Good Deal? Smith Corona 1903a3?

[nwilliams]

I have the opportunity to buy a Smith Corona 1903a3 for $500 and I'm wondering if I should.

I really don't know how to value a Smith Corona 1903 and the prices I've seen on Gunbroker seem to range quite a bit.

The gun looks to be in good shape, it doesn't appear that anyone has really messed with it although it looks like the stock was cleaned up a bit. Overall it looks like a nice example of a 1903.

Is there anything I should look for to help determine if the price is right? I don't much about Smith Corona 1903's so I'm a bit in the dark on this one.

Thanks.

 

[USSR]

$500 for an unmessed with Smith-Corona 03/A3 is a steal. Jump on it.

Don

 

[Tim the student]

Sounds like a good deal to me, but I'm not the most knowledgeable guy when it comes to 1903s.

 

[CapnMac]

Ok, it depends on whether you want a shooter or a collector.

If you want a collectable 03A3, it needs all sorts of things, right stock shape, cartouches on that stock; many collectors want matched manufacturer parts; others just want all stamped or all milled (versus a mix of milled and stamped parts).

If you want a shooter, at $500 you have a pretty good deal. (With the normal sorts of caveats, like good bore, good bolt, headspace, crown, etc,) You will probably want a type "C" pistol grip stock for a shooter--not that there's anything wrong with the straight or scant stocks.

if you could get us some pics, there are some good, and experienced, eyes here.

 

[RickMD]

According to the current online version of the Blue Book of Gun Values a Smith Corona 1903/A3 is worth $410 in 70% condition and $625 in 90% condition. They bring a premium of 25% over an A3 of Remington manufacturer.

As usual, condition is everything when it comes to value. Condition is determined by the percentage of original finish remaining. If you post a picture I'm sure that we could estimate condition for you.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Deal! 16 pages of completed auctions on GB for the Smith Corona well tell you they can sell for twice+ that depending on condition.

 

[rdean]

Info Please : Smith corona 03a3

I just came into a 1903A3 Smith Corona, that by the story, was a WW-II, Battle of the Bulge vet, without any carts, all original parts and "No" re-armory stamps. Story is he sent it home from the front. SM 2-43, bomb, P, straight stock. Sn # 364xxxx.

 

[USSR]

...the story, was a WW-II, Battle of the Bulge vet, without any carts, all original parts and "No" re-armory stamps. Story is he sent it home from the front. SM 2-43, bomb, P, straight stock. Sn # 364xxxx.

Buy the rifle, not the story. The truth is, few if any 03-A3's saw combat.

Don

 

[henschman]

If it's pretty nice I'd buy it in a heartbeat. the CMP used to sell them at that price several years back, and they sold like hotcakes. The Smith-Coronas have always been more desireable. If you want a shooter they generally make the best ones, since they have the nice 4-groove barrel instead of just a 2-groove... if it has the original S-C barrel that is.

 

[rdean]

It was a gift, no $$, the barrel stamp has shadow marks, like it was starting to get pressed, then lifted & pressed harder?

 

[j. rap.]

aim surplus has them refinished for 795 good price but 500 THATS AWESOME

 

[nwilliams]

I did end up buying it, there was a followup thread to this one with pics of the rifle.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=603873&highlight=smith+corona

 

[1KPerDay]

As I said in the other thread... absolutely gorgeous rifle.

 

[cfullgraf]

CMP just offered Smith Corona 03A3's for $500. Pretty much sold out in one day (Oct 3).