This is a highly desirable example of a late WWII M1C Garand sniper rifle that was manufactured by Springfield Armory circa mid-December 1944 and has been fitted with a first pattern Griffin & Howe USMC MC-1 type sniper scope mount. It is estimated that during WWII Springfield manufactured less than 5,000 M1C sniper rifles between the end of 1944 and December 1945. Most of the WWII production M1C rifles were eventually refurbished before or during the Korean War with several thousand also converted back into standard M1 rifles. Following the Korean War the Marine Corps adopted the new and improved Stith Kollmorgen MC-1 4X telescopic sight with the larger Griffin & Howe mount fitted with one-inch rings to accommodate the M1C sniper rifles. The Marines designated these rifles as the "1952 Sniper Rifle" and issued them in limited numbers from 1954 through 1967. Small numbers of the 1952 Sniper Rifles were even used during the first years of the Vietnam War. All of the verified USMC 1952 MC-1 Sniper Rifles are built using original Springfield Armory Korean War rebuilds such as this rifle. As noted it is fitted with the very scarce first pattern MC-1 telescopic sight and its original first pattern MC-1 G&H scope mount. The top of the scope tube is marked "MC1186-P" with the rear eye-piece factory marked: "4X DOUBLE" and additional markings. The scope has the original large windage and elevation knobs that produce an "audible click". It's fitted with a fine cross-hair reticle, and it has its original high polish blue/black finish. The scope mount is marked: "GRIFFIN & HOWE INC. NEW YORK/PAT. #1.856,549 MAY 3, 1932". It is fitted with its original, two-piece rings correctly stamped "T4" on the back side of each ring, along with the correct MC-1 square end locking levers. The entire mount has a matching dark green parkerized finish. The rifle has standard receiver markings over serial number "3349085". The left side is fitted with an original Griffin & Howe scope bracket (base) secured with three screws and two taper pins with the screws correctly staked on the back sides. The barrel has a single "P" firing proof and it stamped "S A 1-52" with the breech in the white. The rifle retains a mix of late WWII and early post war SA marked parts with a narrow base gas cylinder, high top cylinder lock and a four slot "P O" marked gas plug. It has a walnut stock and handguard set, with a single uncircled "P" proof in the grip area and no cartouche on the left side consistent with converted USMC sniper rifles. The rifle was not fitted with the standard leather cheekpiece as the USMC did not utilize them on this model. This rifle also comes with a WWII tan colored web sling and a stamped, HART Mfg. marked M2 Flash Hider.

Exceptionally fine with 98% of its arsenal refurbished parkerized finish overall, edge and high spot wear, and a hint of wear on the right side receiver rail from hand cycling the action. The wood components are all in very fine condition as arsenal refurbished, with a nice all matching medium brown oil finish showing no visible handling marks. The original USMC Stith Kollmorgen MC-1 4X telescopic sight is also in excellent condition with 98% of its original black finish showing only minor scratches on the sides of the knobs and scope tube in a couple areas from light field use. It has excellent, clear sharp optics with a distinct reticle. The original G&H MC-1 scope mount is also in excellent condition with 98% of its original finish, minor edge wear, and dried grease around the rings. Although this rifle does not come with any CMP release papers, it is certainly an extremely nice looking all original USMC MC-1 type sniper rifle with its correct first pattern MC-1 sniper scope and mount.