Smith Corona 1903A3 ???'s

23 August 2006, 03:19

dirtbikerider44

Today I was in the local gunshop and I saw a 1903A3 rifle.I've always wanted one but I wanted one in good condition and I want it to be a shooter,not a wallhanger.Upon closer inspection I noticed it was made by Smith Corona, parkerizing was in good condition and the stock(straight-style grip) was in decent shape.I noticed it had been rebarreled in 5-44.There was also some kind of proof stamp on the left side of the buttstock.I should of payed closer attention to it but I can't remember what it looked like.Also,I should have memorised the serial # so I could look it up.All I remember is it started w/44.......Well,when I asked if the rifle was all original and was it a shooter,the salesman said yes.It had an $850 price tag on it.He said if I was interested,he would let it go for $800.Now to my questions,with the information I've given is this a fair price?Do I need to go back and get the serial # so I can look it up?What is the general opinion of the Smith Corona 1903A3?I think I read that they were the least made of all the 1903's.Any information would be appreciated.

23 August 2006, 05:06

I bought one a few years ago in great condition for $700.I shot it a few hundred times in cmp matches ,but have been letting her sit for awhile.here is another that was just on auctionarms.com.(note it didnt sell,reserve not met)

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemn...%20DCM/CMP%20from%20'40s

23 August 2006, 06:48

scr83jp

quote:
Originally posted by dirtbikerider44:
Today I was in the local gunshop and I saw a 1903A3 rifle.I've always wanted one but I wanted one in good condition and I want it to be a shooter,not a wallhanger.Upon closer inspection I noticed it was made by Smith Corona, parkerizing was in good condition and the stock(straight-style grip) was in decent shape.I noticed it had been rebarreled in 5-44.There was also some kind of proof stamp on the left side of the buttstock.I should of payed closer attention to it but I can't remember what it looked like.Also,I should have memorised the serial # so I could look it up.All I remember is it started w/44.......Well,when I asked if the rifle was all original and was it a shooter,the salesman said yes.It had an $850 price tag on it.He said if I was interested,he would let it go for $800.Now to my questions,with the information I've given is this a fair price?Do I need to go back and get the serial # so I can look it up?What is the general opinion of the Smith Corona 1903A3?I think I read that they were the least made of all the 1903's.Any information would be appreciated.

When my GS was alive he told me SC made the best barrels for the 03A3 series and when he built a custom rifle with the 03A3 receiver he used a SC barrel.When he passed I told his son about the crate of Smith Corona barrels his father had and what he used them for.If one gets a SC rifle he's got a prize.

23 August 2006, 07:56

Matt Norman

If the rifle appeals to you and the bore is bright, then buy it. There is nothing wrong with the SC rifles. I believe many of them had 4 groove barrels whereas a lot of the war year Remingtons had two groove barrels. It's debatable if one is better than the other, but I note that most major gun companies and barrel makers after the war went to the 4 groove as the norm.