Lot 432: U.S.M.C. Springfield M1C 1952/MC-1 Sniper Rifle

This is a desirable example of a WWII M1C Garand sniper rifle manufactured by Springfield Armory in June of 1945, subsequently reconfigured into a U.S.M.C. MC-1 type sniper rifle. During WWII (late 1944-mid 1945) approximately 4,000 M1C sniper rifles were manufactured by Springfield Armory, most were refurbished at the start of the Korean War. Hundreds were transferred to NATO allies in the 1960s and hundreds more destroyed in the 1980/90s. Following the Korean War, the Marine Corps adopted the new/improved Stith Kollmorgen MC-1 4X telescopic sight with the larger Griffin & Howe mount adapted for use on the M1C sniper rifle. The Marines designated these rifles as the "1952 Sniper Rifle" and issued them in limited numbers from 1954 through 1967. All of the verified USMC 1952 MC-1 Sniper Rifles are built using original Springfield Armory Korean War rebuilds such as this rifle. This rifle comes with two pieces of important documentation. The first is a letter from David McClain of M1C Verification Service, which identifies this rifle by serial number as an authentic WWII M1C receiver manufactured by Springfield and fitted out for a scope by Griffin & Howe, and further verifies it as formerly the property of the USMC Museum at Quantico, Virginia, released from inventory in 1970; quote McClain "[recipient name], this is a rare find today because very, very few legitimate MC 1952 rifles today have any history or provenance such as yours does from our U.S. Marine Corps". Also included is a copy of the Winter 2013 edition of the "GCA Journal", which includes an article on the U.S.M.C. snipers, and also calls this rifle out by number as a museum-held sniper. Per the narrative in the article, the U.S.M.C. Museum was on the hunt for genuine Imperial Japanese hardware to complete a World War II diorama, and cut a deal with an advanced collector who had the right stuff (including multiple machine guns) in exchange for a group of 1952s that were surplus in their inventory. While we have had a number of high condition 1952 U.S.M.C. pattern snipers, this is bar none the best documented one we have sold. Blade and peep sights, with "DRC" windage and "NI-C" elevation drums, "SA 5 53" barrel, and "SA" bolt, trigger housing, hammer, safety and relief cut operating rod. The receiver has been drilled and tapped for the Griffin & Howe pattern post and screw arrangement, with the installed rail numbered to match the rifle. The ring base bears the Griffin & Howe address on top, "T4" is stamped on the back of each ring half, and the scope is marked "MC 719-P" on the tube and "4X DOUBLE STITH MOUNTS S.A.TEX./KOLLMORGEN OPTICAL CORP. BROOKLYN NY. PAT. PEND." on the objective. The scope is fitted with the improved, "audible click" windage and elevation knobs and the standard fine cross-hair reticle. The stock is stamped with a circled serifed "P" on the wrist and the open bottom style "S.A." cartouche on the left side, with a checkered steel buttplate.

Exceptionally fine as issued, with 98% plus arsenal refurbished parkerized finish, showing some bright edge wear and handling marks overall. Mild scuffs and dings are present on the buttplate, and the stock is excellent with some mild dings and scuffs. The excellent scope shows a strong enamel finish with mild rubbing, and the optics are crisp and clear. Mechanically excellent. If you want to own the best, here it is!