This Model 1903 rifle was manufactured by the Springfield Armory c. 1916 and fitted with U.S.M.C. modified Winchester A-5 telescopic sight with Mann-Niedner scope mounts and blocks. The Marine Corps purchased several hundred Winchester A-5 telescopic sights c. 1917 which were modified with distinctive windage and elevation knobs and scale pointers. The Marines contracted with noted gunsmith A.O. Niedner to mount the telescopic sights on M1903 rifles using Mann-Niedner mounts and bases. Most of these rifles were apparently pre-war M1903s in the 600,000 serial number range. Very little information is available on the U.S.M.C. M1903 rifles with A-5 telescopic sights and Mann-Niedner mounts and bases. This rifle is a pre-WWI production M1903 with blued barrel, barrel bands, rear sight base, floor plate, bolt and sling swivels. The receiver, magazine cut-off, safety and cocking piece are casehardened. The rifle has the correct grooved trigger, rear sight with bright face, 2750 yard center notch and dished windage and elevation knobs. The safety and magazine cut-off have block letter markings. The parkerized buttplate is the smooth pattern adopted in mid-late 1918 with replacement blued top screw. The trigger guard has a post-WWI parkerized finish. The Mann-Niedner scope bases are secured to the barrel by two screws. The rear base is mounted about 1/4-inch behind the rear sight base. The handguard has been modified to accept the Mann-Neidner base with hand-cut base opening and a hand-sanded relief cut on the top. The stock is the "low-wood" Style S with single reinforcing bolt used until mid-1917. The receiver markings with the exception of the serial number are covered by the front scope base. The barrel is roll-stamped: "SA/Ordnance Shell & Flame/1-16" below the rear sight. The left side of the stock wrist is stamped with a block letter "J.S.A." final inspection mark, and an encircled, script, "P" proof mark is stamped behind the trigger guard. The rifle is fitted with a 1918 dated russet leather M1907 sling. The Winchester A5 telescopic sight has a blued body, rubber eyepiece, and fine wire crosshairs. The top of the tube is roll-stamped with the two-line Winchester legend and patent markings followed by "A5". The scope is complete with a Winchester commercial style russet leather case.

Very good. The barrel, lower barrel band, rear sight base and sling swivels retain nearly 95% of the original blue finish. The upper barrel band has scattered pitting and surface discoloration and retains 50% of the original finish. The floorplate has 50% of the blue finish and shows considerably more wear than the other components. The trigger guard has 90% of the post-WWI parkerized finish. The left side, top and right rear of the receiver have moderate pitting and finish loss. The safety and "OFF" side of the magazine cut-off show moderate pitting. The remainder of the receiver has nearly all of the original finish. The buttplate retains 90% of the parkerized finish. The stock is in excellent plus condition with crisp proof and final inspection marks, sharp grasping groove edges and very minimal handling wear. The handguard shows slight more wear than the stock but is in very fine to excellent condition. The telescopic sight, mounts and bases retain 90% of the original finish. The optics are very good. The scope case is in very good overall condition. The buttplate and trigger guard are replacements, and the barrel band and floor plate show more wear than the adjacent components. The telescopic sight and Mann-Niedner mounts are rare original U.S.M.C. components, The rifle is in the correct serial number range and configuration for a U.S.M.C. Mann-Niedner A5 sniper rifle but is not an original sniper rifle. This is a great looking example of an almost non-existent Marine Sniper rifle with rare U.S.M.C. A5 telescopic sight and Mann-Niedner mounts and bases.