Looks sweet. How many rifle grooves?

 

That's a nice piece of history.
Thanks for sharing.

 

2 groove barrels were made by Remington in WWII and only installed on 1903-A3 guns as they had no provisions for mount a rear sight for the 1903 model. They did that to double the grooving production time. A 2 groove gun can be just as accurate as a 4 or 6 groove. They were, after all, made by Remington that had a long reputation of quality and accuracy in the past.

AC

 

I have been told the same it's just the the 4 and 6 grooves are substantially more collectible due to their scarcity.

 

I think that it is a 4 groove.

 

That is awesome as they are much fewer and farther betweener, so to speak. Even if it isn't it's a great find. Congrats on an awesome acquisition!!

 

Here is another that I purchased 4 years ago This one is a M1903A3 Smith Corona. The barrel was badly pitted due to corrosive ammo. I purchased another Smith Corona Barrel with a 1 month difference in date code. This one I am rebuilding as a shooter. The rear sight and bolt are Remington. I have since purchased a new Smith Corona bolt a and a used Smith Corona rear sight. I do have the tools to do the rebarrel myself, but I will be sending this into the CMP to do the work since they only charge $75 for the rebarrel and chamber reaming.

 

Here is another that I purchased 4 years ago This one is a M1903A3 Smith Corona. The barrel was badly pitted due to corrosive ammo. I purchased another Smith Corona Barrel with a 1 month difference in date code. This one I am rebuilding as a shooter. The rear sight and bolt are Remington. I have since purchased a new Smith Corona bolt a and a used Smith Corona rear sight. I do have the tools to do the rebarrel myself, but I will be sending this into the CMP to do the work since they only charge $75 for the rebarrel and chamber reaming.

View attachment 753759

I have the same rifle as yours. Interesting story to tell. I once brought it out to the range for a friend to try out. I put out at 100yrds a CD which I stuck in the dirt as a target. When they called the line I took 3 shots at the CD and my friend was laughing because he did not think it was possible to hit that CD with the stock sights. I personally had my doubts too but I took 3 carefully aimed shots with M2 ball (Same stuff I use in the Garand). My friend shot the paper target we had at 50yrds. To my surprise when they called the line I went out to retrieve the CD and it had 3 holes in it ! I brought it back to the bench and my friend could not believe it.

BTW---I forgot to mention that my Smith Corona has a Remington 2 groove barrel on it---I did not bother to try and find a SC barrel because the 2 groove is in excellent shape with a pristine bore.

 

Real history there!

 

My 1919 vintage 1903 has a 6 groove barrel, and my 1943 vintage 1903-A3 Smith-Corona has a 4 groove barrel. I believe both have their original barrels, as the dates for the serial # and the barrel are either the same or only one month off. They both shoot very well.

Luisyamaha

 

That 6 groove is a relative 1903 Unicorn as the 4 groove is a hens tooth. Post pics, you don't see them very often in any kind of condition.

 

I had a sporterized Smith Corona that easily shot 1 inch groups at 100 yards with a scope . My friend borrowed it one day and killed a solid white spike buck. That gun really was a shooter.

 

beautiful,,,,,,,,,,,

 

It is my understanding that the "Smith" in Smith Corona is the same Smith as the original LC "Smith". He obviously had experience in making quality firearms prior to making typewriters.

 

Right you are, Tachelberry! Lyman Cornelius Smith, to be exact.

 

Here's a great article:

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

Here's another one written by a guy I worked with about the history of the 2 groove barrels and how they came about:

http://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=1434

AC

 

Here's a great article:

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

Here's another one written by a guy I worked with about the history of the 2 groove barrels and how they came about:

Two Groove Springfield Rifle Barrel: Unsung Hero of WWII

AC

Thanks for the articles.. I made sure to bookmark these for later reference.

 

According to De Haas, Brophy , and Wiki, US Model 1903 production was just over 3 million complete rifles, made by Springfield Armory and Rock Island Arsenal. They only came with 4 groove (6 groove very rare, abt 6,000 made) barrels. No M1903 rifles were made with 2 groove barrels unless arsenal rebarrelled or repaired at a later date. Number of spare parts and spare 4 groove barrels produced must have been astronomical. The Government also bought barrels made by High Standard and Johnson Automatics in the late 1930's-early 40's, and these were 4 groove.

Remington Arms and Smith Corona made 1,415,593 M1903A3 and M1903A4 (A4's were sniper rifles, not that many made). They originally came with 4 groove barrels, but in late 1941-early 1942 production switched to 2 groove barrels. Remington invented button rifling at this time, rifling was broach cut prior to 1941. Total 2 groove Remington production was probably 750,000 complete rifles, and 100,000 extra barrels for parts. Avis Rifle Barrels and Sedgely also supplied barrels to Smith Corona. I would be pretty sure Avis and Sedgely barrels were not 2 groove, that was a Remington process.

When I was young, you could still buy complete rifles($29.95) and spare parts in cosmoline. The supply ran thin in the 1970's.

 

My 1903 is also a Mark I with the the receiver cut for the Pedersen device. Not too many of those either.

Luisyamaha

 

Just love those Springfield's! I don't have an '03, but do enjoy shooting my P17 Eddystone Enfield, 03A4, and Garand. The P17 still has traces of red paint on the front handguard. I just wish those rifles could talk!

WYT-P
Skyhunter

 

More from Brophy:
Remington 03A4 rifles were produced February 1943 to March 1944. Total production was 26,653 rifles. Receiver markings early were in the regular location, but got covered by scope mounts. Later production had designation on the low left side so as not to be covered by the scope. This also makes it hard to counterfeit 03A4 receivers. Brophy doesn't mention any Smith-Corona 03A4's, so they must all be Remingtons.

Only 26,600+ 03A4 rifles were made, so if you have one, it's a keeper.