RARE WWI Pedersen Device, Springfield Armory Model 1903 Mark I & Accessories, Parkerized 24” Bolt Action / Semi-Auto Rifle & Magazine, 1920 C&R

SOLD!

LSB#: 160212DN01

Make: Springfield Armory

Model: 1903 Mark I. The Mark I rifle was made with an ejection port cutout on the receiver. The ejection port is needed for the Pedersen Device.

Serial Number: 1169261

Year of Manufacture: 1920 (page 373 of Joe Poyer’s book, The M1903 Springfield Rifle and its Variations, 3rd Edition) Barrel Date October, 1929
M1903 Mk I rifles were produced from early 1918 to 1920 with a serial number range from 1,034,502 to 1,197,834 (page 31).
Pedersen Devises were produced in 1918.

Caliber: .30-06 Springfield with the rifle bolt installed.
.30 – Model 1918 (.30 Caliber pistol) with the Pedersen Device installed.

Action Type: Bolt Action, Internal Magazine

Markings: The top of the receiver is marked “U.S. / SPRINGFIELD / ARMORY / MODEL 1903 / MARK I / 1169261”. The top of the barrel is marked “S A / flaming bomb / 10 – 29”; this is a replacement barrel. The safety is marked “SAFE READY” and the magazine cutoff is marked “ON OFF”. The underside of the bolt handle is marked “K” and the top is marked “6”. The bottom of the grip is marked with a “P” and a faded “boxed P”. The left side of the stock is marked “AAH1” which is a post WWII Augusta Arsenal rebuild mark (see pages 390 & 396 of Joe Poyer’s book, The M1903 Springfield Rifle and its Variations, 3rd Edition). The left side is also marked “AOW”. The “AOW” mark is not listed in our reference book. Our research indicates that it is most likely an arsenal rebuild stamping from Anniston Arsenal. The scallop for the magazine cutoff is marked “S” for Springfield. The bottom of the stock, ahead of the magazine is marked “W”. The bayonet lug is marked “H”. The front sight is marked “2”.
The right side of the Pedersen Device is marked “REMINGTON – BRIDGEPORT / PEDERSEN’S PAT’S PENDING”. The left side is marked “U.S.A. 1918 – MARK I / 28347”. The rear of the cocking piece is faintly marked with a “P” that has been lightly scratched on the metal. The 40 round magazine is marked “TP” on the rear next to the base and with a “triangle” on the front next to the base. The rear is also marked from “5 – 40” in increments of 5. The magazine pouch is marked “R.I.A. / 7-19” on the front, under the top cover. The bolt pouch is marked “R.I.A. / 1919” and with 2 faded stampings under the flap.

Barrel Length: The rifle barrel is approximately 24 Inches long.
The Pedersen Device barrel (the chamber insert) is approximately 3 5/8 inches long.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade set atop a raised base. The rear sight is a “U” notched blade attached to a fully adjustable sight ladder marked from “3-27”. When flipped up separate notches and an aperture on the ladder can be used for sighting. The screw on the sliding portion of the sight ladder is stuck in place so it will not lock the sight. We did not try to force it.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The two piece, oil stained hardwood has a semi pistol grip, metal nosecap, stacking loop, barrel band, 2 sling loops, two through bolts and a metal buttplate with hinged door for storage. A metal oiler & thong tube is stored in the buttstock. There are several scrapes, scratches and compression marks. Some are deep and have removed small portions of the surface wood. These areas have been finished over. The LOP measures 13 1/8 inches from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Very Good Plus overall condition, as refinished.

Type of Finish: Parkerized

Finish Originality: The rifle’s receiver & bottom metal were refinished during the arsenal refurbishment process. It was also given a replacement barrel during the refurbishment.
The Pedersen Device and its magazine have their original finish.

Bore Condition: The rifle bore is semi bright and the rifling is deep. There is no visible erosion. The bore shows an M.E. of 1.
The Pedersen device has a semi bright bore with well defined rifling. The device was manufactured with shallow rifling (page 422 of Joe Poyer’s book, The M1903 Springfield Rifle and its Variations, 3rd Edition). There is no visible erosion.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 97% of its metal finish, as refinished. Some imperfections on the metal, such as frosting, show through the new finish. The barrel and the area below the rear sight show scrapes. The nosecap is scratched. The bottom metal shows some discoloration and light scrapes. The bolt sows thinning consistent with cycling. The screw heads show light use. The markings are deep. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good to Fine condition, as refinished.
The Pederson Device retains about 90% of its original finish. The bolt shows surface erosion on the ejection port side. The top cocking portion shows thinning. The magazine well shows scrapes. The body and chamber insert show thinning consistent with insertion and removal. The rear shows oxidation. The markings are deep. Overall, the Pedersen Device rates in about Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly with the bolt inserted. The Pedersen Device appears to function properly when inserted. The magazine disconnect lever properly locks and releases the Pedersen Devise. The magazine locks into the Pedersen Device correctly. After some of the Mark I rifles were removed from storage in 1931 the special magazine cut-off, cut-off spindle, trigger & sear were removed and the rifles were converted back to Model 1903 configuration. This rifle still has a Mark I magazine cutoff, Mark I magazine cutoff spindle and Mark I trigger installed (see the photo in the thread at http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=41644). We do not know if Mark I sear still in this rifle as we do not wish to take it down and possibly harm the finish on the rifle. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork& Accessories: The rifle comes with a Pedersen Device, a 40 round magazine, a magazine pouch, a pouch for the bolt, two Pedersen Devise takedown tools, a photo copied manual for the Pedersen Devise and with a tube of cleaning gear. The magazine shows light scrapes. The bottom left of the magazine shows two small patches of surface erosion and the top right also shows a small patch. The magazine spring functions. Overall the magazine is in about Very Good condition. The 40 round magazine is not available to residents of California or any jurisdiction that has magazine capacity restrictions. The magazine pouch is correct (see page 424 of Joe Poyer’s book, The M1903 Springfield Rifle and its Variations, 3rd Edition). It holds 5 magazines. It shows light fraying to some stitching as well as light soiling. It is in about Very Good to Fine condition. The bolt pouch is correct and holds the M1903 bolt while the Pedersen Devise is installed. It shows light use and is in about Fine condition. One of the two takedown tools shows a freckling of surface erosion and oxidation. It is in about Good condition. The other shows several small areas of frosting and oxidation. It is in about Very Good condition. The photo copied manual for the Pedersen Devise is on both legal and letter sized paper. It is titled “NOTES ON CALIBER .30 MODEL of 1918 PISTOL”. It contains instructions and black & white photos. The paper is in Fine condition. The quality of the copies is lacking. The quality of the copies is about Good to Very Good as portions of the copied photos are too dark or to faint to show fine details.
A metal oiler & thong tube is stored in the buttstock. It is in about Very Good condition.

Our Assessment: We have a RARE Pedersen Devise up for auction that comes with a Springfield 1903 Mark I rifle, 40 round magazine, magazine pouch, bolt pouch, two Pedersen Devise takedown tools and with a photocopied manual. This Model 1903 Mark I Rifle still has a Mark I magazine cutoff, Mark I magazine cutoff spindle and Mark I trigger installed. Many Mark I rifles have had these parts removed. It is uncommon for a Pedersen device to be up for auction since there are so few left. A Springfield Model 1903 Mark I with a Pedersen Device & accessories is one of the rarest U.S. military rifles you can legally own. This is a chance for a serious collector to add an exceptional rifle to their collection.
Here are some basics on the Pedersen Device. During WWI a failure of the 1917 Allied offensive and a huge loss of life prompted a demand on the War Department to provide a weapon that would multiply the firepower of the individual rifleman. The Pedersen Device was a secret weapon intended to provide U.S. Infantry with a close range semi-automatic fire for assaults on enemy trenches while still retaining the advantages of a bolt action rifle. The new weapon was planned for use in a large offensive against the Germans. 65,000 Pedersen Devices (they were designated as the “U.S. Automatic Pistol, Cal. .30, Model of 1918”) were produced in secret to launch the offensive. Fortunately WWI ended prior to the Pederson Device being implemented. The Pedersen Devices were placed into classified storage along with 101,775 M1903 Mark I rifles. In 1931 the Pederson Devices were ordered to be destroyed. Their destruction was almost complete as only a few dozen remain in collections or museums. For more see pages 410 to 427 of Joe Poyer’s book, The M1903 Springfield Rifle and its Variations, 3rd Edition.
For an excellent video on the Pedersen Devise and its accessories see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLzdGPzHL8U. Here is a video with more information that shows a Pedersen devise being fired, https://www.full30.com/video/2d4d78397e6c8c9b83933a9cf01fe513.

RARE WWI Pedersen Device, Springfield Armory Model 1903 Mark I & Accessories, Parkerized 24” Bolt Action & Semi-Auto Rifle & Magazine, 1920 C&R
RARE WWI Pedersen Device, Springfield Armory Model 1903 Mark I & Accessories, Parkerized 24” Bolt Action & Semi-Auto Rifle & Magazine, 1920 C&R