This scarce Springfield Armory M1 Type II National Match (NM) Rifle was manufactured in 1961. This rifle is accompanied by a letter from the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) that states it was sold as a NM rifle in April 1961. This rifle is one of only 169 M1 NM rifles sold by the Director of Civilian Marksman in 1961. Most of the 1,410 total M1 NM rifles manufactured by Springfield Armory in 1961 were subsequently upgraded to 1962 or 1963 configuration by Springfield Armory or competitive shooters. National Match rifles in the original 1961 configuration are the rarest of all the M1 NM rifles. The rifle has all of the 1961 NM features which include: (1) rear sight aperture marked NM over 595 on the shank, (2) NM marked on the right side of the rear sight base, (3) NM marked windage knob, (4) operating rod marked NM on the handle and 7790722-SA underneath, (5) NM stamped on the left side of the barrel between the gas cylinder rings, (6) gas cylinder marked NM on the underside of the tang (7) NM/062 on the right side of the front sight, (8) fiber-glass bedded stock, (9) glued handguard, and (10) the last four digits of the serial number "3956" written in white in the stock barrel channel and on the inside of the trigger housing floorplate. The right side of the barrel chamber is stamped with the triangle code utilized for 1961 production NM rifles. The barrel chamber is stamped with the assembly number SA F6535448, the date 6 54 followed by MD 41 and a small National Defense inspection stamp. The barrel is also stamped with two P proof marks and a T (targeted) stamp. The rear sight aperture, correctly, lacks the hood utilized on NM rifles after 1961. The stock is stamped with the National Defense final inspection stamp on the left side and encircled, block, P, proof mark on the pistol grip.

Near new. The rifle retains 99% plus of the original Springfield Armory parkerized finish. All of the markings are extremely crisp. The oil-finished walnut stock, hand guard and forearm match perfectly and remain in mint condition with un-touched raised grain and crisp proof and final inspection marks. This is an exceptional, documented, example of a very scarce 1961 production Springfield Armory M1 NM rifle in nearly new condition. It would be extremely difficult to find a better or more desirable example of a Type II M1 NM rifle.