Smith Corona 1903a3

The Smith-Corona M1903A3 is a highly collectible World War II-era bolt-action rifle, originally chambered in (.30-06) Springfield. Produced by the typewriter manufacturer beginning in late 1942, it features a distinct aperture peep sight, making it one of the most accurate and sought-after variants of the legendary Springfield line.

Here are the key details and specifications for the Smith-Corona M1903A3:

History & Production

• Contract Details: In February 1942, the U.S. Ordnance Department contracted Smith-Corona to manufacture the \(1903A3) to help Remington keep up with overwhelming wartime demand.
• Production Timeline: Mass production at their Syracuse, NY plant began in November 1942 and ended in February 1944.
• Total Produced: Approximately (234,500) rifles were manufactured, making them rarer than Remington's production run. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Key Features

• Caliber: (.30-06) Springfield.
• Sights: Unlike the earlier M1903 (which used ladder-style leaf sights), the A3 featured an aperture rear sight mounted on the receiver.
• Barrel Variants: Many Smith-Corona models featured two-groove barrels instead of the standard four-groove versions to accelerate wartime production. Despite initial soldier skepticism, these two-groove barrels are known to be highly accurate.
• Stamped Components: To save manufacturing time, many parts were stamped rather than milled. 

While the iconic U.S. Marine Corps sniper rifles of World War II were built on the M1903A1 platform fitted with high-power Unertl scopes, the Smith-Corona M1903A3 saw widespread combat service, largely in the hands of the U.S. Army, Military Police, and front-line troops who appreciated its stellar accuracy and rugged bolt action. 

This is very fine example of a Smith Corona featuring it's original 2 grove barrel with shiny bore and an overall in very good condition.