new guy could use some help SC 03

[ave8er]

Hello, I have a 03-a3 Smith Corona that I bought about 20 years ago from a friend. It has been in the closet for almost that entire time. I took it to a gun show today to get an idea of its value and one of the vendors told me it was nothing more than a shooter. He said it is a "parts gun" I guess built from parts? The trigger housing is not stamped steel, the magazine floor plate seems to swing open although you would need a tool or something to open it. The stock has a pistol grip. Can any of you tell me a little about it?

Information

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[Dad]

From the pictures it looks like an awful nice "parts gun"..... Yes the trigger guard and floor plate are wrong since they are milled and belonged to a M1903 not a late M1903-A3. The correct parts are available and not very expensive, the parts currently on the rifle are much more costly.
The real experts will be here soon and will give you more advise.
Meantime take more closeup pictures of the rifle and post them to help with the assessment.

D.

[Mike D]

It's a "mix-master". Nothing wrong with that. It does not have all of it's original parts anymore, so it has most likely been through at least one rebuild. Some of the metal may have been refinished.

The original stock would have had a straight grip. The C-stock, like yours, is better for shooting. The trigger guard is milled, from a M1903, and made better.

The barrel date is in line with the serial #.

It is not original, hence the "shooter" or "parts gun" terms. Again, that's not bad, in fact, the "upgraded" stock and trigger guard make it a very nice "shooter". Is the barrel in good shape?

Nice rifle, I wouldn't change a thing.

Welcome to the forum!

[ave8er]

Thanks guys. I am feeling a little better. The barrel looks really good. I think, not really positive that it has a 6 grove barrel. Even though I have had this for a long time I know nothing about it or them. Should I get an original stock and trigger guard?

[Dad]

It is your call. It all depends on what you are after.
If you are looking for a collector rifle, then yes you would have to hunt down all the correct parts, etc.
If you want a rifle to go shooting and have fun with, I personally would not change a thing.
You have from the looks of it a very nice SC '03 that someone has changed/upgraded to their taste by changing the stock and trigger guard.

Are there any cartouches or any other markings on the stock? If there are could you take a closeup picture and post it.

Why were you taking it around to get it appraised? Thinking of selling?

Where are you located?

D.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Should I get an original stock and trigger guard?

I think your rifle is very nice as it is, and any attempt to 'restore' it would be counterproductive.

Too many people feel bad if there gun is not original. Most rifles have been through a rebuild and never will be original again.
Also, some vendors will refer to any gun that's not completely original as a 'parts gun' as derogatory in order to buy it for less.

If you are looking to improve the value, I believe the cost of parts would be more than any increase in collector value. Especially as nice as your rifle is set up for shooting.

As it is, it's in rebuild configuration with parts that would make it attractive as a great shooter. Plus, just being an SC it would have a premium over a similar A3 Remington.

The 'C' stock would bring a premium for a good shooter. If you want an original SC (as opposed to a Remington) straight stock, they're hard to come by and expensive when you find one.

It was only original once and it appears it was probably refinished during a rebuild, so even if you replaced every part but the receiver and barrel with SC parts it might not be restored to 'as original'. First you would need to determine how many of the parts on your rifle are SC. Most all SC parts are unique to SC including the bolt, butt plate etc - even the stamped parts are unique to SC even though they're the same or very similar to Remington. Most all Remington stamped parts have an 'R' stamped on them, and the Remington trigger guard is shaped differently. The SC stamped parts usually bring a premium over the same stamped Remington part because there aren't as many of them.

You could replace all the parts such as the stock and stamped parts from a Remington 1903A3 if you're just looking to have it with the same type parts, but it would still be a 'parts gun' as far as collector value and I think the monetary value might even be less than it is now.

Just my opinion
~ Harlan

[enfieldhope]

I am not an expert but if it was me I would definitely put in a 03-A3 triggerguard and get the "correct" stock. After all it IS a 03-A3. That C stock looks to me to be worth at least $200.00, and the 03 triggerguard as a complete unit about $$50.00-$80.00, maybe more. Get a W.W.II style web sling and the cleaning kit for the butt trap, plus a nice W.W.II bayonet (probably the short blade one) and you are all set!

[Rick the Librarian]

I would leave it as-is. The rifle has been refinished and, IMHO, would not be worth the cost and expense of "restoring".

[Kirk]

You've had lots of advice here so I'll a bit. Someone, probably not the Army, took your SC barreled receiver, substituted a 1903 milled trigger guard (because many people think the stamped trigger guards look cheap) for the SC stamped trigger guard and added a "C" stock (pistol grip & higher, thicker comb) instead of using the SC "S" straight stock with a low comb). The C stocks are highly regarded by shooters because they are much more ergonomic and make the rifle easier to shoot well. Collectors like the S stock because they are "correct" (a term meaning a part that could have been on the rifle at the date of manufacture; it like it better than "original" - your rifle is already "original" in that it has all "original" USGI parts - just not ones "correct" for your rifle when it was made.) The C stock allows shooters to make a solid "cheek weld" to the stock to get a good, consistent sight picture. The S stock allows the shooter's chin to contact the stock with the cheek standing clear. The straight grip on the S stock allows only one or two fingers (not counting either the trigger finger or thumb) to grip it while the C stock allows all you digits to make a firm, even grip.

Since you already have a complete rifle, I'd shoot it to see how you like it. Do you have a buddy with an S-stocked rifle you can shoot & compare? If you decide you want to "restore" it, you can shop around for the various parts needed to make it correct. If you like it as is, well you have a great rifle!

[ave8er]

Thanks everyone. That is some great information. Is it safe to shoot with off the shelf ammo? Would it be something I would be able to shoot in the 600 yard competitions? I took it in to just get an idea of the value. I told the guy up fron that I was not selling. He was kind of arrogant like it was basicly worthless.