USMC M1903A1 Sniper

[ed skeels]

Wow, I hope I live long enough to get one that nice/correct.
That is as good as it get's.
Ed

[Lt1]

Asphaltum a mixture of asphalt & gasoline I think to inhibit rust under the wood line .present on many NM rifles .. Punch mark under the rear sight block would be a clue for original barrel No punch mark in the ordnance bomb for replacement barrel as no p in the front band window

[speckles]

beautiful rifle.... been looking for one.... I guess I have to wait my turn.

[Chuckindenver]

very nice rifle,,
the blackener was a mixture of asphalt and enamel hardener, so that it would cut the glare off the sight,
is the bases solder on as well, looks like the screws have worked loose a few times, i see some damage at the handguard cut out,, common issue..

[cplstevennorton]

I think you just missed it man, but Tom said the bases weren't soldered in the opening description.

Now on that blackener mixture, did you see a document or something with that? If you did, I would love to have a copy of it for my records.

I wouldn't rule out shooter preference or one offs, but I went back and looked through a lot of my documents last night and every-time I find a mention of blackener, they say to use smoke . I'm attaching at the bottom what I have. But I'm just curious what you have seen on that mixture and where you snagged that from. Thanks man.

[Chuckindenver]

Nick Ferris is who told me about the mixture, i have seen it on a few rifles, it looks brushed on..

[Tom Jackson]

Promo:

Thank you. The blue finish used on the bolts of Marine snipers is very distinctive and the polishing marks are a key feature of an armory polished bolt. The barrel appears to be original and has no vice marks. The Star-Gauge Number is "C/1208". None of the screws are staked. The scope was on the rifle when I bought it but may not be original to the rifle. My understanding is that most of these rifles were sold by the Marines Corps to officers and NCOs in the 1950s without scopes. The rifle came with a standard micarta can. I purchased the aluminum can about 20 years ago; I have seen pictures of the aluminum cans but this is the only one I have ever handled. I am pretty sure it was never issued- the tape securing the sling to the can appears to be original.

---------- Post added at 11:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:36 AM ----------

Steve,

I don't have any history beyond that it and a Japanese Garand were purchased from a retired Marine colonel who lived in San Diego. Larry Reynolds is the expert on these rifles. He stated that some USMC M1903A1 sniper rifles were sold to Marine officers and NCOs in the 1950s by the Marine Corps. At least some of the rifles were sold without scopes. I suspect that the Marines retained all of the scopes since they were used on Model 70 snipers in Vietnam c. 1966.

---------- Post added at 11:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:41 AM ----------

No. I just put the Raider knife and K-Bar in the picture to add interest. The Raider knife doesn't show much wear - if it was issued it did not get used.

[Promo]

Tom,

is the aluminum can also with a spring on the inside, to lock the scope in place? And do you have any additional pictures of it?

Thank you for the information on your rifle you provided. Both of my USMC snipers have staked screws on the magazine guard, and I know that of some other rifles also. Therefore my question on this. Is your trigger guard shortened on top, meaning the guiding holes for the screws are shortened on the triggerguard? And did you check whether the inletting for the rear sight base is enlarged compared to a normal M1903 stock?

[browningautorifle]

Very nice group in that collection...very nice.

[Jason60chev]

I had Bruce Dow in Dade City, Florida assemble this M1941 Sniper for me from parts that I acquired. It is a 1932 serialed receiver with NS bolt, a star gaged SA 1932 barrel with a pre-war SA C stock. The scope is what I believe to be a late 1930s Lyman Targetspot in 8 Power. I bought the Lyman scope box on Ebay.