Page 301 - 4094-BOOK2

LOT 1322
Extremely Rare Documented Experimental World
War II Winchester T-3 Semi-Automatic Sniper Carbine with M73B1
Scope, as Pictured in Larry L. Ruth’s Book “War Baby III: The U.S. Carbine Into the
21st Century” - Serial no. 02706, 30 Carbine cal., 19 3/4 inch round bbl., parkerized finish, walnut
stock. This is an extremely rare example of a World War II T-3 Sniper Carbine that was manufactured by the Winchester
Repeating Arms Company. According to the included Cody Firearms Records Office letter, the serial number 02706
was applied to this Winchester T-3 on August 10, 1945, just one day after the second
atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, and 4 days before Japanese surrender. It
features an experimental longer length 19 3/4 inch barrel, and was reportedly used
in testing at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, in which they experimented with some
scoped T-3s with unsatisfactory results due to spent casings hitting the scope as they
ejected. It is fitted with a World War II 2.5x power M73B1 scope mounted on top of its
integral receiver bases. This exact example is pictured on pages 1074-1076 of the book
“War Baby III: The U.S. Carbine Into the 21st Century” by Larry L. Ruth. Winchester was
originally contracted for 5,160 T-3 carbines in April of 1945, but only manufactured a
reported 1,108 before the cancellation of their contract in September due to the end
of World War II, found in their own unique serial range separate from the standard
M1 and M2 carbines, with Winchester originally assigned the serial number block
01701-07545, in which Winchester T-3 production likely ended around serial number
02808. Inland held two different contracts for another 1,700 T-3 carbines, in two more
entirely separate serial blocks (0001-1700 and 00001-00900), with approximately 1,600
believed to have been made in those two separate ranges before the termination of
their contract due to the end of the war. The Winchester production T-3s differ from the Inland made T-3s in that they have
an improved receiver design with integrally milled scope mounts. The T-3 Carbines were initially developed for use with
sniper scopes, as seen on this example, with others made for use with infrared scopes. Very few surviving examples of T-3
carbines are known today, as 99% of these T-3 carbines were demilled after World War II and replaced by the M3 infrared
sniper scope conversion package for use with a standard M1 carbine that uses a separate mounting bar fitted to the top
of a standard receiver, whereas the T-3 carbine is only capable of being used with the earlier model of infrared scopes. The
right side of the integral receiver scope mount is marked “U.S. CARBINE/CAL. 30 T-3” in two lines with the heel of the receiver
marked “TRADEMARK/WINCHESTER” above the serial number “02706”. The standard issue type M73B1 scope is correctly
electro-stencil serial numbered “29426” on the tube, with a crosshair reticle, and has a rubber eye piece. The unmarked experimental 19 3/4
inch barrel has a 1 3/4 inch length smoothbore section in the muzzle end with a .385 inch diameter that appears to possibly be intended as a
makeshift internal flash hider, and has no provisions for a front sight. Type I barrel band, Type III “A.I” parkerized round bolt, “W” heel plate, “6Y”
operating rod, “W” milled trigger guard, “W” hammer, no maker marking on the magazine catch with the “M” marked face, “J.A.O.” flip safety, “W”
two-rivet handguard, “W” stamped in the sling inlet of the stock with crossed cannons cartouche stamp on the right of the buttstock, and an “SL”
15-round magazine. Includes a green canvas web sling, and a certificate of authenticity verifying it was once a part of the personal collection of
noted author Larry L. Ruth.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 98% original parkerized finish on the barrel, receiver and trigger housing, with a refinished
replacement barrel band showing pitting underneath its finish. Stock is also excellent with distinct edges, some light dents
and scratches, and crisp stamps. Mechanically excellent. Scope is excellent with 95% original blue finish on the tube, some
minor dry cracking visible on the eye piece, and crisp clear optics with a minor haziness. This experimental World War II T-3
sniper carbine would make an extraordinary addition to any advanced U.S. military arms collection!
Provenance: The Larry L. Ruth Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 14,000 - 22,500 299 299
As pictured & described in War Baby III: The
U.S. Carbine into the 21st Century by Ruth