Questions about Ford components for a Smith-Corona typewriter
In the heart of the 1950s and 60s, thousands of M1903A3 rifles were sold as surplus by the Director of Civilian Marksmanship. One of these rifles, a Model 1903A3 manufactured by L.C. Smith & Corona Typewriter Co., found its way into the hands of a fortunate individual, a story that began at a celebration.
The speaker, who was celebrating the birth of their first child with their spouse, was approached by a gentleman during a party in their yard. The stranger inquired about an old Ford pickup that the speaker intended to restore. In a quirky turn of events, the gentleman offered an old gun as a trade, and the speaker accepted the offer.
The rifle, which has been kept to this day, was not modified by the government for shipboard use, as is a common misconception. However, it is possible that the rifle was sporterized for hunting or sporting purposes, a practice that was quite common among civilian owners.
The speaker, intrigued by their new acquisition, has been seeking help to identify the gun. Their research suggests the gun might be a shipboard-type shortened barrel, but the military did not modify or cut down rifles for shipboard use. This leaves the possibility that the sporterization occurred after the gun left government service.
Despite extensive research, the speaker remains unsure of the identity of the gun. They lament that there is no way to trace the "history" of a particular rifle, making the mystery all the more intriguing.
One thing is certain: the M1903A3 rifle, produced beginning in 1942 as an updated, simplified version of the original M1903, played a significant role in the U.S. military. The M1903A3 was introduced during World War II to reduce production costs and facilitate mass manufacture, and was allowed to enter civilian possession after it was declared surplus post-war.
As the speaker continues their quest to uncover the secrets of their mystery rifle, they invite fellow enthusiasts to share their knowledge and help piece together the story of this unique piece of history.
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