Preserve History, Win A Classic Sniper Rifle
The Marine Scout Sniper Heritage Foundation is trying to preserve history and memorialize fallen soldiers. To raise funds in that effort, they’re offering up a classic rifle via raffle—and if you want to win, act fast because time is running out.
Sniper history @ TFB:
7 Longest Confirmed Sniper Kills: When Man And Rifle Become One The Armourer’s Bench Tests The Bren Sniper Scene From “Siege Of Jadotville” POTD: WWII German Mauser K98 Sniper Rifle Guns of a Conflict: The Battle of Mogadishu
A proud history
Officially, the Marine Scout Sniper Heritage Foundation (MSSHF) was organized to remember the sacrifice and service of Marine Scout snipers and honor their memory.
Currently, the MSSHF is raising funds to build a memorial to pay tribute to the U.S. Marine Scout snipers who have been killed in action since World War I. Below, you can see the group’s conceptual drawing of what they propose to have built, mixing generations-old doughboy war heroics with modern soldiering.
The memorial would be constructed by sculptor Sabin Howard. Here’s how they describe the planned project:
“The proposed Marine Scout Sniper War Memorial envisions a striking bronze sculpture of a two-man Scout Sniper team, blending historical eras to symbolize the passing of knowledge and sacrifice across generations of Marines. This monument, standing over 11 feet tall on a spacious granite pedestal, promises to be a poignant addition to the Semper Fidelis Memorial Park, located immediately adjacent the National Museum of the Marine Corps, to honor our war dead from all conflicts with deep symbolism and reverence.”
Raising funds via raffle
To bring in the needed money, the MSSHF is running a raffle for a vintage Vietnam-era sniper rifle reproduction. But calling it a reproduction isn’t really fair, since it has been assembled from period-correct parts:
“Our prize rifle is an authentic clone of a USMC M40 sniper rifle, circa 1966, with an ORIGINAL “Greenie” Redfield scope. Each component (minus the receiver) of our prize rifle is an ORIGINAL “take-off” part that once was part of an actual Vietnam-era Marine Corps sniper rifle. Even the receiver is a six-digit in a similar serial number range to the originals. It is perhaps the most accurate depiction that can be made of the rifles carried by Marine Scout Snipers in Vietnam from 1966 through the end of the war without stealing one from a museum!”
You can find raffle tickets here, with prices starting at $15 apiece, and climbing to $125 for 15 tickets. there are also photos of the components used to build the rifle and a photo of what to expect from the final product of that work. But note that the draw takes place on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2024, so if you want in, act fast.