Scarce Winchester Pattern 1914 Mk I* (T) sniper rifle with Birmingham Small Arms Co. (BSA) 3X telescopic sight. This rifle is one of the 79 No. 3 Mk I* (T) sniper rifles supplied to the Republic of Ireland by Great Britain during the 1930s. These rifles were the Winchester Pattern 1914 sniper rifles adopted by the British Army as the standard sniper rifle in 1918. The No. 3 Mk I* (T) sniper rifles were Winchester Pattern 14 rifles fitted with a fine adjustment back sight and Adlis 1918 Pattern 3X telescopic sight with detachable crawfoot mount. The mount was designed to permit the use of the back sight. The 1918 production No. 3 Mk I*(T) utilized a telescopic sight manufactured by the Periscopic Prism Co. Ltd. The No.3 Mk I*(T) rifles were considered the best designed and most accurate sniper rifles of WWI. The 2000 No. 3 Mk I*(T) sniper rifles remained the standard British sniper rifles until replaced by the No. 4 Mk I (T) sniper rifles c.1943. The Australian Army used the No.3 Mk I* (T) as the standard sniper rifle in the Pacific theater throughout WWII. Because insufficient Periscopic Prism Co. telescopic sights and bases were available to fill the Irish No.3 Mk I*(T) order, most of the 1918 Pattern telescopic sights were manufactured by BSA and stamped with the BSA trademark on the scope tube. All of the Irish contract telescopic sights were stamped with an encircled "FF" Irish Free State property mark on the rear face of the back scope mount. Each telescopic sight was stamped with the rifle serial number on the left side of the scope tube. This rifle has the BSA manufactured Pattern 1918 3X telescopic sight with pointer and cross-wire graticule, Irish style front scope mount and fine adjustable rear sight. The scope tube is roll-stamped with the BSA stacked rifle trade mark and "1918/MODEL," and the rear mount is stamped with the Irish "FF" property mark. The rifle serial number, "237736", is roll-stamped on the left side of the scope tube. "W.237736" is marked on the right rear sight protector and "237736" is stamped on the top of the bolt handle. All of the serial numbers match. The left side of the receiver rail is stamped with the British Army "Broad Arrow" property mark and British proof marks. The bottom of the bayonet lug is stamped with a "W" above ""Triangle/1" inspection mark. Similar inspection marks are stamped on the right side of the front sight blade. The rear sight leaf, bottom of the bolt handle, cocking piece and inside of the butt trap door are stamped with a "W" code mark. A five-pointed star is stamped on the bolt above the serial number on the side of the extractor and on the right side of the stock. The right side of the stock is also stamped with the Broad Arrow above the encircled "IW" (Winchester) code and "PATT". The long range rear sight pointer on the left side of the stock was removed when the rifle was converted to sniper configuration. The barrel, receiver, bolt, trigger guard, floorplate, buttplate, barrel bands and sling swivels have the Winchester military blue finish with distinct polishing marks on the side of the receiver below the rear sight protectors. The telescopic sight and mounts have a black painted finish. The stock and forearm are American walnut. British inspection marks are visible on the left side of the stock behind the long range sight dial, and the tip of the forearm is stamped with a "W/35" Winchester inspection mark.

Very fine. This rifle has all matching serial numbers and retains more than 95% of the arsenal military blue finish with some thinning on the barrel bands. The telescopic sight retains 95% of the black painted finish with some edge wear on the removable front cover. The optics are clear. The fine stock and handguard have been lightly sanded and re-oiled. The edges of the grasping grooves are sharp and the British markings on the left side of the stock are clear and distinct. The telescopic sight is complete with the original leather lens caps. This is a very fine representative example of an Irish Winchester Pattern 1914 No.3 Mk I* (T) sniper rifle with BSA Model 1918 telescopic sight. These rifles are extremely scarce in any condition and rifles with matching serial number telescopic sights are particularly difficult to find. This is a key piece for any advanced collection of sniper rifles.