Developed in 1944, the M1C was the first production-level sniper variant of the M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle. While highly effective as a sniper weapon, the manufacturing process was rather involved, requiring a Springfield receiver to be selected off the production line before heat treating, shipped to Griffin & Howe for base installation, and then returned to the Armory to complete the process. While phased out of production in favor of the M1D, which could be produced in-house by Springfield using finished and surplus M1 rifles, the M1C saw sniper duty through Korea and into Vietnam. Less than 8,000 were completed during World War II, with a batch of converted but unassembled receivers finished up circa 1951-1953 for Korea, resulting in a total production of less than 13,000. This example has a receiver originally manufactured in December of 1944, with a "5-52" dated Springfield barrel, "DRC" and "NI- C" rear sight knobs, Springfield bolt, hammer, safety, trigger housing and operating rod. The scope base is secured to the receiver with the proper 2-pin/3-screw arrangement, with two-piece "T4" marked scope rings and the two-line Griffin & Howe markings on top. The scope is a U.S.M.C Specification Stith Mounts/Kollmorgen Optical 4x Double (4xD), numbered "MC 1179-P" on top. Smooth pistol grip stock, with a circled "P" on the wrist, "SA" cartouche on the left side of the buttstock, green canvas sling dated August 1952, and a plastic oil container in the trap. More information can be found about this rifle on pages, 130-132 of "The Complete Book of U.S. Sniping" by Peter Senich, and included with the rifle is a photocopy of a memorandum from the U.S. Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, VA, declaring this item by serial number as being transferred from their museum collection.

Very fine as Springfield Arsenal rebuilt with 98% of the parkerized finish, showing some light handling marks and bright edge wear. The stock is also very fine with some dings and darkening of the finish. A lighter area is present on the buttstock consistent with where a leather cheekpiece may have been, but no piece is included, nor are any screw holes present. A few light scuffs are present on the scope adjustment knobs, and the optics are clear. Mechanically excellent.