Smith-Corona "C" prefix rifles

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  • JiminLE
    Member
    • Aug 2009
    • 52

    #1

    Smith-Corona "C" prefix rifles

    Not sure if this has been asked before but, is there a known number of how many SC 03A3's have the "C" prefix serial number? How many are known to still be around? VI Shooter's page doesn't list many at all. Just wondering because I have C371142x.
    Thanks,

    Jim
  • John Beard
    Senior Member
    • Aug 2009
    • 2275

    #2
    Your rifle is unusual and rare indeed! Not only does it have a "C" prefix, it also has an "x" suffix! I wish I could find one of those!

    Some people have all the luck!

    J.B.

    Comment

    • Merc
      Senior Member
      • Feb 2016
      • 1690

      #3
      Smith-Corona was assigned a block of serial numbers for the 03-A3s that they were producing. Remington accidentally used 3,600 of the serial numbers that were supposed to be used on the S-C rifles. S-C also used those same 3,600 serial numbers but added a "C" prefix in order to differentiate between their 03-A3s and those produced by Remington. So, yours is one of only 3,600 S-C produced 03-A3s to carry a C prefix. I don't believe that there's any data out there that that would indicate how many C prefixed serial numbers are still around.

      There's a good article on the history of S-C's 03-A3 on this forum. Look on page 9 of the thread "Buying a M1903."
      Last edited by Merc; 10-14-2016, 08:56.

      Comment

      • John Beard
        Senior Member
        • Aug 2009
        • 2275

        #4
        Originally posted by Merc
        Smith-Corona was assigned a block of serial numbers for the 03-A3s that they were producing. Remington accidentally used 3,600 of the serial numbers that were supposed to be used on the S-C rifles. S-C also used those same 3,600 serial numbers but added a "C" prefix in order to differentiate between their 03-A3s and those produced by Remington. So, yours is one of only 3,600 S-C produced 03-A3s to carry a C prefix. I don't believe that there's any data out there that that would indicate how many C prefixed serial numbers are still around.

        There's a good article on the history of S-C's 03-A3 on this forum. Look on page 9 of the thread "Buying a M1903."
        Actually, it was the other way around. Smith-Corona overran their allocated block of serial numbers and into the block of serial numbers allocated to Remington. So Smith-Corona had to make amends by prefixing their duplicate serial numbers.

        J.B.

        Comment

        • cplnorton
          Senior Member
          • Sep 2009
          • 2194

          #5
          No kidding? That is one I had never heard of till today. I guess there is always something new to learn.

          Comment

          • Kragrifle
            Senior Member
            • Nov 2010
            • 1161

            #6
            New to me as well. What was the x for?

            Comment

            • Merc
              Senior Member
              • Feb 2016
              • 1690

              #7
              Originally posted by John Beard
              Actually, it was the other way around. Smith-Corona overran their allocated block of serial numbers and into the block of serial numbers allocated to Remington. So Smith-Corona had to make amends by prefixing their duplicate serial numbers.

              J.B.
              John,

              The American Rifleman wrote a great article on the history of the Smith-Corona 03-A3. They devote a small paragraph to the serial number problem. According to AR, it was Remington who did the deed. Do you have another source that indicates otherwise?

              Here's the article:

              Although not as widely used as the M1 Garand, the Smith-Corona Model 1903A3s saw service in every theater of the war.
              Last edited by Merc; 10-15-2016, 05:32.

              Comment

              • Merc
                Senior Member
                • Feb 2016
                • 1690

                #8
                JiminLE,

                I'll ask the forum the obvious question for you:

                So, with only 3,600 S-C 03-A3s with a C prefixed serial number produced, and an undetermined quantity remaining, how much more $$$ are they worth than your average S-C 03-A3 without the C prefix?

                Comment

                • Merc
                  Senior Member
                  • Feb 2016
                  • 1690

                  #9
                  There's another interesting S-C 03-A3 variant. According to the American Rifleman article, early in production of S-Cs 03-A3, High Standard Co. was supplying rifle barrels to S-C and acquired about 5,000 commercial 6 groove barrels from Savage and received a waiver from the govt. to supply them to S-C. So, take a look at the rifling in your S-C 03-A3 and see if the barrel has 6 grooves.

                  Comment

                  • PhillipM
                    Very Senior Member - OFC
                    • Aug 2009
                    • 5937

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Merc
                    John,

                    The American Rifleman wrote a great article on the history of the Smith-Corona 03-A3. They devote a small paragraph to the serial number problem. According to AR, it was Remington who did the deed. Do you have another source that indicates otherwise?

                    Here's the article:

                    HTTPS://www.americanrifleman.org/art...-corona-03a3s/
                    The better question is where did American Rifleman get its source? JB's idea of a vacation getaway is studying original documents in the National Archives.
                    Last edited by PhillipM; 10-15-2016, 02:34.
                    Phillip McGregor (OFC)
                    "I am neither a fire arms nor a ballistics expert, but I was a combat infantry officer in the Great War, and I absolutely know that the bullet from an infantry rifle has to be able to shoot through things." General Douglas MacArthur

                    Comment

                    • jgaynor
                      Senior Member
                      • Nov 2009
                      • 1287

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Kragrifle
                      New to me as well. What was the x for?
                      Easy - "x" marks the spot!

                      Comment

                      • cplnorton
                        Senior Member
                        • Sep 2009
                        • 2194

                        #12
                        Originally posted by PhillipM
                        The better question is where did American Rifleman get its source?
                        Man isn't that the truth. lol I only study Marine Corps weapons, so that is the only topic I know enough to pick out the articles that are full of crap. But man some of these big names in these books literally just make up stuff.

                        I have much more faith in many members on this forum, than I do in some of the biggest name aurthors out there.
                        Last edited by cplnorton; 10-15-2016, 03:27.

                        Comment

                        • Merc
                          Senior Member
                          • Feb 2016
                          • 1690

                          #13
                          Originally posted by PhillipM
                          The better question is where did American Rifleman get its source? JB's idea of a vacation getaway is studying original documents in the National Archives.
                          I'm sure that JB will let us know if the American Rifleman's article is incorrect.

                          Comment

                          • PhillipM
                            Very Senior Member - OFC
                            • Aug 2009
                            • 5937

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Merc
                            I'm sure that JB will let us know if the American Rifleman's article is incorrect.
                            He already did
                            Phillip McGregor (OFC)
                            "I am neither a fire arms nor a ballistics expert, but I was a combat infantry officer in the Great War, and I absolutely know that the bullet from an infantry rifle has to be able to shoot through things." General Douglas MacArthur

                            Comment

                            • Merc
                              Senior Member
                              • Feb 2016
                              • 1690

                              #15
                              Originally posted by PhillipM
                              He already did
                              JB disputed the article but hasn't said why.

                              Comment

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