Smith Corona M1903A3
Smith Corona Typewriter Company · Rifle · Out Of Production · 1942
Also known as: Smith-Corona 03A3, M1903A3 (Smith Corona Production), SC Springfield
Overview
The Smith Corona M1903A3 is a bolt-action service rifle produced by the Smith-Corona Typewriter Company in Syracuse, New York during World War II. It is a simplified, mass-production-friendly variant of the iconic M1903 Springfield, adopted in 1942 to supplement the M1 Garand in arming American forces. To accelerate output, the design eliminated forged-and-machined parts in favor of stamped components - including a stamped buttplate, trigger guard, and floorplate - while moving the rear sight to a receiver-mounted aperture. Smith Corona's High Standard-supplied barrels initially used six-groove rifling but standardized on four-groove rifling by April 1943. The company manufactured 234,580 rifles before its contract was cancelled on February 19, 1944, making it one of the rarer M1903 variants on the collector market today.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3912 g (138.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1105 mm (43.50") |
| Barrel Length | 610 mm (24.02") |
| Sight Radius | 700 mm (27.56") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Trigger Pull | 27 N (6.1 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 820 m/s (2690 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3892 J (2871 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 600 m (656 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 4570 m (4998 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 15 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 254 mm (10.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Parkerized |
Calibers
- .30-06 Springfield · primary — also known as 7.62x63mm, .30 Caliber Cartridge, Model of 1906, .30 Government
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Internal Box Magazine, Stripper Clip
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Three Position Safety Lever
- Features: Stripper Clip Loading, Aperture Rear Sight, Stamped Buttplate, Stamped Trigger Guard, War Emergency Steel, Iron Sights, Bayonet Lug, Two Piece Stock
Variants
- M1903 Springfield (Original) — Parent Design
- Remington M1903A3 — Alternate Wartime Producer
Base model
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1942 · as M1903A3
- United States Marine Corps · adopted 1942 · as M1903A3
- United States Navy · adopted 1942 · as M1903A3
- British Home Guard (Lend-Lease) · adopted 1942
- Free French Forces · adopted 1943
- Republic of China (Lend-Lease) · adopted 1942
Conflicts
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Korean War (1950-1953)
Production
Estimated total produced: 234,580 · Production years: 1942-1944
Smith Corona produced 234,580 M1903A3 rifles between November 1942 and February 1944 before their contract was cancelled. Production occurred at the company's Syracuse, New York plant. Contracts were originally awarded for 380,000 units.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Springfield Armory (parent design); Smith Corona engineering team (production simplifications)
Discontinued: 1944
Notes
Smith Corona was a typewriter manufacturer that pivoted to wartime arms production under the U.S. War Production Board's industrial mobilization. Their initial February 1942 contract for 100,000 M1903 rifles was modified in May 1942 to substitute the simplified M1903A3 and increased to 380,000 units, but production was halted in 1944 as M1 Garand output ramped up. Identifiable by 'U.S./Smith-Corona' receiver markings and serial number blocks 3,608,000-3,707,999 and 4,708,000-4,992,000. The .30-06 cartridge fires a 150-grain (9.72g) bullet at approximately 2,700 fps (820 m/s). All M1903A3 barrels use 1-in-10 inch (254mm) right-hand twist rifling.
Background
Smith Corona, best known for typewriters, was one of several wartime industrial conscripts pressed into rifle production by America's mobilization for World War II - a curious lineage shared with the Singer sewing machine company, which built M1911 pistols. A surviving typewriter-company-built rifle is now a prized collector's item, with the irony that machines designed to write peace treaties were also turned into machines for fighting wars.