This U.S. Model 1903 rifle was manufactured by the Springfield Armory in late 1917. This rifle is fitted with a Winchester A5 telescopic sight with U.S.M.C. modifications. The Modifications include pointers on the windage and elevation drums and Mann-Neider tapered scope mounts. The sight is blue with standard wire cross-hairs. The top of the scope tube is roll-stamped with the two-line Winchester address and patent dates followed by the model designation "A5". The scope bases are spaced 7 1/2-inches center to center and the top of the handguard has been milled to allow the front scope mount to slide on the base. The rifle has the standard blue finish on the buttplate, sling swivels, trigger guard, floor plate, bolt, rear sight base, barrel, upper and lower barrel bands. The receiver, cocking piece and safety have a mottled blue-gray casehardened finish. The rear sight face and bottom of the magazine cut-off are bright. The stock and forearm are oil finished black walnut. The rifle has a fine checkered buttplate, knurled trigger, dished and knurled rear sight windage and elevation knobs, 'high hump' forearm with rear sight cut and "S" stock with two reinforcing bolts. All of the receiver markings except for "U.S." and the serial number, "660691" are covered by the rear telescopic sight base. The top of the barrel is stamped with "SA" above the Ordnance insignia and the date "1-18". The safety and magazine cut-off have late style Gothic markings without serifs. "REC.B" is stamped in large letters on the stock comb ahead of the buttplate. The Ordnance final inspection mark which consists of the block letter initials "W.E.S." in a rectangle is stamped on the left side of the stock behind the cut-off recess. A circled, script, "P" proofmark is stamped on the underside of the stock behind the trigger guard. The Marine Corps used Model 1903 Springfield rifles fitted with Winchester A5 telescopic sights in limited numbers as target rifles prior to WWI. During WWI the Marines issued a small number of Model 1903 rifles with Winchester A5 telescopic sights and Mann-Neider scope mounts as sniper rifles. In his book "'03 SPRINGFIELD SERVICE RIFLE" author Bruce Canfield lists serial numbers for seven U.S.M.C. Model 1903 rifles with A5 telescopic sight; the serial numbers range from "611365- 673163". The rifle is complete with a copy of a pre-WWI "U.S. MARINE CORPS SCORE Book" for the Model 1903 rifle.

Very good plus. The rifle shows moderate wear and retains nearly half of the faded original blue and casehardened finish. Most of the components have a mottled blue/gray patina. The A5 telescopic sight retains about 80% of the original blue finish and has clouded optics. The markings on the barrel, receiver and telescopic sight tube are clear. The stock is in very good overall with moderate handling wear and numerous shallow dents and scratches. The Ordnance final inspection mark, proof mark and markings on the stock comb are clear. The barrel date is several months later than the date the receiver was manufactured, but appears to match the condition of the balance of rifle. This is a good example of a correctly configured U.S.M.C. Springfield Model 1903 sniper rifle with original U.S.M.C. Winchester A5 telescopic sight and Mann-Neider tapered scope mounts. Documented examples of U.S.M.C. M1903 sniper rifles with A5 telescopic sights are virtually non-existent.