This is a desirable example of a World War II 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 World War II (late 1944-mid 1945) approximately 4,000 M1C sniper rifles were manufactured by Springfield Armory, and 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. Blade and peep sights, "DRC" windage knob, "SA" "3 53" barrel, and "SA" bolt, trigger housing, hammer, safety, and relief cut operating rod. "SA-52" rebuild mark on the receiver heel. The receiver has been drilled and tapped for the Griffin & Howe pattern post and screw arrangement affixed with the unmarked Griffin & Howe scope mount. 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 "MC387-P" on the tube to denote it as being part of the original first U.S.M.C. contract for these scopes, and "4X DOUBLE STITH MOUNTS S.A. TEX./KOLLMORGEN OPTICAL CORP. BROOKLYN. N.Y. PAT. PEND." around the objective. The scope is fitted with windage and elevation knobs and the standard fine cross-hair reticle. Glass bedded bottom trigger guard area of the stock, with the upper receiver bedding filled in with wood. Circled "P" proof marked on the bottom of the stock wrist, "DoD Eagle" cartouche on the left of the wrist, with a checkered steel buttplate. Includes an "MRT/JUNE 1952" olive drab green canvas sling, "MRT/1 52" leather cheek pad, and reproduction "XM-2" marked cone flash hider. Provenance: The Steven Preston Military Collection

Exceptionally fine as Springfield Armory converted to M1C sniper configuration, retains 97% arsenal refurbished parkerized finish with a patch of pitting underneath the finish concentrated on the right of the operating rod. Stock is very fine with defined edges, some scattered light scratches, moderate finish loss around the buttstock from rubbing of the leather cheek pad, a small chip on the edge of the pistol grip, and a nice cartouche. Mechanically excellent. Scope is fine with some scattered light scratches on the tube, and clear optics.