Thoughts on this 1903A1 Sniper

[Crashyoung]

Are online auction sites usually full of 'suspect' rifles?

[Emri]

I have a rifle that resembles a marine piece. All the parts are similar in wear. However, rifle does not have the large relief hole in the left side of the receiver. I have heard that not ALL marine rifles had the Hatcher hole, but...?

The presence of a Hatcher Hole does not make a rifle a USMC piece. The lack of one also does not make a rifle NOT a USMC piece. The rifle in this discussion has a Hatcher Hole. The 1.5 serial number is late and the receivers were manufactured with Hatcher Holes in that time frame.

FWIW,

Emri

[Johnny in Texas]

buy it for the scope

[jgaynor]

Are online auction sites usually full of 'suspect' rifles?

Well really rare, high-end items like original USMC sniper tend to move from one advanced collector to another. For an item to show up on an internet auction or at a gun show means you really have to do your homework if you are thinking of buying. Remember the number of these probably never exceeded more than about 1000. Of those how many were used up in the South Pacific and Korea?

[Crashyoung]

That is what I was thinking, but I guess some people have more money than common sense.

[Kragrifle]

Ah, but remember always that sins of omission are worse than sins of comission!