1903A3 Smith-Corona

[EddieB]

Just purchased a Smith Corona, have always wanted one. I have been doing a lot of research and believe all parts to be SC other then a refinished Remington stock and a Remington butt plate. One thing not in the photos is that the is a 2 on the underside of the bolt handle, I have herd of a 1 not sure if it can also be a 2.
Looking for options as to original parts.

Information

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[EddieB]

One thing not in the photos is that the is a 2 on the underside of the bolt handle, I have herd of a 1 not sure if it can also be a 2.
Looking for options as to original parts.

Since you can't edit your post after an hour (did a quick post before heading to dinner, sorry should have waited) I will highlight my changes and add more information.

One thing not in the photos is that there is a 2 on the underside of the bolt handle, I have herd of a 1, not sure if it can also have a 2. Looking for opinions as to if the parts are original.

-------------------- new information below --------------------

I have not found any letter markings on any of the bands, magazine, magazine spring or bolt. The magazine does have the circle "smile" and is not squared. Bands are blued as well as the bolt. Serial number puts manufacture early March 1943 and the barrel is 12/42, 6 groves.

I also am wonder if it would be worth getting a SC stock if the rest of the parts are SC, how much would it increase the value? I unfortunately have a problem of not being able to sell my guns, so this would just be for my collection.

I hope this provides more information. Thanks for taking a look.

[ssgross]

underside of bolt markings are typically lot codes for the steel used. It just so happens the one flaw in my Remington 1903a3 is it has a smith corona wide grid type butt plate - parkerized in near perfect condition. I'll take a pic if you might be willing to trade.
I don't have a smith corona...yet. I've been waiting for the right sporter to speak to me for bringing back to serviceable configuration and condition. I do, however, have a very nice smith corona typewriter that I restored dating to just before they started making rifles. I use it to type out my restoration notebooks.
You can look up lot codes here.
http://www.vishooter.net/m1903.html

[EddieB]

underside of bolt markings are typically lot codes for the steel used. It just so happens the one flaw in my Remington 1903a3 is it has a smith corona wide grid type butt plate - parkerized in near perfect condition. I'll take a pic if you might be willing to trade.
I don't have a smith corona...yet. I've been waiting for the right sporter to speak to me for bringing back to serviceable configuration and condition. I do, however, have a very nice smith corona typewriter that I restored dating to just before they started making rifles. I use it to type out my restoration notebooks.
You can look up lot codes here.
http://www.vishooter.net/m1903.html

Thanks for the lot code info. My butt plate is in pretty rough shape, had some rust like the gun was sitting on the ground or something. Would I be correct in assuming that the butt plate should be blued on an SC as manufactured?

[ssgross]

Smith corona butt plates were checkered with 10 lines per inch, and unmarked. The neck of the trapdoor will have 7 small squares on it from the stamping process. They were originally blued, but likely would be parkerized during an arsenal rebuild.
Here is a good comparison photo
Attachment 112746
The link I posted earlier has much more useful info than just lot codes.

[EddieB]

Smith corona butt plates were checkered with 10 lines per inch, and unmarked.

Thanks ssgross for your input in this thread.

I was wonder if I posted it in an inappropriate forum/didn't include good pictures or did something wrong here, because there hasn't been a lot of replies/feed back. Milsuprs has always provided great info and feed back previously.

[Salt Flat]

Eddie, I think you will see a variety of opinions on replacing the stock. No matter what you do you will not have a 100% original rifle. With the escalating cost of1903a3 stocks, I personally would not replace it. ---I don't think you've done anything wrong here at all. Sometimes it takes a little time for responses. Salt Flat

[EddieB]

Eddie, I think you will see a variety of opinions on replacing the stock. No matter what you do you will not have a 100% original rifle. With the escalating cost of1903a3 stocks, I personally would not replace it. ---I don't think you've done anything wrong here at all. Sometimes it takes a little time for responses. Salt Flat

The stock looks good, even being heavily sanded, someone did a nice refinish job. I will keep an eye out for a SC stock at the gun shows, I am sure the price will be up there, but if there is a deal..... I might have to pick it up, would be nice to have a more correct SC. I have a hard time parting with my guns, so it would really be just for my collection. Thanks for the input.

[ssgross]

Very nice looking rifle...now have fun shooting it!
If you like shooting it, and it shoots to its potential, a new-to-you stock might be more correct, but may also fit your rifle poorly with not much that you could do about it - especially if the inletting is worn and tired. Would certainly bump the dollar value, but would you enjoy it any more or less if it shot better or worse but had a "correct" stock?
The nice thing about these rifles, is a Remington stock on a SC isn't all that "far-fetched-incorrect". These would have been serviced in the most appalling conditions during war time - if the original correct stock on your SC was damaged, and there was a Remington with an otherwise ok stock...they would certainly have put your SC in that Remington stock to keep it in the fight!
My young kids and I have a favorite past time of inventing stories to account for every ding, scratch, or mix-matched part on my parts queens. I love it! (although some are more believable than others)

You'll find exponentially less trolling in this forum than on others - which I suppose could give the impression of being quiet. This kind of quiet is exactly why many like it here.