SOLD - Extremely Rare Winchester T3 Carbine

Description

5/21/24 - This is an extremely rare and interesting Winchester T3 Infrared Carbine, one of only 1,108 produced, all in August of 1945. In 1943, the Army Chief of Staff, Ordnance Corps and Engineer Board met to coordinate their work with the research and development of their infrared devices. This meeting led to a request by the Army Jungle Warfare Committee for expedited development and procurement of the infrared sniper scopes and snooper scopes currently under development by personnel of the Engineer Board. In conjunction with Inland, Winchester was tasked with produced a variant with integral mounts for the infrared scopes, and received a contract order for ~20,000 to be produced. Winchester started blocking out serial numbers from 01701-07545 and they began slowly, having produced only 63 before the first atomic bomb was dropped on Japan. This particular example, was produced either the same day of the second bomb being dropped, or the day after. Only 1,108 could be finished before Japan had formally surrendered and the need for this variation was moot. This rifle has all Winchester parts throughout, with 'W' marking on slide, bolt, handguard, trigger housing, recoil plate, hammer, mag release and more. It's in terrific condition as this one presumably did not make it to war or the Pacific. The military actually destroyed many of the originals, and of the few existing examples, many will show signs of welding but this one does not. Excellent bore and stock. This one comes with an M3 infrared scope, made by Capehart-Farnsworth Corp. This is a later variation (Korean War era) than would've been correctly fitted to a T3 example this early. More info: http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/modelT3.html