WWII Smith Corona M1903A3 .30-06 SPRG Bolt-Action Rifle, MFD 1944 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,100.00
LSB#: LSB250807SH017.1
Make: Smith Corona
Model: 1903A3
Serial Number: 4800053
Year of Manufacture: 1944 / ATF Classification: C&R
Caliber: .30-06 Springfield
Action Type: Bolt-Action Rifle with a Fixed Magazine
Markings: The top of the receiver is marked, “U.S. / SMITH CORONA / MODEL 03-A3 / 4800053”. The mag disconnect is marked, “ON / OFF” The barrel is marked, “SC / 10-43” with a flaming bomb proof. The safety is marked “READY / SAFE”. The underside of the bolt handle root is marked “P”, and the bolt sleeve is marked “E”. The wooden stock bears standard marks that have been finished over, and a non-original “US” stamp on the left side of the butt.
Barrel Length: 23.5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade pinned to a band slid over the muzzle (Model 1903A3 front sight), the rear sight is an M1903A3 Aperture Rear Sight.
Stock Configuration & Condition: Two-piece refurbished wood stock with a straight wrist and straight comb. The metal buttplate shows light finish wear. The stock shows light handling marks with very few blemishes on the current finish. There are no chips or cracks. Overall the stock rates Very Good condition.
Magazine Quantity & Condition: None
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Arsenal Refurbished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp with faint fouling. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: The finish of the rifle rates at about 96%. There is light wear from normal handling and operation. The bolt and bolt handle show the majority of the finish wear. Many of the markings are still crisp and legible, but some are now faint due to the refurbishment. Overall, this rifle rates in Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly, as does the safety. The trigger has a crisp and clean break. We did not fire this rifle, but we did perform a mechanic’s check. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Scope, leather sling
Our Assessment: A refurbished WWII-issued Springfield-pattern rifle built under contract by Smith-Corona, one of only two manufacturers of the M1903A3 during the war. The bolt cycles with the strong, confident lockup of the 1903 lineage, and the rifle’s long sight radius and balanced stock geometry give it the poised, service-ready stance expected of a frontline .30-06 battle rifle. Metal and wood lines present the straightforward, utilitarian finish characteristic of wartime production—honest, rugged, and built for field consistency rather than showroom grace.
Produced in 1944, this rifle sits toward the end of America’s small-arms mobilization for World War II. Smith-Corona, normally a typewriter manufacturer, was contracted to produce M1903A3 rifles to help meet urgent wartime demand. Their rifles—distinguished by certain stamped parts, subcontractor mark variations, and crisp machining—represent a unique chapter in U.S. ordnance history. The M1903A3 itself marked the final major evolution of the Springfield 1903 line: simplified for rapid mass production, updated with improved sights, and fielded extensively alongside the M1 Garand throughout the war. A surviving 1942 Smith-Corona example stands today as both a functional .30-06 service rifle and a tangible artifact of America’s industrial wartime ingenuity. Be sure to check our detailed pictures for a better understanding of the firearm. -C.R.
