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Acquired an 03-A3 today
1/1/2012 4:19:20 PM
Well, most of one. Barreled action, bolt, trigger, magazine/trigger guard and the mag spring and follower. Belonged to my wife's grandfather who passed away in November. He was a WWII vet, served in Europe as part of a tank crew from '43-'45. I don't have any reason to believe it was a bring back but will go nicely with the '39 K98 he gave me years ago.
I'll get some pictures up later.
Receiver: Smith-Corona Model 03-A3, serial # 3628742
Barrel: RA, flaming bomb, 9-43, underside has a P
Front sight band stamped R. Bolt handle stamped with an S in one place and a few R's. Extractor stamped with a 4. Magazine cutoff and trigger also stamped with R's. I'm sure I'll come across some others when I get it cleaned up.
From pictures on the web looks like I need a stock, hand guard, front sling swivel, barrel bands and a sling. Anything else to get back to shooting condition? There's a little rust under the magazine cutoff but that's all I've found.
Other than Numrich, where else can I look for correct replacement parts? Are there different versions of stocks?
Anyone have other info about this gun? Barrel seems to be right for the serial number.
I'll get some pictures up later.
Receiver: Smith-Corona Model 03-A3, serial # 3628742
Barrel: RA, flaming bomb, 9-43, underside has a P
Front sight band stamped R. Bolt handle stamped with an S in one place and a few R's. Extractor stamped with a 4. Magazine cutoff and trigger also stamped with R's. I'm sure I'll come across some others when I get it cleaned up.
From pictures on the web looks like I need a stock, hand guard, front sling swivel, barrel bands and a sling. Anything else to get back to shooting condition? There's a little rust under the magazine cutoff but that's all I've found.
Other than Numrich, where else can I look for correct replacement parts? Are there different versions of stocks?
Anyone have other info about this gun? Barrel seems to be right for the serial number.
1/1/2012 9:35:50 PM
Talk to Claude at RA parts to see what he has that you may need.
Sounds like you're in pretty good shape.
CMP has drop in stocks for the O3A3's that look pretty nice...though a USGI stock shouldn't cost too much and may have some "character".
They are not hard to work on, but like everything else, if you can find an '03 'Smith in your neighborhood, it may pay to let him put it all together, check it out and make sure everything is "in-spec".
When they were available, CMP sold Inspected 1903A3 "shooters" for about $500, so you decide how much $$$ you want to put into the project.
They shoot very nicely!
CMP 1903A1 Greek Return, Springfield 1918 Receiver, 1943 Barrel, NOS Springfield C Stock
Sounds like you're in pretty good shape.
CMP has drop in stocks for the O3A3's that look pretty nice...though a USGI stock shouldn't cost too much and may have some "character".
They are not hard to work on, but like everything else, if you can find an '03 'Smith in your neighborhood, it may pay to let him put it all together, check it out and make sure everything is "in-spec".
When they were available, CMP sold Inspected 1903A3 "shooters" for about $500, so you decide how much $$$ you want to put into the project.
They shoot very nicely!
CMP 1903A1 Greek Return, Springfield 1918 Receiver, 1943 Barrel, NOS Springfield C Stock
1/1/2012 10:24:05 PM
I checked his website and he didn't have anything for the 1903. I sent him an email.
How about this stock?
http://e-sarcoinc.com/1903spfstockgoodconditon.aspx
(It's missing the handguard.)
I want to restore it to as close to WWII configuration as possible. After searching the web for a while it appears this rifle was rearsenaled post WWII. The barrel dosn't fit the reciever date and would have had an SC originally.
Hardware set for the 03A3:
http://e-sarcoinc.com/03a3bandandhardwaresetcomplete.aspx
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
How about this stock?
http://e-sarcoinc.com/1903spfstockgoodconditon.aspx
(It's missing the handguard.)
I want to restore it to as close to WWII configuration as possible. After searching the web for a while it appears this rifle was rearsenaled post WWII. The barrel dosn't fit the reciever date and would have had an SC originally.
Hardware set for the 03A3:
http://e-sarcoinc.com/03a3bandandhardwaresetcomplete.aspx
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
1/3/2012 9:16:54 AM
Evil bay normally has a selection of 03 and 03A3 stocks listed, most well have the metal hardware with them. Prices run from $100 to north of $300, depending on maker and condition.
I would put it together with the parts you have. Most 03A3's went through a rearsenal at one point and parts were mixed. Making it all SC could be spendy.
Here's a SC assembled.
I would put it together with the parts you have. Most 03A3's went through a rearsenal at one point and parts were mixed. Making it all SC could be spendy.
Here's a SC assembled.
1/3/2012 9:21:20 AM
Try BillRicca.com, and Springfield sporters. I'd also post a WTB ad on ODCMP.com.
1/3/2012 4:03:35 PM
Originally Posted By medicmandan:
Are there different versions of stocks?
Are there different versions of stocks?
Yes:
For your rifle, I believe the "S stock without grasping grooves" or the "scant stock" would be most correct. However, many 03-A3s went through post-war rebuilds and had the pistol-grip "C-stocks" installed, which are more comfortable to shoot (and more aesthetically appealing, IMO).
1/3/2012 6:11:25 PM
Based on the mixture of stamps on the firearm I'm fairly certain it underwent a rearsenal at some point. I like the C stock, I think I'll look for one of those.
Anyone have an opinion on the stock metal set from Sarco?
Anyone have an opinion on the stock metal set from Sarco?
1/4/2012 9:48:05 AM
For your rifle, I believe the "S stock without grasping grooves" or the "scant stock" would be most correct. However, many 03-A3s went through post-war rebuilds and had the pistol-grip "C-stocks" installed, which are more comfortable to shoot (and more aesthetically appealing, IMO).
Only one stock is correct for the Smith Corona 03A3. It is the type S variant without grasping grooves . Early stocks had pins, later stocks had screws. The SC stocks have their own set of cartouche marks.
When you order from Sarco you are rolling the dice.
1/4/2012 4:36:36 PM
If you're building it to shoot it, I would go with the C-Stock. The straight stock is almost impossible to shoot from prone. Unless you have a much bigger head than me, you'll have trouble getting a decent cheek-weld. The C-Stock is much more comfortable, and easier to shoot accurately.
If you're building it to be historically accurate, that's beyond my personal expertise, though I'm inclined to believe the post above mine about that.
You can get a new production stock and handguard set from either the CMP or DuPage Trading Company. (The way I understand it DuPage takes Boyd's stocks and works them over so they're more likely to be a drop-in fit. They sell them themselves, and also sell them to the CMP, who stamps a CMP cartouche on the stock. CMP might charge a little more, and the shipping is a lot slower, but the last one I ordered they were in stock at CMP, but not DuPage.) Neither includes hardware, so you might have to go Numrich for that.
Those stocks are pretty much drop-in, but I've had to do a little work on the handguard on both that I've bought. Also a light finish with Fairtrimmers Military-OX oil makes them beautiful.
1/5/2012 11:03:03 AM
You have to watch those aftermarket stocks. Sometimes they need a fair amount of fitting. Do all your fitting before finishing the wood.
I had to go back and make adjustments.
On my CMP C stock my issues were;
-big streak of sap wood on stock, should have really sent it back
-stock to fat to let the bolt handle close all the way down; no big deal, wood rasp and sand to clear.
-shoulder for barrel band off location better than an 1/8", I filed it to fit and probably should have filed it back more (might still be causing me some accuracy issues)
-mortise or hole for barrel band retaining spring was off and not even bored perpendicular to the bore axis. I had to redrill it and work on the mortise with an exacto chisel.
Over on the M14forum there was a right write up on these by an old school USMC armorer, Gus Fisher. He panned them as requiring a lot of work to be called drop in.
If I had it to do over again, I'd probably fork out for a USGI C stock. I'm damn sorry I missed a garbage can full of them they had at the CMP N store. All they had left when I got there belonged in a garbage can.
I had to go back and make adjustments.
On my CMP C stock my issues were;
-big streak of sap wood on stock, should have really sent it back
-stock to fat to let the bolt handle close all the way down; no big deal, wood rasp and sand to clear.
-shoulder for barrel band off location better than an 1/8", I filed it to fit and probably should have filed it back more (might still be causing me some accuracy issues)
-mortise or hole for barrel band retaining spring was off and not even bored perpendicular to the bore axis. I had to redrill it and work on the mortise with an exacto chisel.
Over on the M14forum there was a right write up on these by an old school USMC armorer, Gus Fisher. He panned them as requiring a lot of work to be called drop in.
If I had it to do over again, I'd probably fork out for a USGI C stock. I'm damn sorry I missed a garbage can full of them they had at the CMP N store. All they had left when I got there belonged in a garbage can.
1/6/2012 12:49:56 PM
Originally Posted By madcratebuilder:
Only one stock is correct for the Smith Corona 03A3. It is the type S variant without grasping grooves . Early stocks had pins, later stocks had screws. The SC stocks have their own set of cartouche marks.
When you order from Sarco you are rolling the dice.
For your rifle, I believe the "S stock without grasping grooves" or the "scant stock" would be most correct. However, many 03-A3s went through post-war rebuilds and had the pistol-grip "C-stocks" installed, which are more comfortable to shoot (and more aesthetically appealing, IMO).
Only one stock is correct for the Smith Corona 03A3. It is the type S variant without grasping grooves . Early stocks had pins, later stocks had screws. The SC stocks have their own set of cartouche marks.
When you order from Sarco you are rolling the dice.
Maybe this one?
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Detail.aspx?pid=1250450&catid=13919
And one of these:
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Detail.aspx?pid=543470&catid=13919
