Help Identifying M1903-A3 Variant?

[Orochium]

Howdy folks, I'm new to hunting and recreational shooting this year (after a long history of my rents being too afraid of guns to let me hunt), go fig, and picked up a used rifle from a private seller. Could be smart, could be dumb.

I'm having trouble identifying the rifle outright, I know at least the action/barrel is Stamped "U.S. Smith-Corona Model 03-A3" with the serial 3680085, placing the action and barrel firmly in the 1942-1943 I think, M1903-A3. It's got a Williams-side mount for a Weaver K4-F scope and a Lyman peep-hole site.

There's a P cartouche stamp on the underside of the barrel, but pulling the stock off and looking it over (thoroughly) I don't see an identification stamp anywhere on the bed or anywhere else. But for all intents and purposes it looks like the NRA sporter stock with a few modifications.

So how do I put this all together, I know I bought an M1903, but what is it (or is it just a highly customized hodgepodge?)

Can anyone help? Thanks in advance too, if you need pics, I can try to figure out how to get em up on here.

[rondog]

Photos will help big-time! Also, there's these sites too. Great resources for milsurp rifles.

http://www.thecmp.org/forums/index.php

http://www.milsurps.com/index.php

http://www.surplusrifle.com

[Orochium]

Hey rondog! Thanks for the reply and links, I'll comb over them thoroughly here shortly, in the mean time I grabbed a couple of pics of the rifle, post cleaning.

The inside bore is pretty much flawless, just dirty, outside of the gun has got a couple scuffs, and some of the blueing is coming up, but here you go:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v736/dracasethaen/Springfield%20M1903-A3/DSC06895.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v736/dracasethaen/Springfield%20M1903-A3/DSC06894.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v736/dracasethaen/Springfield%20M1903-A3/DSC06893.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v736/dracasethaen/Springfield%20M1903-A3/DSC06889.jpg

[rondog]

I'm not a fan of sporterized milsurp rifles, but that's a purty one! Nice stock. Should be a good rifle. And I'm not swearing to anything, but I "think" I've seen comments about rear sights like that as being desirable collectables and fairly valuable. I could be mistaken.

[StagLefty]

Nice looking rifle-I have a Smith Corona also but mine is all original military.[Beer]

[MadRabbit]

Short answer is a hodgepodge. After WWII there were a ton of these available as surplus, brought home from the war, etc. Essentially they were a dime a dozen. A lot of people bought them and turned them into their deer rifles (along with Mausers, P14 and P17 Enfields, etc.). That's what I'd guess happened with yours. It was probably sporterized originally with the receiver sight, and then had the scope added later on by a subsequent owner. Being an 03-A3 you don't have to worry about the heat treat, and it's a nice looking conversion. I think you did alright on this one. Enjoy it!

[Orochium]

Thanks for all the replies folks. I think I've finally got a fix on what all this gun is put together from, and for all intents and purposes it looks like it will serve me pretty well.

It looks to be a P-Stamped Barrel on a Smith-Corona M1903-A3 Action, the stock is made by a company called Fajen and I can't seem to find the replacement plastic for the Fajen stock, but its not a big deal.

And thanks Rabbit, I will do just that! Learned a lot about the M1903's in the last couple of days!

Rondog, what's your take on the milsurp's sporterized, you said you weren't a fan, is there a particular reason?

[MadRabbit]

A lot of people don't like the sporterized conversions because those rifles aren't nearly as prolific as they once were. Sporterizing them now is really just a good way to destroy a collectible firearm from a very important part of our history. Personally I tend to agree, an original military rifle from any era "speaks" to me a lot more than somebody's deer rifle, but that's just my opinion. Something I meant to mention earlier is that "P" stamp on the barrel, I'd have to do some serious digging to be certain, but I believe that simply indicates that the barrel has been proofed (basically, fired with higher than normal pressure cartridges at the factory to ensure it won't fail when fielded).

[rondog]

Rondog, what's your take on the milsurp's sporterized, you said you weren't a fan, is there a particular reason?

Pretty much like MadRabbit said. Sporterized isn't necessarily a bad thing, it just makes me sad that a service rifle has been modified is all. Much like classic cars that were cut up for use as stock cars or dragsters, or classic Harleys that were butchered into choppers. I'm from the era where $500 Harley Panheads and old Police Harleys were common and people made choppers out of 'em to "improve" them. Once you become a "collector" of things, it can apall you to think of the things that you and others did in your youth.

"Oooooweeee, Bubba! Hold my beer and gimme dat torch, Ima gonna hack this off so it'll go better!" Yeah, I've been there.

[10x]

It looks like a nicely done sporter of the 1950s, given the scope mount and scope.

I wouldn't worry about it's military ancestory, it is not a collectors item, now.

You need to get that rifle out to the range and report back how well it shoots. I would guess that it will be a very good game rifle.

Fajen no longer exists. They used to be in Missouri, I believe, and supplied all kinds of replacement stock for all kinds of guns. It is a good stock.

[StagLefty]

Fajen no longer exists. They used to be in Missouri, I believe, and supplied all kinds of replacement stock for all kinds of guns. It is a good stock.

WOW Fajen is gone ? They were THE stock company years ago !!

[ColoEnthusiast]

IMO I think who sporterized it is important. My 1903 was sporterized by the old man who used it in WWII. I have no intention of putting it back to original. There is almost no bluing left on it, yet the bore is beautiful. I am considering refinishing the stock and probably duracoating it black or parkerizing it. Why not make it look it's best and preserve it?
Conversely, if it were all original from the man who used it in war, I would leave it original. As far as I'm concerned, the rifle has a story to tell.[39]