Smith Corona O3-A3

[Jerome Cooper]

I bought a SC O3-A3 that is in fine shape. It has a 4 groove barrel. I have been told that these also were made with 2 groove barrels, but that those are rare and seldom seen. Also that some 6 groove barrels were made, but those too are rarely seen. Somewhat confusing is that barrels for SC were made by Hi Standard and that some of them were also made by Savage Arms which supposedly had some link to Hi Standard during the war years. Is this all fact and is there a time line related to the use of these barrels in the SC rifle production? Thanks for any info you can supply. JC

Information

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[Rick the Librarian]

Nearly all SC barrels were 4-groove and virtually all were made by High Standard. 6-groove barrels, while somewhat uncommon, are by no means rare. 2-groove barrels, if they exist, are rare. The story was that High Standard was offered the initial contract to manufacture '03s, but had too much war work. Smith-Corona was hired, with HS being one of the main sub-contractors.

Regarding the so-called "Savage" barrels, there is a lot of false information on them but I don't remember the exact story.

[us019255]

...2-groove barrels, if they exist, are rare....y.

20 years ago surplus JA 2 groove barrels were very common and cheap. I believe that Johnson Automatics made them as replacements. It would not be uncommon for them to show up on M1903 (both kinds) from a rebuild at any time. There are two in my safe I rebuilt in the '90's.

[Mike D]

Pretty sure JA made barrels for the M1917, not the M1903A3.

I believe the myth that Savage made barrels for SC has been dis-proven.

6-groove barrels were used on the early guns. Not really rare as there are 6 months or more of use.

4-groove used from the Spring of '43, on.

The only 2-groove barrels known have been dated 11-43. Never seen one, personally.

Mike

[Rick the Librarian]

20 years ago surplus JA 2 groove barrels were very common and cheap. I believe that Johnson Automatics made them as replacements. It would not be uncommon for them to show up on M1903 (both kinds) from a rebuild at any time. There are two in my safe I rebuilt in the '90's.

JA barrels were used on M1917s, not M1903/03A3s. You might be thinking of HS barrels which were 4-groove.

[Chuckindenver]

i have spoke to the Savage arms historian..he said that indeed Savage did supply the 6 groove barrels for SC,.
iv seen a few 2 groove SC barrels, rare indeed.