- Messages
- 141
- Reactions
- 268
- Ad Type
- For Sale
- Price
- $400
- Manufacturer
- Other / Not Listed
- Caliber
- 30-06 Springfield
- City
- Beaverton
- State
- Oregon
- Zip Code
- 97007
Smith Corona A3-03 - .30-06. Manufactured in June of 1943. Overall good condition with a few modifications from the original design (see pics).
How did a typewriter company come to manufacture rifles for WWII...?
From the Internet:
While Remington was struggling with increasing its production rate, the Ordnance Dept. sought other manufacturing sources for new '03 production. To this end, in January 1942 the Ordnance Dept. began negotiations with High Standard Mfg. Co. of New Haven, Conn., for the production of 100,000 '03 rifles. High Standard was interested in the contract, but it was already operating at near peak capacity with existing contracts and would be unable to serve as prime contractor on the new project. The company offered to accept the contract if it would be permitted to manufacture only the barrels and subcontract the rest of the production, including assembly of the rifles, to the L.C. Smith & Corona Typewriter Co. of Syracuse, N.Y. The Ordnance Dept. was reluctant to agree to such a proposal and, logically, took the position that Smith-Corona should be named prime contractor with High Standard serving as the subcontractor for barrel production. Since the Smith-Corona factory was in relatively close proximity to the Remington plant, it was believed that the latter would be able to assist the new manufacturer with the technical aspects of rifle production. All parties concurred with the proposal and on Feb. 25, 1942, Smith-Corona was granted a contract for M1903 rifle production.
$400
How did a typewriter company come to manufacture rifles for WWII...?
From the Internet:
While Remington was struggling with increasing its production rate, the Ordnance Dept. sought other manufacturing sources for new '03 production. To this end, in January 1942 the Ordnance Dept. began negotiations with High Standard Mfg. Co. of New Haven, Conn., for the production of 100,000 '03 rifles. High Standard was interested in the contract, but it was already operating at near peak capacity with existing contracts and would be unable to serve as prime contractor on the new project. The company offered to accept the contract if it would be permitted to manufacture only the barrels and subcontract the rest of the production, including assembly of the rifles, to the L.C. Smith & Corona Typewriter Co. of Syracuse, N.Y. The Ordnance Dept. was reluctant to agree to such a proposal and, logically, took the position that Smith-Corona should be named prime contractor with High Standard serving as the subcontractor for barrel production. Since the Smith-Corona factory was in relatively close proximity to the Remington plant, it was believed that the latter would be able to assist the new manufacturer with the technical aspects of rifle production. All parties concurred with the proposal and on Feb. 25, 1942, Smith-Corona was granted a contract for M1903 rifle production.
$400
Should never have sold it, she was very accurate... Impressed me as being one of the most accurate rifles Ive owned, and IIRC it was one of them "2-groove" barrels. I was cheesed off when I discovered it was some "war economy" 2-groove, until I actually did some range shooting with it.. was surprised at it's accuracy esp at longer ranges in our mtns... I ended up selling it to get into a Garand.. shoulda kept it tho... arggh...
