My first Smith Corona 1903A3

[mustanggt]

Hey everyone. Just bought my first 1903A3 at a gun show on Saturday. It is a Smith Corona, reciever and barrel match and barrel was made in 6/43. The stock was refurbished at Red River Arsenal. Only other mark on stock is a P in a block square. Can I assume it was refurbished after the war? I think the bolt may be Remington though the stamps aren't clear. Also I didn't have any headspace gauges but do have a Hornady COAL gauge. The length from the bolt face to the bullet kissing the grooves is 3.383" As a reference I measured my M70 winchester and it is 3.283" Am I good to go or is that too excessive. Would really like to take her for a spin this weekend. Thank you, Mike

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[Rick the Librarian]

Mike,

If a Remington bolt, it will be marked clearly with an "R" on the bottom of the bolt handle; if no R is present and you don't see any markings on the top of the bolt handle, it may be a correct SC bolt (assuming if the bolt handle is "bent" slightly to the rear).

[mustanggt]

Yes the bolt does sweep slightly to the rear. I will post pictures soon so those more knowledgeable can asses what I have. Do military weapons tend to have "looser" dimensions than SAMMI specs? If so are the dimensions I quoted in my 1st post acceptable? I would like to thank the person who moved my post as it definately was not in the right place.

[Thumper]

OK I need to be educated.

A while back I found a beautiful/sweet,/clean/tight Smith corona 03 in my cabela's gun room

I wanted it really badly,, but when I talked to the salesman, he informed me that Smith Corona was after market, 1960's vintage so I let it go.


Did I screw up?????


Regards: Thumper

[mustanggt]

My camera doesn't do macro so some photos won't work. Serial # 3706446, barrel 6-43. I don't know how to resize so they are really huge. Taken me forever just to learn how to do this. Here she is:

[mustanggt]

I'm new here so I don't want to be the one to tell you that you screwed up. So I won't tell you.

[RaginCajun]

As a newb myself to this forum, it looks like you have a really nice rifle(depending on the price you paid). Other than the awful tiger blanket (LMAO), it looks like a great firearm. Did you get it is a wall hangar or shooter?

[mustanggt]

$795, maybe a bit high. All my guns are shooters. Wall hangers don't make sense to me. Well maybe an old flintlock above the fireplace. I hate animal prints but it's the only type of blanket my wife likes. thank you

[Rick the Librarian]

OK I need to be educated.

A while back I found a beautiful/sweet,/clean/tight Smith corona 03 in my cabela's gun room

I wanted it really badly,, but when I talked to the salesman, he informed me that Smith Corona was after market, 1960's vintage so I let it go.


Did I screw up?????


Regards: Thumper

The salesman screwed up. He probably had "Smith Corona" mixed up with "National Ordnance". Smith Corona did make legitimate M1903A3s during WWII. Don't feel bad - we've all done it. In my case I turned down a beautiful early Remington M1903 in 1972 because 1. (at $59) it was "too expensive", and 2) "It isn't a real Springfield". Still hit my head against the wall occasionally about THAT one!!

---------- Post added at 05:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:13 AM ----------

Mustang -- I still can't tell too much from your pictures. If the bolt doesn't have an R on the bottom of the handle and no "CC", "B&S" or other markings on the top of the bolt handle, it probably is a Smith Corona.

Your computer should have some photo-editing software, which includes a way to crop and reduce the resolution of your pictures. With proper cropping and reduction in resolution, a 50 to 100 Kb picture is plenty big. I believe Badger still has my post on "gun photography" as one of the "stickies" on this forum.

[emmagee1917]

...the start of the rifling has nothing to do with headspace. Headspace is from the bolt face to the midpoint of the shoulder taper. If you don't have the gauges , have a gunsmith check it. If you have no gunsmith , here is a down and dirty way. Remove your bolt guts ( don't want an AD ! ) . Chamber a round you'll be shooting. Place a small piece of scotch tape on the rear of the cartrige base and try it again ( finger-tip preasure only on the handle). Repeat with two thicknesses. Repeat with three , etc. etc. If it becomes real hard to close with 1-2-or 3 , you're OK. Four is starting to be excessive , five or more is gunsmith checking time. Repete this with several cartriges. If it passes, it is safe , headspace wise , to shoot. Examine your case after the first shot and look for any problems. If problems , stop. If none , your good to go.
Chris