3638

Springfield Model 1903 Rifle with Winchester A5 Telescopic Sight

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,750.00 USD Estimated At:5,500.00 - 7,500.00 USD
Springfield Model 1903 Rifle with Winchester A5 Telescopic Sight
Buyer's Premium is 20.5% by credit card, reduced to 18% if payment is made by cash, check or wire transfer. Contact Rock Island Auction Company to complete your registration with the auction house.
Springfield Model 1903 Rifle with Winchester A5 Telescopic Sight

U.S. Model 1903 rifle manufactured by the Springfield Armory in 1917. This rifle is fitted with a Winchester A5 telescopic sight with fine wire cross hairs and WWI U.S.M.C. modifications. The modifications include pointers on the windage and elevation drums and Mann-Neider tapered scope mounts. The top of the scope tube is roll-stamped with the two-line Winchester address and patent dates followed by the model designation "A5". The scope bases are spaced 7.2 inches center to center and the top of the handguard has been milled to allow the front scope mount to slide on the base. The rifle has the pre-war Model 1903 blue and casehardened finish. The stock and forearm are oil finished black walnut. The stock has the second reinforcing bolt added in mid-1917 and smooth buttplate adopted in 1917. The rifle has a knurled trigger, dished and knurled rear sight windage and elevation knobs, and "high hump" forearm with rear sight cut. All of the receiver markings except for "U.S." and the serial number, "660214" are covered by the rear telescopic sight base. The top of the barrel is stamped with "SA" above the Ordnance insignia, the date "6-17" above an "A" arsenal inspection/overhaul mark. The barrel appears to be original to the rifle. The safety and magazine cut-off have late style block markings. The stock is stamped with an encircled script "P" proofmark behind the trigger guard. No final inspection mark is visible on the left stock wrist. During WWI the Marines had a small number of rifles modified to accept Winchester A5 telescopic sights fitted with Mann-Neider scope mounts for issue as sniper rifles. Known examples of these rifles are in the 600,000 serial number range. In his book "'03 SPRINGFIELD SERVICE RIFLE" author Bruce Canfield lists serial numbers for seven U.S.M.C. Model 1903 rifles with A5 telescopic sight; the serial numbers range from "611365- 673163". Surviving documented Model 1903 rifles with the U.S.M.C. A5 telescopic sight and Mann-Neider mounts are extremely rare. Winchester A5 telescopic sights with the U.S.M.C. modifications are rare and collectable.

Manufucture: Springfield Armory U.S.
Model: 1903
BBL: 24 inch round
Stock: walnut
Guage: 30-06
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: 660214

Good. The rifle retains traces of the original blue and casehardened finish and has a smooth silver-gray patina. The barrel and visible receiver markings are sharp. The stock and forearm are in very good condition. The proof mark is clear. There is no indication that the stock was stamped with final inspection marks. The forearm modifications are correct for the Mann-Neider tapered mounts. The A5 telescopic sight is in excellent condition. The scope tube and mounts retain nearly 95% of the commercial blue finish. The markings on the scope tube are crisp. The optics are excellent. This is a good example of a U.S.M.C. Model 1903 WWI sniper rifle with Marine modified Winchester A5 telescopic sight and Mann-Neider scope mounts. Model 1903 rifles in the 600,000 serial number range fitted with the Marine A5/Mann-Neider telescopic sight/mount combination are rarely offered for sale. This would be a key addition to an advanced Model 1903 or U.S. sniper rifle collection.