Page 313 - 4092-BOOK1-FLIPBOOK

LOT 312
U.S. Springfield Model 1903 Mark I Bolt Action Rifle with 1918 Mark I Pedersen
Device and Accessories - Serial no. 1164426, 30-06 cal., 24 inch round bbl., parkerized finish,
walnut stock. Very rare Mark I Pedersen Device,
Springfield M1903 Mark I rifle, rare 40-round
Pedersen Device magazine, Rock Island Arsenal
magazine pouch and M1903 bolt. Designated:
“Automatic Pistol, Caliber .30, Model of 19
- Mark I” by the Ordnance Department, the
Pedersen Device consisted of a replacement
bolt and 40-round magazine which fitted a
special Springfield Mark I M1903 with modified
receiver, stock, sear and magazine cut-off. The
Pedersen Device converted the bolt-action
M1903 to a semi-automatic rifle that fired a low
velocity .30 caliber pistol cartridge. Designed
by J.D. Pedersen, the Pedersen Device was
intended to provide the infantry with a close-
range semi-automatic rifle for suppressive fire that could be rapidly converted to the standard .30-06 M1903 bolt- action rifle. The Pedersen Device was developed secretly with the intent of introducing it on the Western Front for the allied spring 1919 offensive. The Ordnance Department issued procurement orders to Remington Arms, U.M.C Company for 65,000 Mark I Pedersen Devices, 1,600,000 magazines and 65,000,000 cartridges. Springfield Armory manufactured nearly 145,000 M1903 Mark I rifles. No Pedersen Devices or Mark I rifles had been issued when armistice was declared on November 11, 1918. The Mark I rifles and Pedersen Devices were placed in storage until 1931 when a decision was made to destroy the devices and ammunition. Army records show that 64,873 Pedersen Devices and 60 million rounds of ammunition were destroyed in April 1931. The Mark I rifles had the special sears and magazine cut-offs removed and were over-hauled. Very few complete Pedersen Devices and magazines escaped destruction. Complete Pedersen Devices with magazines are among the rarest and most desirable M1903 accessories. This Pedersen Device appears to be complete with the original black-green parkerized finish. The right side of the cocking piece is roll-stamped: “BRIDGEPORT/PEDERSENS PAT.S PENDING” in two lines. The left side of the cocking piece has the serial number scrubbed from the upper portion and is roll-stamped: “U.S.A.
1918-MARK I”. Both 40-round magazines have a black-green parkerized finish. One magazine
is stamped with the manufacturer’s code “SP” and the other is marked “BMG”. The web
magazine pouch is stamped: “R.I.A./7-19”. The M1903 rifle has the special receiver with oval
ejection port, special magazine cut-off and special sear. The stock is a standard
M1903 stock and lacks the indentation below the oval receiver ejection port
found on Mark I stocks. The receiver is roll-stamped with the “MARK I” designation
and the barrel is dated “SA/12-18”. Also included with the group is a WWI
M1907 sling.
CONDITION: Fine. The M1903 Mark I rifle has been arsenal overhauled
and retains 95% of the Springfield Armory parkerized finish. The lower
barrel band and face of the rear sight are parkerized. The stock has a
large “SA/JFC” rebuild cartouche on the left wrist and is stamped with
two encircled “P” proof marks behind the trigger guard. The stock
and handguard are very good overall with light handling wear. Fine.
The Pedersen Device appears to be complete with the exception of
the scrubbed serial number. The balance of the device retains 90% of
the original parkerized finish. The rare magazine is in excellent overall
condition and retain 95% of the original parkerized finish. Mechanically
needs adjustment when installed in rifle. The magazine pouch remains in
as-issued condition. This is a solid representative example of an extremely
rare and very desirable Mark I Pedersen Device with equally rare 40 round
magazine, magazine pouch and substantially complete M1903 Mark I rifle.
The Pedersen Device is one of the most desirable of all U.S. martial arms
accessories - no advanced collection of M1903 rifles or U.S. martial arms is
truly complete without a Pedersen Device.
Estimate: 18,000 - 27,500
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