Sight cover

[Garandy]

Does this look USGI?
It came with another M1903-A4 I had..

[rayg]

I wish I had one to compare but I only have the later official hard bakelite ones on one of mine and a non official leather one on the other. If I remember, the leather ones that I saw that were supposed to be the issue ones, had the leather straps sewn on a slight angle onto the caps. Maybe someone who has an official set will post theirs. Either way, if yours fit, and they turn out not to be the issue ones, they look close and not too many folks would probably tell the difference. Ray

[Johnny in Texas]

No it does not look USGI. USGI covers were made from only 3 pieces of leather yours is 5 piece

[jgaynor]

No it does not look USGI. USGI covers were made from only 3 pieces of leather yours is 5 piece

Johnny I'm not quite sure how you would make the dust caps out only three pieces. Not saying you are wrong but it would seem that each cap would have a "plug" for the end and a "ring" to surround the tube. So that's four pieces - add the strap and you have a total of five.
The only real pic I have of these A4 caps from TM 9-270 shows a little tab or extension which is an integral part of each "ring" to which each end of the strap is stitched. I have never actually seen a set of caps made this way.

For a simple item the dust caps turned into quite a procurement fiasco. I believe multiple contractors were finally used and the designs may have been different from vendo to vendor,

Regards,

Jim

[John Sukey]

Got to agree, multiple contractors,minor differences in manufacture.

[Johnny in Texas]

I'm just saying there are commercial leather caps out there made from 5 pieces of leather I would not pay big money for those that look very close to the USGI leather covers. I have nothing to prove here. The 3 piece covers are made with the strap and sides of the cap made from one piece of leather and the two round caps sewn on. The leather is a little thicker also. (see pics)

[Johnny in Texas]

Here are the plastic one's

[Johnny in Texas]

The last picture is of a near new set that came on a complete M1903A4

look at the black area circled it is a flaming bomb this is the only set that I have that show this mark The the others are worn but all also have the diagonal striations on the unfinished side of the connecting strap shown in the previous pics.

This 1903A4 rifle was virtually unfired and it came with a near new Milsco '44 sling and new cond. Nickle plated oiler up the but with a pinkish leather bumper cap.

It came from the estate of a WW2 OSS officer so I was told.

I later found out the M1 carbine that I bought with the 1903A4 is listed in SRS and I have the letter showing it was delivered to the Office of Strategic Services in 8-43 in Washington D.C.
I am putting 2X2 together but based on the cond. and the other OSS items in the estate IE pancake flipper Dagger and other knives most of it near new cond. So I'm just saying draw your own conclusions.