Smith Corona 1903A3 new purchase

[Aragorn243]

Picked up my first 1903A3 yesterday. It is a Smith Corona with a serial number from December 1943 and a barrel Smith Corona 4 groove barrel dated 9-43. Would this be original or a replacement? Bore is bright and shiny, strong grooves. Everything with the exception of the front sight hood and some of the small stock metal parts are blued. Most of the stock metal is also blued but the rear sling swivel appears to be painted black. The front sight hood is parkerized. Stock is a replacement and is a Remington based on the small sized circle P. It does not have a lot of markings on it and appears to have been refinished during the arsenal refurb. Butt stock is stamped with the final four of the serial number over top of an earlier number. There is a distinct X in front of the magazine on the base of the stock and a K near the rear sling swivel. The bolt and some of the small parts are also Remington. Bolt has been electropenciled with the last four of the serial number on the top flat of the bolt handle.

No rust anywhere, butt plate looks nearly new. Stock has lots of dings but cleaned up nice. All parts appear to be appropriate for an A3 but I know very little about them. Found it at Cabela's and with my points and a coupon I was out of pocket $174.00.

Information

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[riflerick]

Nice rifle, thanks for the pics

[Aragorn243]

Thanks, I'm pretty happy with it. I saw this rifle a while back but had more or less ruled out buying one of these because of the high costs compared with the other surplus rifles out there. But I had a pretty big month points wise and a coupon for $100 off was enough to seal the deal.

I highly recommend Cabela's credit card programs. The points can be used to purchase anything in the store including firearms and that's what I always save up for. They don't often get nice mil surplus in but every once in a while.

[Mike D]

Good deal! I recently added a SC to my collection. Just need a few parts to complete the restoration.

[budmant]

I picked up a very nice Remington 03A3 at the Hamburg PA store...did the same thing combining points & cash off coupon. Saved myself a few bucks. Every once in a while they have some nice rifles on the used racks. Nice score.

[John Beard]

Picked up my first 1903A3 yesterday. It is a Smith Corona with a serial number from December 1943 and a barrel Smith Corona 4 groove barrel dated 9-43. Would this be original or a replacement? Bore is bright and shiny, strong grooves. Everything with the exception of the front sight hood and some of the small stock metal parts are blued. Most of the stock metal is also blued but the rear sling swivel appears to be painted black. The front sight hood is parkerized. Stock is a replacement and is a Remington based on the small sized circle P. It does not have a lot of markings on it and appears to have been refinished during the arsenal refurb. Butt stock is stamped with the final four of the serial number over top of an earlier number. There is a distinct X in front of the magazine on the base of the stock and a K near the rear sling swivel. The bolt and some of the small parts are also Remington. Bolt has been electropenciled with the last four of the serial number on the top flat of the bolt handle.

No rust anywhere, butt plate looks nearly new. Stock has lots of dings but cleaned up nice. All parts appear to be appropriate for an A3 but I know very little about them. Found it at Cabela's and with my points and a coupon I was out of pocket $174.00.

The rifle you purchased is a CMP Greek rifle. The serial number on the bolt handle and in the buttstock are Greek markings. The "X" and "K" in the stock are also Greek markings.

The serial number and barrel date are a good match, thereby indicating that your rifle has its original barrel.

The stock is a spare field replacement Smith-Corona stock. The small encircled "P" proof mark indicates that your rifle was overhauled on the Remington Overhaul Contract in 1945. The replacement stock was installed at that time by Remington, as well as other mixed parts.

For $174, you did exceptionally well. Congratulations!

And thanks for taking the time to make and share pictures!

J.B.

[Aragorn243]

Thanks for all the information. I'm always amazed at how much some of you guys can tell from a few photos and marking details.

A couple of follow up questions:

If it is a CMP return, why no import marks? Is CMP excluded from this process?

How can you tell it is a Smith Corona field replacement stock? I'm guessing they are cut different somehow but I wouldn't know where.

[Emri]

If it is a CMP return, why no import marks? Is CMP excluded from this process?

Yes. The rifles were still U.S.Gov't property and therefore weren't technically "imported". Guns that aren't U.S. property and are imported by private firms are required to be so marked.

HTH,

Emri

[Aragorn243]

Looks like I'm going to have to do some research on US weapons sales/loans.

I had thought small arms and other weapons for that matter would have been sold outright or given to the nations as military assistance. Never considered they were on loan. Must be like lend/lease in WWII.

[TDH]

Yeah kinda like lend/lease. Right now there are hundreds of thousands of M1's and M1'Carbines sitting in Korea that a certain alledged president will not allow back in the country. Rumor has it they are considered to be a threat to national security if they found the wrong hands.

If your SC shoots as well as mine you will be a happy man.