Why did this sell for so much?

[Michael Petrov]

I was asked to look at this auction, now over, and for the life of me I have no idea why it sold for so much. Any ideas?

Winchester A5 scope 1903 Springfield Mann-Neidner - eBay (item 130296073119 end time Mar-29-09 20:30:10 PDT)

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[irishsteve]

Bidding war perhaps.Since reproduction m84 scopes made in china are going for 400 bucks im not surprised this original A5 was up there.If you had a correct 1903 sniper with out a scope this scope could very well double the value by finishing it.

[Jim Tarleton]

Bidding war perhaps.Since reproduction m84 scopes made in china are going for 400 bucks im not surprised this original A5 was up there.If you had a correct 1903 sniper with out a scope this scope could very well double the value by finishing it.

I know of no USMC sniper rifle with a scope like that one. USMC target rifles yes, but the sniper scopes - NO!

Someone got carried away. Note the seller never says it is a USMC sniper scope, but someone evidently thought it was. Those are what is known as "Marine Mounts", but the WWI USMC sniper scopes had significant modifications to the mounts not present on this scope.

Maybe someone just wanted a scope and had a lot of spare cash.

Jim

[Michael Petrov]

[QUOTE=Jim Tarleton;Those are what is known as "Marine Mounts", Jim[/QUOTE]

Around here I call them Mann-Niedner mounts. Niedner mounted many a varmint or target rifle with these mounts that had nothing to do with the military.

[Jim Tarleton]

Around here I call them Mann-Niedner mounts. Niedner mounted many a varmint or target rifle with these mounts that had nothing to do with the military.

I agree wholeheartedly. I derive the name "Marine Mount" from the drawing in Brophy's book, which is techically correct. The term "Marine Mount" does not refer to the mounts made by Niedner in 1917 at the behest of the Corps. I think the picture is at the top of page 507 in Brophy, but I am going by memory. I believe Niedner, and I think you do too, was making these same Winchester #2 mount alterations prior to WWI for Marine shooters (and others). I suspect that is why Niedner was selected to mount the 150 modified scopes for the Marines. The Corps certainly didn't just pick Niedner's name out of the Malden Yellowpages.

After WWI, the Marines did not need any more sniper rifles - period. When WWII loomed ahead, the Marines decided to upgrade their A5 sniper rifles in the 1939-40 period. I defy anyone to show me an authenticate Marine Sniper rifle made/constructed between WWI and 1939. Better yet, give me a valid reason why they would need one.

Jim

[John Beard]

After WWI, the Marines did not need any more sniper rifles - period. When WWII loomed ahead, the Marines decided to upgrade their A5 sniper rifles in the 1939-40 period. I defy anyone to show me an authenticate Marine Sniper rifle made/constructed between WWI and 1939. Better yet, give me a valid reason why they would need one.

Jim

SA S/N 1330600 was drilled and tapped by the USMC for Mann-Neidner mounts. And it was definitely made/constructed between WWI and 1939!

I'll let you explain why the USMC needed it. I just call 'em like I see 'em.

J.B.

[John Beard]

I was asked to look at this auction, now over, and for the life of me I have no idea why it sold for so much. Any ideas?

Winchester A5 scope 1903 Springfield Mann-Neidner - eBay (item 130296073119 end time Mar-29-09 20:30:10 PDT)

When one considers that a USMC Unertl scope sells for around $4,000, the Winchester A5 looks very reasonable.

J.B.

[Jim Tarleton]

SA S/N 1330600 was drilled and tapped by the USMC for Mann-Neidner mounts. And it was definitely made/constructed between WWI and 1939!

I'll let you explain why the USMC needed it. I just call 'em like I see 'em.

J.B.

Considering the SN range, I would suspect a Navy or Marine match rifle versus a sniper rifle. Is there any reason to think this rifle was a sniper rifle versus a match rifle?

Jim

[Herschel]

Michael, The price looks high to me. The only thing I can figure is that there were two bidders that were determined to get it.

[Loy Hamilton]

Sniper Scope USMC - eBay (item 110367568072 end time Mar-29-09 11:11:18 PDT)