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US ARMY MODEL 82 SNIPER SCOPE MODIFIED DURING A
KOREAN WAR ERA ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT PROJECT – ONE OF A
KIND WITH PROVENANCE: Recently obtained from
the estate of a US Army Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) of
Ordnance, this US Army issue Model 82 Sniper Scope was
modified during an ongoing project sanctioned by the
Ordnance Department to further develop the scopes in the
hands of the troops.
As documented in the accompanying photographs, since his
service during the Korean War this CWO had been involved
in modifying standard issue and captured weapons to
produce a large bore sniper rifle for the army. It is
believed that his first effort occurred in Korea – the
combination of the receiver from a captured Russian
anti-tank rifle and the barrel from a .50 caliber BMG -
was a product of his own initiative. Eventually the
story of this rifle, accompanied by the larger photo of
CWO Weakley in the snow covered bunker (see below), was
published in Stars and Stripes. His efforts were
recognized and the army assigned the CWO to the Aberdeen
Proving Grounds where the project was continued (see
photograph below).
This scope, while not shown in either photo, was another
effort in the CWO’s ongoing continuum of a search for
the right combination of rifle and optics to equip a
sniper.
The scope is built on a standard M-82 Sniper Scope, onto
which has been added a large brass front optic. The
reticule was taken from a M-86 scope for the 57mm
Recoilless Rifle. The brass adapter threaded onto the
front of the scope shows signs of being an Ordnance work
shop product and while smooth, doesn’t appear to ever
have been polished as would be a finished product. The
unit is 19 ½” long, the front optic is 2” in diameter,
and weighs 2 lbs., 2.5 ounces. The optics are clear and
provide an 8’ field of view at 50 yards. The M-82 has
all of the proper part numbers on the eye piece,
adjustment bases and knob covers. The scope body is
likewise stamped with all the proper nomenclature,
including a low three-digit serial number, indicating an
early production. The blue finish on the scope is 90%
intact with some areas turning to plum. Overall the
scope is in very good to excellent condition and is
fully functional.
This grouping includes the scope, as well as the two
period US Army photographs mounted in frames. The
larger photo is mounted on a board backing, measuring 19
x 16 ½”, and has an inscription on the reverse to the
CWO’s family. The smaller photo is a standard army
Signal Corps photo with an attached caption and measures
7 x 7” mounted inside a 12 ½ by 11” frame.
The scope alone is not only a desirable, early
production M-82 Sniper Scope, but it is a rare piece of
Ordnance Department history with the unique
modifications. Coupled with the accompanying
information and photographs, this is a very interesting
historical set deserving of preservation. $950
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