Issued stocks did not have webbing

Edit for pics because first post on a new page

The anchor is engraved on the Mk13 and Mk14 bolts mainly to represent the Navy, since they were made at NSWC and were almost exclusively issued to SEALs and other Navy troops. They stopped doing this after a while, probably because the rifles started going out to other military branches and the Army didn't want Naval symbols on their rifles.

The same thing happened with the NightForce Mil-Spec NXS scopes. For a while NF was marking the bottom of each Mil-Spec scope with the military branch it was going to. Later on when the scopes started getting mixed up between the various military branches, each branch didn't want scopes that were marked with a different branch's name. For example, the Army would hate to receive a NF NXS 3.5-15x50 USMC-Spec marked scope, and vice versa.

All of these marked differently marked scopes are still Mil-Spec scopes, so NF finally decided to drop all of the different branch names and they settled on only marking the scopes with a generic "Mil-Spec" for everyone. The Navy was the initial users of the Mk13's and Mk14's, so at the time it was fine putting Naval markings/symbols somewhere on these rifles. But, just like NF, when other branches started using these rifles it just made sense to drop the individual markings and stick with something generic.

The anchor on the rifle bolts mainly represented the Navy, but as a symbol it can also represent more than just the branch of service. For example, the Chief Petty Officer's fouled anchor emblem and collar device represents stability and security. The anchor also reminds Chiefs of their responsibility to keep those they serve safe from harm's way. So, the anchor on the rifle can represent something more meaningful to the sailor who was issued that rifle. Anchor symbols have been used by many cultures to represent strength, resilience, hope, security, confidence, adventure, steadfastness, courage, calm, composure, etc. The anchor symbol is a reminder of these values, and having it on a rifle can boost moral and esprit de corps for the user. It's the same concept as having the JN 8:12 marking on the early GWOT Trijicon RCO's.

To answer your questions, there's multiple reasons for engraving the anchor on these bolts; from simple aesthetics to representing the branch of military service to being a symol of values for the servicemen who are issued the rifles. I hope this information helps, and hopefully more of you cloners can get your bolts engraved with the correct information and anchor symbol!

I recently got a bunch of tax stamps back, and out of everything that's been approved the most important silencers are my legacy SureFire FA762SS silencers with the welded front cap. I actually own 1 of the 4 XM3's that my Scout Sniper platoon had in Fallujah, Iraq back in 2008/9. This XM3 was issued to my friend and I was able to purchase this exact rifle from the CMP back in 2017. My CMP XM3 kit came with everything that it was originally issued with, including the PVS-22 clip-on night vision device! The only thing that wasn't included with my XM3 kit was the USMC used silencer.

The XM3's obviously couldn't transfer to the CMP with their original silencers, so those stayed with the Corps or went to DRMO. Everyone with one of these original XM3 kits has to track down one of the very early SureFire legacy FA762SS silencers, which are pretty damn rare. However, I'm extremely lucky and I was able to purchase the only 2 legit DARPA/military used legacy FA762SS silencers in private hands (there's 2 more, but they're unable to be transferred to another person because the government says that they still own them, so those 2 are impossible to get at this time). The silencers have impeccable provenance, but I'm not going to post details here. These 2 silencers are sequentially numbered and are extremely close to the serial number of the silencer that was originally issued with my USMC XM3 kit.

These 2 original FA762SS silencers have serial numbers FO1128 and FO1129. The silencer that was originally issued with my USMC XM3 was serial number FO1159, which is only 30 digits higher than the original DARPA/military tested silencer that I'll be pairing with the rifle. This is the only original USMC used XM3 kit that also has a silencer that was originally part of the DARPA project! It's not the silencer that the XM3 was originally issued with, but it's as close as you can possibly get to that silencer.




Here's my original USMC XM3 with it's original logbook and original DARPA used silencers. I plan on getting some rattle can FDE paint and spraying the black silencer to match the paint that's on the rifle. The other silencer has the original sniper paint on it from when it was tested by DARPA and the Marines, so I'm going to leave it as it is. I only have 1 original USMC used XM3, so I have no idea what to do with this 2nd original silencer.



Here's the very last page in the rifle's logbook, it documents the last time the rifle was fired (I doubt that the rifle has been fired since then, and I haven't fired the rifle since purchasing it). I don't want to shoot the rifle, since it's the last time it was fired was in Iraq during the war.



I hope you guys found this to be interesting, it's definitely a very unique and historical set!

That's amazing. Your collection and connections to find all these unicorns amaze me.

Well damn.

That makes total sense. Thank you for that info. As I stated not being in the military I have no idea. It was actually the only regret I have in life but thats another story. My rifles are making their way here at a far faster pace than I expected but usually Registered mail has a long waiting period once it reaches the destination city.

Beautiful piece of history and story.  I wonder if the date mark is YYMMDD or MMDDYY.  My first deployment was out of Camp Baharia in 2007 with 3/5, I can appreciate the AO it operated in.

I’m right there with ya other than my builds are not going quick by any means.

Usmcsgt I really appreciate all your wealth of knowledge and collection. I have to ask what your favorite piece is? I think my dream rifle is a m40a5, mk13 mod3 or xm3. I really started my m24a2 only because of drunk bidding on a receiver and wanting another AE suppressor. I kinda regret not going after one of the others.

Thanks for the info on shipping! I always seem to end up reading USPS their own rules after they look at me like I am asking them to commit a crime when I declare I am shipping a firearm. I will try Registered Mail next time.

Curious if you have ever needed to make a claim on anything high value with USPS, and how that process went. My experiences with USPS don't inspire confidence that they will actually pay out... but I buy the insurance anyways.

I have also wondered if the shipping insurance is duplicating insurance if one already has the items covered under a firearms policy. I suppose it depends on the policy...

Pick another build and pour yourself a few drinks.... that regret will fade away with your wallet but it'll totally be worth it

So my 2 mk13’s were due Saturday. At 8:48 I’m sitting here at the shop and all of a sudden tracking changed to “ delivery attempted-business closed”. I laughed it off. I figured whatever they just didn’t want to deal with it on a Saturday. No problem. I’m in no hurry. So today the mail carrier comes and I said yea I’ve been waiting on you. He hands me mail and goes to leave. I said you don’t have 2 packages? I explain I’m waiting on two priority registered items. He says nope. So I hop in my truck and jet down to the post office. Waited my turn and told the clerk “ hey I’m looking for two registered mail packages” first words were “ your carrier has them”. Hahaha. I said nope I just spoke with him. So the clerk goes away for a few minutes and comes back. Asks for my contact info. I give it. Then they say they don’t know where they are. They will have to research it and get back to me. I’m not sure what to think. How could they not know? They must know. Maybe they are just not saying. Oh well. They will either turn up or not I guess.
    I have to laugh a little. I stopped them from shipping them just regular ups and paid to have them shipped priority registered. Probably should have just left it alone.

That's crazy, and the first time I've ever heard of USPS messing up a Registered package. I've used Registered Mail hundreds of times, and many of my friends use it as well, none of us have ever had any issues. The good news is that it's impossible to lose the Registered Mail package, it has an employee's name attached to it at all times, they have to sign off for it. It sounds like you're dealing with a pretty shitty USPS location with some idiots. If I ever had this issue at my location I'd tell them to find the package right now or get the post master on the phone. You'll end up getting the package, but I know how frustrating stuff like this is. It sucks that this is your first experience with Registered Mail, but don't let it prevent you from using it in the future. The package is going to be secure, it's not lost, you're just dealing with lazy morons, which sucks. Hope you get the package soon, please post photos when it shows up!

No doubt registered is the most secure shot you have at shipping. Yes this station is the worst. I will give them the benefit that I know they have had a lot of trouble keeping someone for our route. We did not get mail for 10 days one time and I had a long talk with the post master over there. Not an unpleasant talk. Just didnt think it was fair.  I make friends with all my carriers. USPS, UPS , Fedex. The fedex supervisor pretends he likes me but they delivered 3 suppressors to the middle of the parking lot one time and that was not cool. I mean litterally looked like the box fell out of the truck when it passed by. I walked out and saw the box and thought it was trash that had blown up. USPS left 5 AEM5's in the mailbox. Covid just destroyed a lot of things. Fedex and UPS have finally started getting signatures but USPS probably never will. They usually just enter one letter and drop your package. Im sure these will show up. Now when they show up is anyones guess.

So after many days and many trips to the post office and cornering carriers I was able to find my guns. Honestly I think they were at the station all along. Its funny how the person that probably knows the least is the one who solves the problem. Anyway. I am looking for cases and any manuals I can find. I have all that stuff for my mod 5. I have tube data books and round count logs but I am looking for those metal cases and any manuals I can find. They are super cool. I got out the mod 5, mod 0, mod 3 and m24a2 and set them all together. I am getting scopes and bipods mounted. I need to find the slings I bought for them. Really lucky to have what I have.

Glad to hear you got it all resolved. This is the kinda stuff I feel like always happens to me and is very frustrating to deal with. I feel like it’s always on the end customer to do the leg work and get it figured out. I’ve had two guns lost in the mail that were delivered and not with me. Thankfully nothing near as valuable or hard to replace as yours but was still very frustrating in the minute of getting it resolved.

Can’t wait to see some pictures!

I will hop on this train. Accuracy International AX308, with an AR grip conversion I bought from a chap across the pond that makes them. I didn’t like the grip it had which was molded Ian’s designed into the chassis.

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Do the illum T3 “mil spec” marked 4-16 atacrs command the $$$$ premium the higher mag range atacrs do?

It depends on whether the scope was stolen or not. A stolen scope isn't worth anything, a legal scope is worth about $4,000+.

A few years ago a friend of mine bought 2 of the NF Mil-Spec marked 4-16x ATACR's on ebay, but never used them. He listed one of these scopes on a forum last year, and was soon contacted by a guy from a branch of the military. This guy sent my friend a private message to let him know that the scope he was trying to sell was stolen government property. He specifically said that NF didn't sell this exact model and configuration on the civilian market, so they had to be stolen scopes. This specific type was exactly what they had in their inventory, so the guy recognized it right away.

My buddy didn't believe him at first, but then Google searched the guys name (full contact information was provided in the guys message). It turns out that the random guy is legit and he's pretty high up in rank! My friend decided to talk to him and he suggested that the guy should put him in contact with some military investigators. A few days later, 2 NCIS agents showed up at my friend's shop (not randomly, it was an arranged meeting) to talk to him and take possession of the scope.

My friend was more than willing to help get stolen property back to the government, and he even brought the 2nd scope along that they didn't know about (they only saw the one scope in his original for sale ad). My friend also provided them with printouts of the ebay listings, the conversations with the seller and copies of the financial transaction. The agents were professional and courteous, and were very grateful that my friend was willing to turn over the 2 stolen scopes and a ton of documentation.

My friend made it very clear that he believed they were 100% legal and that he had bought them on ebay. He also requested that if they caught and prosecuted the thief, he wanted monetary reimbursement from the crook. They told my buddy that he was definitely in the clear and that it wasn't his fault he ended up with stolen scopes. They also said that they'd do their best to help get his money back.

About half a year passed by with no updates or reimbursement, but my friend remained in contact with the military guy and the NICS agents. Finally, my friend got an envelope in the mail, it was from the government. The envelope contained 2 things - a check for the full amount of money that he had originally spent on the scopes when he bought them on ebay, and an apology letter from the thief!

So, if you actually have a NF Mil-Spec marked 4-16x ATACR scope, you need to do some research and ensure that it's not a stolen scope. The military has plugged the leak, but they're still missing some optics and other items. If you list that scope online, I can almost guarantee that someone from the government will be reaching out to you. If the scope came from NF and you (or NF) can prove it, then there's nothing to worry about.

I actually have one of these Mil-Spec ATACRs and I can document the chain of custody back to NightForce (it was a demo scope that was used at events, it was never owned by the military). I know this is a long post, but it might contain some useful information for you. Scopes that have known history will always be worth more than other scopes. You might have documentation on the scope, which would be perfect. Or you might not know the history of that scope, but the original purchase was made contingent on that fact that it's legit and not stolen property.

There's also a ton of DRMO stuff out there, but the manufacturers never get the serial numbers of those DRMO'd items, so their records will only show that something was sold to the government. So, even if you called NF with the serial number, it could come back as a non-governmental purchase or it could be a government purchase. However, if it's a DRMO scope, NF won't have that information, they'll just tell you that it's a government scope. I know for a fact that scopes can go to DRMO, because about 5+ years ago I purchased 20 NF NXS scopes from GovPlanet. Government scopes that are 100% legal to own, and I have the paperwork on them. People don't realize that there's a lot of stuff out there and it came through legal channels like DRMO.

Just who I was hoping would chime in lol. I appreciate the long winded response.

Not mine, just came across it. Supposedly was recently returned from NF for replacing a stripped screw, so we will see what the buyer and NF has to say about the paper trail.

Paperwork is always preferable! These are excellent scopes and are unbelievably tough. I hope everything goes well and you end up getting a legit (and legal) NF Mil-Spec scope! Just remember, even though it went to NF, that's not complete confirmation on the scope's history. They'll take stuff in, but again, they'll have no idea if the scope was DRMO'd or not. They will have information on the scope and they'll know where it was originally sent. Just do what you can to verify stuff and if it don't seem right, just walk away.

Random observation, but this is the first time that I've ever heard of NF repairimg/working on a Mil-Spec scope! The screw is probably in the turret, so easy fix, but it's just funny to finally see NF doing a repair on one of their Mil-Spec scopes, lol. Any collector who knows about these scopes and how NF famously refuses to work on them will probably find this amusing as well.

You mentioned that you were hoping I would respond to your post, but if you ever need any help you can always shoot me a message with questions, and I'll do my best to be useful.

Thank you for sharing this story.  A lot of items in the clone world can have a dubious history, so it's nice to hear that some things can be set right.

Thirded! Great read and insight. Thanks for sharing!

does anyone know the nsn for the mk13 mod 0? I cant find it. I found all the others. trying to find any manuals but no dice yet.

1005-LL-L99-1174

Thank you. Thats the one I got from the front of the manual that I saw in a picture but couldnt really find anything on it. Wasnt sure if it had changed. Im going with that one.

Damn, awesome set up.  I've been on the hunt for an FA762SS but something with that kind of provenance should stay in the collector community.  I just need one for a Gladius.

Good luck finding it a home worthy of it's history.  Maybe some board can hook you up with someone else that got one of the other XM3's who is looking?

New upper for a M110 with suppressor
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Damn! How?! I'd love to get two my for SOT but even that's damn near impossible!

Rebuilding theater spare guns.

He gets to play with Uncle Sugar's money.

Anyone catch the 9 hole review video where Joe Dawson talks about Mk13 training rifles in .308? Does anyone have more info on those guns? Would not mind building up a mod 5 clone in .308 but dunno if that means same stock and receivers, same mags, etc or what all would be different?

Remember the M24 had a Remington 700 long action to get rebarreled in .300 WM, which in turn was the Mk13.  Full circle.

Don't know what video that is or who the guy is, but he's correct. They're pretty much just called the Mk13 Mod 5 T, the "T" is for trainer. Here's a photo of them, notice the SureFire silencer on what appears to be a Mod 5, that's a dead giveaway that these are the 7.62x51 trainers. The Mod 5 T was made in the MARS rail and Badger EFR rail versions, as seen below. It appears that they're also using long action receivers, so it's pretty much a barrel change, new muzzle device and new silencer.

Are those magazines just standard 300 win mag magazines? Will 7.62x51 feed properly in those? Or do the mags have a block to reduce the length inside?

Don't know what the military used in the mk13 trainers but accurate magazine makes a long action mag for the 308 round. Haven't used one, so I don't know how it feeds, just seen it on their website.

I have seen a chassis for one of the trainer rifles that has a 308 magazine but the chassis is long action. The guns in the picture appear to have longer magazines however. The 2010 magazine will not feed 308, I am not sure about the mk13's single stack magazine.

the black grippy material on my drag bag / mat is falling apart

So I have some odd parts I’d hate to throw away from when I was building my m24 and mk11.

If anyone needs these, I have some sling stud spacers, and older Harris metal thumb screws.

It’s free to anyone that wants everything, just IM me.  Please don’t ask to separate, if you need it, take the whole lot as I’m shipping on my dime as I hate throwing away gun parts


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Wanted to give the bolt action collectors over here a heads-up on the reproduction M40A1 Unertl scope mounts that LRI is currently working on. I send Chad Dixon a few original USMC Unertl mounts to study and I plan on sending him a few more this week. We've had many long discussions about how to make these mounts and he's actually discovered so new information about the original Unertl mounts! Collectors have been asking for high quality reproduction mounts for a very long time, and now it's finally happening!

Chad at LRI started a discussion on this topic over on Sniper's Hide in the Vintage Section, I included a link to that discussion below. If you guys want to discuss these reproduction mounts over here on this forum, please start a new thread on the topic and we won't have to clutter up this thread with that specific discussion. This is an opportunity to finally make a key piece in the USMC M40xx series available to the public, it's going to make a lot of collectors/clone builders very happy! If anyone has any questions, feel free to contact me directly or ask the questions in a new thread (if one gets started). I'm working with Chad on this project, and I've provided the original Unertl mounts and a ton of information. So, I can answer any questions or provide any information you guys might need. There's tons of information in the thread in this link, I highly recommend reading through it if you're interested in the Unertl mounts:

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/m40-scope-base-project-by-lri.7181179/

Heads up there is a DARPA XM3 and Mk13 Mod 3 up for auction at the CMP.  

Mk13 linky


XM3 Linky

I talked to Chris Higgins today about the "Mk13 Mod 3" that's up for auction at the CMP right now. He said that it's not currently a Mk13, it's not a prototype Mk13, and it's not in any sort of fielded Mk13 configuration. This rifle was built from original Mk13 parts (Mod 0/3 receiver, Mod 3 bolt, Mod 5 chassis, sorta kinda Mod 7 barrel) and was used exclusively to test silencers for the Mod 7 contract.

This is not a Mod 7 prototype, this is a purpose built rifle that used original Mk13 parts, and was only used to test silencers. There were others like it built, so it's not a unique example. Chris definitely leaned on the fact that even though the parts are Mk13, the rifle itself is not a Mk13 and the CMP should not be calling it a Mk13 Mod 3.

The barrel is cut further back from the rear of the flash hider because there were about 10 different options to test and some muzzle devices or silencers needed more room to fit on the barrel. So, the muzzle end of the barrel was profiled like this on each test rifle to keep things uniform and make it so that everything being tested could be used on each rifle.

I hope this makes sense, if anyone has any questions, please ask them here and I'll do my best to get some answers for you.

I hope all the mod 3’s looked like this Attached File

Damn! Wish I could hang with those bidders.

The bare bones XM3 closed out at $13,601  Insane compared to the previous ones with all the accessories except the can that ended between $22-$27k.

Jeebus. I'd love to have an XM3 clone. Not sure it's something I want to pursue though.

Naw just take out a HELOC and bid on a real one

Does anyone know how hard it is to get a mk13 mod 7 chassis nowadays, and what they might cost? From brief research it seems they've been discontinued for a couple years.