My Corona...Finally

[ssgross]

Some of you know I've been looking a long time for the right Smith Corona to go with the very late production typewriter I restored several years ago (I have since found a late underwood typewriter to go with my carbine )
I woke up this morning the winner of an early 1943 (first-block). Barreled action and parts appear to be intact as original, but the stock was sporterized, cut back to the lower band rather crudely, inspector stamps sanded off from the side, but proof mark and other marks in front of the magazine are intact. Stock is early pinned style. I am hoping, oh so hoping, the bolt, which has handle in the white and no marking on top of handle, isn't hiding an R under the root.

In any event, I have an extra NOS USGI field replacement scant stock, stamped with the keystone K and flaming bomb on the nose, to put this rifle in. can't wait to get it up and running!

[Ovidio]

When I read the title of your post, I definitely misunderstood…

[CINDERS]

Lets hope he has some lemons Ovidio

[ssgross]

When I read the title of your pist, I definitely misunderstood…

That was indeed the point!

[oldfoneguy]

I had to pass on a late SC this summer. Serial number in the 4770000 range. Badly butchered by bubba...I mean badly. The barrel ID had been ground leaving a series of rough uneven length flats. The park had been removed with sandpaper leaving sanding marks. Blued with some sort of mostly gone cold blue. Bolt polished white mercilessly apparently with the same sandpaper. Polished on a wheel leaving shiny sanding marks behind. A scope mount incorporating the rear sight mount and a skewed front mount. It must have required all the scopes lateral adjustment to shoot straight. Ancient Bushnell 6x scope and equally poorly finished sporter stock. No provision to remove the bolt without taking it out of the stock. All this wonderfulness for only $550 US. Totally unsalvageable and a waste of a good barrel, both rifiling and crown.

[ssgross]

What can I say, some of us just have all the luck!
Just picked it up, and it looks all original as I hoped. There are no "R"s that I can see at the moment - anywhere. The bolt just has a "2" under the root. Cocking piece and sleeve unmarked, and the sleeve has the distinctive scalloped shape unlike the Remingtons. Extractor has an "S" on the underside. Barrel SC/3-43, serial 3649xxx. Stock is cut back, but is the early pinned straight grip, cartouche is gone, but underside markings are still there - correct 1/2" P. The lower band spring recess was rounded, but carefully filled in with a sliver of wood. No visible R's on the rear sight either. Buttplate wide checker. Pictures forthcoming. The complete original bolt alone is worth more than I paid for the rifle!

[ssgross]

Here we go!

The stacking band and swivel was "shaped" to make a new sling swivel. I was thinking of shaping it back out and re-using it, but Bubba ruined it with a new large screw.

Stock was surprisingly very tight around the action and magazine. There was only a little bedding compound used under the barrel at the forend, nowhere else. Inside the stock is marked G and E.


Barrel is 4 groove, 3-43, and bore appears in really good shape looking through it. Hopefully the bore camera will show the same.


Bolt was packed with cosmoline inside.


Receiver didn't have hardly any markings around it. All my Remingtons have massive numbers of various light stamps under and around the recoil lug. In contrast, the finish on this was a bit rough, and only marks were on the side of the lug.

[Ovidio]

Neat. Now bring her back to her real looks;-D

[mark1]

Look good, They used the stacking swivel and band for the lower band. You may need to find an new band as the screw that is there may have ruined the original threads. But all in all not a difficult restoration ahead of you.

[ssgross]

I degreased the barreled action, and the color went from dull brown/orange from all the dried grease (likely cosmoline as was found inside the bolt) to rich deep charcoal.
Then, a dozen passes with a bronze brush and some Hoppes just to get an idea of what the condition the bore is in. This liquified more dried grease in the bore. But, as you can see I was pleasantly surprised!

Pics are of the chamber, throat, 1st third, middle third, last 3rd, and crown


Moreover, there is no wear at the muzzle either - or if there is it's less than 5 ten thous. as that's the resolution of my pin gauges. Looks like this rifle was bought as new or nearly new surplus, sporterized, fired just enough to foul the minty new bore with copper, cleaned, greased and forgotten about. Notice the tip of the striker has zero wear, and still has 100% of it's bluing intact.

Time to get the copper out and lightly polish the chamber, check headspace and/or carefully lap the lugs if needed. Then on to the stock fitting.