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Scarce U.S. Springfield Model 1903 Warner-Swasey Sniper Rifle with Scope Case

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,200.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
Scarce U.S. Springfield Model 1903 Warner-Swasey Sniper Rifle with Scope Case
This Model 1903 Springfield Sniper Rifle was manufactured in 1917. The rifle has a "SA/11-17" dated barrel and has the typical WWI production features which include a Type "S" stock with grasping grooves, two reinforcing bolts and smooth buttplate. The rifle has a serrated trigger, large dished windage knob, 2750 yard volley notch on the rear sight and 'high hump' handguard with clearance cut and spring clips. The bayonet lug has an "H" 'hardened' mark and the safety and cut-off lever have the later Gothic markings with no serifs. The straight handle bolt has a "C 7" steel lot code on the bottom of the safety lug. The barrel, receiver, trigger guard, floor plate, buttplate and bolt have a dark, gray-green parkerized finish. The rifle is fitted with a Warner-Swasey Model 1913 Telescopic Sight mounted on the left receiver rail. The 5.2 power telescopic sight has a black lacquer painted finish, large rubber eyecup and range tables screwed to the top of the sight body and the top of the objective lens. The left side of the telescopic sight body is roll-stamped: "TELESCOPIC MUSKET SIGHT/MODEL OF 1913 No. 7788/THE WARNER & SWASEY CO./CLEVELAND OHIO, U.S.A/PAT. FEB.13-06. MAY 22-06.DEC.15-08." in five lines. There are no markings on the inside of the telescopic sight dovetail. The rifle stock is inletted to accept the scope base. The scope base is secured to the receiver by three round-head screws that are staked to the inside of the receiver. The receiver is roll-stamped: "U.S./SPRINGFIELD/ARMORY/ MODEL 1903./753794". The left side of the stock is stamped with a block "J.F.C." final inspection mark in a rectangle. The bottom of the stock wrist is stamped with an encircled, script "P" proofmark. A small "S" is stamped on the forearm tip. The Springfield Model 1903 Rifles equipped with 1908 and 1913 W-S Telescopic Sights were the first sniper rifles issued by the U.S. Army. The Army purchased 5,041 W-S Telescopic Sights and many W-S Sniper Rifles were issued to the American Expeditionary Force in France during WWI. The rifle is complete with a russet leather scope case and carrying strap. The case is complete with a W-S tool in a small pouch on the case front. The front of the case is marked: "ROCK ISLAND/ARSENAL/1918/H.A.C.".
BBL: 24 inch
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 30 06
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 753794
Condition: Very fine. The rifle has been armory over-hauled: with most of the dark parkerized finish remaining. The scope is in very fine condition with 85% of the original, black painted finish and good optics. The stock is in very fine condition with sharp grasping groove edges and crisp proof and inspection marks. The scope case is in fine condition; all of the stitching is tight, the latch tabs are all intact and the markings are sharp. This is a solid example of a scarce Springfield Model 1903 Rifle with Model 1908 Warner-Swasey Telescopic Sight and case. This rifle would fill a key gap in most advanced Model 1903 Springfield Rifle collections.