finished parts were replaced to improve the looks.
08-23-2009, 08:16 PM
Vi Shooter

Replacement parts

As the fellas said, the differences between your rifles are mainly because someone "dressed up" the S-C. Your cocking knob (firing pin) is probably chrome-plated rather than polished steel.
08-23-2009, 08:42 PM
Rick the Librarian

The buttplate appears to be for a M1922 .22 rifle and the last picture either got revrsed or the rifle was modified for a left-hander!! :D
08-23-2009, 09:04 PM
beetle

ah yes, the last picture got reversed. I took it upside down so just flipped it.

it came with paperwork from 1962, the guy I bought it from bought it for $10, plus $4.50 handling! :)

needless to say I paid much more than that, about 50X. oh well, too bad about it being a mix master, perhaps i'll feel less guilty about shooting it! thanks for the info guys!
08-23-2009, 09:44 PM
gunluvver

If I were you, the SC would be the shooter. Someone took some time to dress it up and put a better shooting stock on it. Another thing, how correct is the Remington? If it is also a mixmaster, it may have a Smith Corona stock on it. Then you could swap stocks and get things headed in the right direction. Here's a pic of my SC. It had Lyman sights installed when I got it, and I intend to leave it that way. I added the pistol grip stock.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...8/03s001-1.jpg
08-24-2009, 12:14 AM
John Beard

Quote:

Originally Posted by beetle

Hi There.

completele milsurp noob here. I recently picked up a Remington 1903a3 to use as a shooter. However a recent opportunity came along to purchase what seems to me to be a very nice Smith Corona in the 4.8M range. I ended up buying it without knowing a lot about it. When I compare it to my Remington there are some differences that I'm hoping you guys can help me understand better.

First an overall comparison between the two. On the bottom is my Remington. On the top is the new Smith Corona. Right away you can see that the Smith Corona has a pistol grip.

Second thing I noticed is that the receiver and bolt are all blued compared to the mix of blued and parkerized parts of the Remington.

Third the front sight has a hood over it. The tag was the description as recorded by the seller.

Fourth, the metal butt plate doesn't appear to have the cutout for the kit.

Finally I noticed that the "knob" (sorry don't know the term for it) is polished as opposed to the blued version on my Remington.

Overall the stock and blue finishing appear to be in great shape. Can you experts help me by telling me more about my new Smith Corona? Because of the nice condition I was planning for this one to be a safe queen, and using the Remington to be my shooter.

I'll be happy to take more detailed pics if you need any additional info.

Oh, I also picked up a 1917 in similar condition at the same time, so I'll post an inquiry thread over on that board as well. If you know about 1917s appreciate any info you could provide on that thread as well.

Thanks very much!

Your Smith-Corona rifle appears to be an assemblage of assorted parts by a private individual. The milled parts are not original to it. Neither is the buttplate. Neither is the bolt. And neither is the stock.

The stock appears to be a recent reproduction.

The rifle appears to have been assembled for target use. And perhaps that's what you should use it for. It has very limited collector value.

Hope this helps. Thanks for the pictures!

J.B.