SOLD - Very Rare Springfield M1C Sniper - 1945 mfg

Description

6/24/2024 - This is a very rare and desirable Springfield M1C Garand Sniper rifle from the tail end of World War II. Manufactured in April of 1945 with an August of '45 dated barrel, this rifle features original M82 scope with properly numbered and matching scope rail. The mount is also numbered but to a different rifle. The mount is also properly marked Griffin & Howe with patent dates in the space beneath the scope. Developed in 1944, the M1C was the first production-level sniper variant of the M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle. While highly effective as a sniper weapon, the manufacturing process was rather involved, requiring a Springfield receiver to be selected off the production line before heat treating, shipped to Griffin & Howe for base installation, and then returned to the Armory to complete the process. While phased out of production in favor of the M1D, which could be produced in-house by Springfield using finished and surplus M1 rifles, the M1C saw sniper duty through Korea and into Vietnam. There were fewer than 8,000 M1Cs completed for WW2, and a total receiver production of less than 13,000. This rifle features a correct, WW2 K-line leather cheek pad and a canvas sling. It also has a proper, early Springfield Armory flash hider with thick base type. Original 1945 stock with NFR inspector mark. The scope has beautifully clear optics and is marked 'Telescope M82' with serial number. The stock is in excellent condition with only minor handling wear. Nice bore with minor signs of use. CMP certificate confirms it as an original M1C.