Smith Corona 6 groove

[RCK]

Is there a value premium for a Smith Corona 03-A3 with a 6 groove barrel? At about what serial number did these rifles go to 4 grooves?

[p246]

I sold one for a friend to a board member. I think condition speaks more than 4 or 6 grove. Condition being same the right collector would pay a little more but not a lot. I'd venture a guess of around $100.00. That's my opinion for what it is worth. As to the change over there is no set serial number I am aware of. Maybe one of the experts can answer that or at least narrow it down.

[Sunray]

Rumoured to be only around 5,000 6 grooves made. Barrels made by High Standard that they literally had lying around. SC had made 5,540 '03A3's by the end of 1942, starting mass production in November. The actual S/N was probably not recorded. No S/N on the barrels.

[P51MUSTANG]

What is the first recorded SC 03A3 serial number? I have heard conflicting numbers.

[Kragrifle]

My understanding is that Savage produced the six groove barrels used by SC.

[gpb]

Here's a link to an interesting article on the Smith Corona 03A3.

http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2010/3/12/the-smith-corona-03a3s/

From this article it seems that the six groove barrel blanks were made by Savage arms with the finish contouring and machining done by High Standard.

[Rick the Librarian]

The barrels/blanks were made by High Standard.

[98src]

What was Hi-STANDARD doing with 6 groove 30 caliber barrels? Were they making rifle barrels for someone else?

[John Beard]

Rick the Librarian is correct. All Smith-Corona barrels were made by High Standard, including the early 6-groove barrels. There is no connection whatsoever with Savage.

Old myths don't die easily.

J.B.

[John Beard]

What was Hi-STANDARD doing with 6 groove 30 caliber barrels? Were they making rifle barrels for someone else?

Answers are as follows:

(1) They were manufacturing the barrels from scratch, marking them "S C/Shell and Flame/Month-Year", and shipping them to Smith-Corona.

(2) I believe High Standard may have also made some barrels for Army Ordnance contractors, but I don't recall at the moment.

J.B.