Smith-Corona "C" prefix rifles

[John Beard]

I'm sure that JB will let us know if the American Rifleman's article is incorrect.

Let's just say that the American Rifleman article is lacking in accuracy, and leave it at that. I stand by my original statement.

J.B.

[Merc]

JB,

I actually have no personal opinion on who did what. I only repeated what I read to help the forum member and assumed the AR writer knew what he was talking about. Since you've obviously researched the subject, I'll say you're correct and let it be.

So, how much of a premium do you think a Smith-Corona 03-A3 with a C prefix serial number can command?

[John Beard]

JB,

I actually have no personal opinion on who did what. I only repeated what I read to help the forum member and assumed the AR writer knew what he was talking about. Since you've obviously researched the subject, I'll say you're correct and let it be.

So, how much of a premium do you think a Smith-Corona 03-A3 with a C prefix serial number can command?

I am not offended in the least.

I believe a C-prefix Smith-Corona rifle would command about a 25% premium. The rifles are a bit scarce, but not rare.

J.B.

[Merc]

I am not offended in the least.

I believe a C-prefix Smith-Corona rifle would command about a 25% premium. The rifles are a bit scarce, but not rare.

J.B.

The same AR article mentioned another Smith-Corona variant that's interesting. High Standard Co. got a govt. waiver to furnish S-C with 5,000 unfinished 6 groove commercial barrels that were used in their 03-A3s. I suppose a rare S-C 03-A3 would be one that has both?

[1mark]

So, there are two letters C, Z that were used to denote duplicate serial number. Is there a relation ship to the manufacture, C being Smith Corona and Z being Remington. Are there and other letter used?

[Merc]

So, there are two letters C, Z that were used to denote duplicate serial number. Is there a relation ship to the manufacture, C being Smith Corona and Z being Remington. Are there and other letter used?

There's a reference to Remington 03-A4s with Z serial numbers on www.oldguns.net. Look on the left column under Manufacturing Dates, click on US Military, then click on M1903A4 Rifle Remington. They don't say anything about duplicate serial numbers. Maybe JB can help.

[1mark]

I have 2 Remington A3's that are not A4's with the Z to the left of the serial number. These are duplicate s/n's of some other serial numbers in the Government system. There were a number of A3's with the Z but I do not know the total.

[John Beard]

The same AR article mentioned another Smith-Corona variant that's interesting. High Standard Co. got a govt. waiver to furnish S-C with 5,000 unfinished 6 groove commercial barrels that were used in their 03-A3s. I suppose a rare S-C 03-A3 would be one that has both?

The 6-groove barrels were used on early production rifles and were virtually all gone by the time of the C-prefix rifles. But I do not believe that a six-groove C-prefix rifle would be worth much premium. One would be challenged to prove that it's the original barrel.

To my knowledge, the exact quantity of six-groove barrels is unknown, although it's probably a bit more than 5,000. And to my knowledge, they were not commercial barrels.

J.B.

[John Beard]

So, there are two letters C, Z that were used to denote duplicate serial number. Is there a relation ship to the manufacture, C being Smith Corona and Z being Remington. Are there and other letter used?

I do not know why the "C"-prefix was assigned to Smith-Corona and the "Z"-prefix was assigned to Remington. But certainly the prefixes are manufacturer-specific. And yes, other letters were used to denote duplicate serial numbers.

J.B.

[JiminLE]

JB, the x is a 5.
What's the highest serial number anyone has seen or heard of with the "C" prefix? Also what would have been the first?

[John Beard]

JB, the x is a 5.
What's the highest serial number anyone has seen or heard of with the "C" prefix? Also what would have been the first?

Got it! Thanks! Your rifle's serial number was already in my data base.

Smith-Corona's original contract was for 100,000 rifles and they were issued a 100,000 serial number block beginning with S/N 3608000. The first "C"-prefix rifle, therefore, would have been S/N C3708000. S/N C3708010 has been observed and documented, thereby confirming the accuracy.

The highest-known C-prefix rifle was reported to me in confidence and I am not at liberty to release it at this time.

J.B.

p.s.,

I just discovered that I have documentation confirming the actual highest C-prefix serial number.

[1mark]

John, do you have the same information on the Remington A3's with the Z prefix? I will send you a PM with my serial numbers

[JiminLE]

JB, ok...I was always under the impression that there were only about 3600 rifles with the "C" prefix.....so.... do tell if you can what the actual highest number was, please.

Jim

[John Beard]

John, do you have the same information on the Remington A3's with the Z prefix? I will send you a PM with my serial numbers

The only block of Remington Z-prefix rifles are the M'03-A4's starting at S/N Z4000000. All A3 Z-prefix Remingtons have scattered serial numbers and are not concentrated in a block.

Many thanks for your rifle's serial numbers!

J.B.

[John Beard]

JB, ok...I was always under the impression that there were only about 3600 rifles with the "C" prefix.....so.... do tell if you can what the actual highest number was, please.

Jim

The number is higher than 3600. I am unable to post the number publicly. But if you PM me, I can send it to you in confidence.

J.B.