This extraordinary Model 1903 rifle was manufactured by the Springfield Armory in 1917. The rifle has an experimental barrel with seven-groove rifling(some speculate eight groove) and is fitted with a Winchester A5 telescopic sight. This rifle is pictured and described on page 502 of "THE SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1903 RIFLES" by LTC William S. Brophy as "Model 1903 rifle serial number 716929 that has been fitted with a Winchester A5 telescope that has the rear block mounted on the receiver ring. This rifle has experimental 7-groove rifling and telescopic blocks 7.2 inches between centers". The rifle has the standard pre-war/early WWI finish with casehardened receiver and blued bolt, rear sight base, barrel, barrel bands, trigger guard, floor plate sling swivel and buttplate. The "ON" side of the magazine cut-off lever and the face of the rear sight leaf are polished bright. The buttplate has the fine checkering used on Model 1903 rifles through early 1918. The trigger is grooved and the rear sight windage and elevation knobs have dished faces. The experimental barrel utilizes a Springfield barrel blank with the standard markings that consist of "S A" above the Ordnance Corps Shell and Flame insignia over the date "6-17". The barrel is fitted with an early style front sight base with the front sight stud key located behind the front sight dovetail. The front sight base is not indexed to the front sight. The barrel is stamped with a "WL3" steel lot code underneath the handguard but has no special markings. Casehardened Winchester telescopic sight blocks are mounted on the barrel and on the top of the receiver immediately behind the rear sight base. The standard "U.S./SPRINGFIELD/ARMORY/MODEL 1903" markings on the top of the receiver are partially covered by the rear telescopic sight block. The serial number, "716929" is roll stamped on the right side of the receiver below the Springfield markings. The "OFF/ON" magazine cut-off markings use late gothic letters. The "SAFE" and "READY" markings on the safety lock have earlier Roman lettering. The underside of the bolt safety lug is stamped with an "M" steel lot code. The handguard has been professionally modified to accept the barrel mounted rear sight block. The stock is highly figured walnut with a high polish varnish finish. The style "S" stock has grasping grooves and two reinforcing bolts (the second reinforcing bolt was added to Springfield "S" stocks early in 1917). The stock does not have final inspection mark on the left side of the wrist or the encircled "P" proof mark behind the trigger guard that were stamped on M1903 service rifles. The Winchester A-5 telescopic sight is blued and has a post reticule. The side of the scope tube is roll-stamped: "MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS Co. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. PATENTED FEBRUARY 9.1909,/-A5". The scope tube has standard Winchester rings with 1910 and 1907 patent dates on the right sides of the bases. There is no information on why this unique rifle was manufactured by Springfield Armory. Winchester A5 scopes were mounted on Model 1903 target and service rifles from 1910 onwards and the Marine Corps had several hundred A5 telescopic sights with Mann-Neider bases installed on Model 1903 rifles during 1917. Documented Model 1903 rifles with Winchester A5 telescopic sights are rarely encountered. With document dated December 23, 1932 detailing unique 1903 rifles at Springfield Armory.

Excellent. The rifle retains over 97% of the original blue and casehardened finish. Slight wear on the trigger guard, floor plate and the bolt body and extractor. The barrel and receiver markings are crisp. The bore of the unique seven-groove barrel is bright. The A5 telescopic sight, rings and bases are in excellent condition and retain more than 95% of the original blue finish. The optics are excellent. The stock is in very good condition with only minor handling and storage marks. The edges of the grasping groves are sharp and show minimal handling wear. This a scarce very high condition documented example of Springfield Model 1903 rifle with Winchester A5 telescopic sight and unique rifling.