Smith Corona 03A3 Possible Purchase Questions

[John Beard]

John you would value this rifle this highly even with the severely sanded stock? The buttplate hangs below the toe by a quarter inch and all the way around by an eighth of an inch. It's hard to see unless you look closely so I've enlarged that detail. I know there's no way this stock left any arsenal like that. If it needed to be worked that severely it would have been replaced. This looks like bubba wanted a new looking stock so he used 80 grit sandpaper and lots of elbow grease to achieve that end.

My valuation was based on the rifle being in serviceable condition, i.e., is it complete and safe to shoot? If the answer is "Yes", then I believe my valuation is reasonable. And my valuation considered and included the severe stock defacement you describe. I see no indication of the stock compromising safety.

J.B.