Frankenstein sniper: How Austrians stuck a 1903A4 scope on an M1917 and it actually worked

Published on March 25, 2026
Duration: 1:27

This video details an Austrian army experiment from 1956 to create a more effective sniper rifle by mounting surplus M1903A4 Springfield scopes onto M1917 rifles. The motivation stemmed from dissatisfaction with the low-power scopes on the M1903A4s and the superior performance of German Kar98K sniper rifles used by instructors during WWII. The project aimed to utilize available M1903A4 scopes and M1917 rifle receivers to meet sniper rifle needs.

Quick Summary

The 'SSG1917 A4' was an Austrian army experiment from 1956 to create a better sniper rifle. They mounted surplus M1903A4 Springfield scopes onto M1917 rifles because the M1903A4's low-power optics were deemed inferior to German WWII sniper rifle scopes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the 'SSG1917 A4'?

The 'SSG1917 A4' (Sharf Schutseng 1917 A4) was an experimental sniper rifle developed by the Austrian army in 1956. It involved mounting surplus M1903A4 Springfield scopes onto M1917 rifles to create a more capable sniper platform.

Why did the Austrian army experiment with modifying rifles in 1956?

The Austrian army was equipped with American surplus small arms post-WWII. They found the low-power scopes on M1903A4 sniper rifles unsatisfactory compared to German WWII sniper rifles and had a surplus of scopes but not enough rifles.

What were the advantages of German Kar98K sniper rifles over the M1903A4?

Austrian sniper instructors, having served with German forces in WWII, preferred the Kar98K Mauser sniper rifles due to their substantially better 4x and 6x power scopes, compared to the 2.75x scopes on the M1903A4.

What rifles were used in the Austrian 'SSG1917 A4' experiment?

The experiment involved mounting M1903A4 Springfield scopes onto available M1917 rifles. Specifically, around 120 Canadian/US Model 1917 rifles were considered for this modification.

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