GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
ACCURACY INTERNATIONAL AWP SNIPER RIFLE FROM WORLD-RENOWNED SNIPING EXPERT, MAJOR JOHN L PLASTER.ACCURACY INTERNATIONALAWP SNIPER95 AW2145.308MODERN7.62x51mm (.308) 24" bbl. Accuracy International AWP sniper rifle and its complete kit, to include unique factory-made case which contains an accompanying Parker-Hale bipod, cleaning kit, rod, sling and four magazines. Its optical sight is a superb 3-12x50mm Schmidt & Bender which incorporates a step-type rangefinder and metric Bullet Drop Compensator. Top of barrel marked, "IMPORTED BY GUNSITE PAULDEN AZ" with number "4352" on top of barrel midway to muzzle. Right forward side of receiver displays attractively engraved crown over "P" proof with additional proof and caliber designation on right side of bbl. All parts original and matching to gun. Magazines and bipod fit properly. Accuracy International, headed by British Olympic gold medal rifleman Malcolm Cooper, developed its hand-built AW series sniper rifles around a rigid action that is epoxy-bonded to an aluminum frame rather than bedded. Its highly ergonomic clamshell stock is attached to the frame, not the action, while its stainless steel, match-grade barrel is free-floated. Initially fielded as the British L96A1 military sniper rifle, versions of this sniping platform continue service in more than 20 countries around the world. Accuracy International rifles are known for their extreme accuracy including the world record sniper shot in Afghanistan, fired by British sniper Craig Harrison. The relatively rare AWP (Police) version uses the identical action and stock, except it is black rather than light green or tan, and incorporates a shorter (24-inch) and heavier taper barrel. Its precisely cut chamber is intended to best accommodate 168-grain, match cartridges. Consignor states this particular AWP rifle has fired one-hole groups of 5 shots at 100 yards, measuring 0.323 inches, using match-grade ammunition. MAJ Plaster chose it to fire shooting demonstrations for sniper students, especially shooting coins and golf balls. It has fired fewer than 500 rounds of an estimated 5000-round barrel life. This lot includes a Letter of Authentication signed by John Plaster, a golf ball MAJ Plaster shot at 200 yards while demonstrating the rifle, a signed photograph of him with the rifle (using a Leupold Mk 4 scope), and an inscribed copy of his voluminous sniper training handbook, The Ultimate Sniper, which contains five images of this rifle, and a signed copy of a photograph of the consignor taken in 1970 while in Viet Nam when he was a Green Beret SOG team leader. Then SGT Plaster led small recon teams deep behind enemy lines on the Laotian Ho Chi Minh Trail and into the enemy''s Cambodian sanctuaries. He is credited with leading one of SOG''s most successful classified operations, the night ambush of a North Vietnamese truck convoy and capture of an important enemy prisoner. Wounded in that operation, he was decorated four times for heroism and directly commissioned due to his extensive combat experience. After the war, he co-founded and later commanded a Reserve Component sniper training program, the U.S. Army''s only sniper school beside Ft. Benning''s that can award the B4 sniper designator. Maj. Plaster has instructed hundreds of military and police snipers, to include all U.S. military services, the Netherlands Marine Corps, Spanish Foreign Legion, FBI, U.S. Customs Service and Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Additionally, he was a Precision Rifle instructor at Arizona''s prestigious Gunsite Training Center and the Chief of Competition for the U.S. and European Sniping Championships. In addition to writing for the American Rifleman magazine, and appearing on History Channel documentaries, he has authored seven books on sniping and special operations, to include The Ultimate Sniper, the world''s most-used sniper training handbook. During the War on Terror, he helped train deploying U.S. snipers, and assisted the U.S. Department of Defense to develop counters to enemy snipers in Iraq. Maj. Plaster is the only soldier ever inducted into both the U.S. Army Special Forces Hall of Fame at Ft. Bragg, N.C., and the U.S. Air Force Air Commando Hall of Fame at Hurlburt Field, FL. PROVENANCE: Personal rifle of retired U.S. Army Special Forces Major John L. Plaster CONDITION: Overall appearance and finish is excellent to near new as extremely well maintained. Slightest evidence of it being fired upon close inspection with some tiny chips out of the finish right at the muzzle, and the slightest of handling marks where the bipod attaches. The rifle could have come from the factory yesterday judging by its current appearance. Factory custom padded medal case retains almost all of its black enamel finish with a couple of scrapes and dings as one would expect to find. Bore is pristine. Optics are perfect. What a great opportunity for the modern military sniper rifle collector as well as the top-end accurate-rifle enthusiast. Outstanding rifle with provenance to renowned owner which includes extra goodies from him. 50251-1 jwk24 (5,000-15,000)