This U.S. Springfield Model 1903 rifle was manufactured by the Springfield Armory in early 1915. This rifle is fitted with a Winchester A5 telescopic sight with the Winchester A5 front and a J.W. Fecker rear scope rings. The Marine Corps used Model 1903 Springfield rifles fitted with Winchester A5 telescopic sights in limited numbers as target rifles prior to WWI. Then during WWI the Marines issued a small number of Model 1903 rifles with Winchester A5 telescopic sights and Mann-Niedner scope mounts as sniper rifles. The telescopic sight on this rifle 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, and upper and lower barrel bands. The rear sight face and bottom of the magazine cut-off are bright, and it is fitted with the late post WWII No. 10 USMC front sight blade and rear peep aperture. The stock and forearm are oil finished black walnut. The rifle has a fine checkered buttplate, smooth trigger, dished and knurled rear sight windage and elevation knobs, high hump handguard with circular rear sight cutout. It has a "S" style stock with one reinforcing bolts. All of the receiver markings except for "U.S." and the serial number, "574127" are covered by the rear telescopic sight base. The top of the barrel is stamped: "SA/Shell and Flame Ordnance insignia/4-15. The safety and magazine cut-off have late style Gothic markings with serifs. The left side of the stock has a boxed "J.F.C." cartouche final inspection mark with a script "P" proofmark behind the trigger guard. This rifle includes a WWI leather sling, the nickel plated oiler in the butt-trap and an original WWI U.S. issue leather scope case and strap for the Winchester A5 scope. The underside of the case is stamped with inspector initials "M.G.H." This rifle is from the personal collection of Bruce Canfield and it is actually pictured and discussed on page 72-74 in the book: An Illustrated Guide to 03 Springfield Service Rifles". These rifles are also discussed in the following: Man at Arms, Nov/Dec 1989, "The Springfield Snipers", American Rifleman, Sept 2000, "Doughboy Sniper Rifle" U.S. Infantry Weapons of the First World War", (Mowbray, 2000) Page 103 and in "U.S. Military Bolt Action Rifles" (Mowbray, 2010) Page 221. Provenance: Bruce Canfield collection.

Very good with 60% of the faded blue finish overall on all the metal surfaces with light thinning and wear on the exposed metal surfaces. The stock and handguard are both fine with a nice medium brown color overall and the handguard a little darker in color. The Winchester scope is fine with 75% of its blue finish with a dent visible on right forward side, clear sharp optics with the reticle intact. The leather scope case is very fine showing only very light staining/spotting on the outside and the shoulder strap is excellent. A very scarce and desirable WWI USMC type sniper rifle.