Entering service in 1957, the M14 rifle was intended to be a logical evolution from the M1 Garand of World War II fame, retaining a great deal of part and training interchangeability and giving a broad upgrade in firepower. While a well designed weapon, it was hamstrung by an impulse to try and make it a sort of "universal weapon", capable of replacing the infantry rifle, submachine gun, and squad automatic rifle with a single weapon. As a result, it holds the unusual distinction of having both one of the shortest working lives of a U.S. infantry rifle (being phased out in favor of the M16 in 1964) while also having a prolific secondary career as a specialist marksman's weapon, where it still serves today. This item is engraved with "#34 on the left of the receiver. In his definitive treatise on the M14 rifle, "The Last Steel Warrior," (book included) Frank Iannamico identifies and pictures (page 379) this specific rifle as one of approximately 15 transferable original, unaltered M14 rifles that came from the U.S. Department of Energy. As with this item, most of these rifles had an inventory number engraved on the side of the receiver. The DoE guns, several rifles from a Harrington & Richardson Company auction and a few amnesty registered M14s represent the total number of original transferable M14s in the NFA registry, believed to be less than 50. This example was manufactured c.1962-1963 by Winchester, later passing through Anniston Army Depot for refurbish work in 1979. Blade front and adjustable peep rear sights, with the long flash hider and bayonet lug on the muzzle device, "ANAD 6 79" on the right side beneath the stock, TRW bolt, "T267030 88118" trigger housing, SA hammer, HRA safety and a "7267064/86118" operating rod. The upper handguard is brown painted fiberglass, with a hardwood stock marked with the "DoD Eagle" cartouche on the left side and fitted with a green canvas sling and a steel buttplate with flip-up shoulder rest. Includes a Department of Energy (DoE)-stenciled Kalispel aluminum rifle case as purchased by the U.S. government.

Very fine, with 97% plus arsenal refurbished parkerized finish, showing some light scratches, thin spots, and mild handling marks. The stock is also very fine, with some light scratches and dings. Mechanically excellent. NOTE: This weapon is a National Firearms Act (NFA), fully transferable Class 3, which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATFE) that is classified as a "Curios or Relic" as defined in 27 CFR, 478.11. These weapons are still subject to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 479.