Model of 1917s as sniper rifles...

[JGaynor]

U.S. Telescopic Rifle Model of 1918

Ordnance ordered (or at least had a requirement for) 50,000 rifles - order cancelled at armistice.
Winchester received an order for 32,000 scopes. None were delivered by Feb1919.
Eastman Kodak Received an order for 42,607 lens sets as the lens subcontractor to Winchester. None delivered by Feb 1919.

The scope was based on a Winchester commercial design and had large heavy W&E adjustment knobs. In testing the knobs tended to break off after a few hundred rounds so its unlikely more than a few samples were ever produced.

The rifle itself was a essentially a sporterized M1917 with milled ears, no iron sights and a full pistol grip half stock. U.S. forces would not seen anything close to it until Vietnam.

Ordnance also tested the Winchester A5 on the M1917 but since only 400 A5's were purchased (excluding USMC purchases for the 03) and 89 Winchester Type B scopes any surviving original examples would be as scarce as hen's teeth.



Regards,

Jim