This USMC Remington M40A1 Sniper Rifle as modified by the USMC Marksmanship Training Unit (MTU) armorers c. 1979-83. The rifle consists of a Remington Model 700 action with 24-inch heavy barrel, green anodized, Vietnam Redfield 3-9X telescopic sight with ranging reticle and camouflaged McMillian fiberglass stock. The barrel is un-marked and has a recessed, crowned muzzle. The receiver is clip-slotted and hand-stamped "U.S." above the serial number "221203". This serial number falls within the range of the original Remington M40 rifles purchased by the USMC in 1966. However, serial number 221203 is not on the list of known USMC M40 Sniper rifles on page 116 of "Death From Afar, Volume 1" by Chandler and Chandler. The receiver is fitted with a 1980 USMC Unertl scope base with a block that engages the receiver clip slot and 2nd Generation Redfield 1-inch scope rings; the top rings is secured by a hex-head screw that mounts from the bottom of the ring. The rifle has the modified steel Winchester Model 70 trigger guard and floorplate utilized in the MTU M40A1 conversions. The trigger guard is secured by hex-head screws. The receiver retains the early Remington "Tombstone" safety. The bolt hand and floorplate are stamped with the partial serial number "1203". The bolt body and the stock barrel channel are not serial numbered. The barrel, receiver, bolt, trigger guard, floorplate, scope mount and rings have an even, dark gray, parkerized finish. The stock has the standard USMC 3-color camouflage scheme. The rifle is fitted with a 1970s production M1907 russet leather sling and rare M40A1 rubber scope cover. The right side of the stock is signed: "Long Trang/Carlos N. Hathcock II" by the legendary Marine Sniper.

Fine. The rifle was assembled on a non-USMC Remington Model 700 receiver using very scarce USMC M40A1 components and green anodized Redfield 3-9X telescopic sight. The "U.S." markings on the M40 sniper rifle receivers were roll-stamped - the markings on this receiver are hand-stamped and appear to have been double stamped. The left edges of the receiver show some damage that has been covered by the parkerized finish. The rifle retains at least 95% of the dark parkerized finish. The McMillian stock is in excellent condition, although the Hathcock inscription is only partially legible. The scope appears to be original with functional ranging reticle and clear optics - the scope tube lacks the electro-penciled serial numbers found on scopes actually installed on M40 rifles c. 1966. The scope tube has been refinished. This is a solid representative example of a post-Vietnam USMC M40A1 sniper rifle with Vietnam Redfield scope. Very few original M40 or M40A1 are in private collections. The components used to assemble this rifle would be nearly impossible to obtain today. This is a great opportunity for the advanced collector of U.S. martial arms to add a representative example of a USMC M40A1 style sniper rifle to the collection.