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LOT 1294
Excellent Documented U.S. Springfield M1 Garand Type I National
Match Semi-Automatic Rifle with Raritan Arsenal Sales Record - Serial no. 5834450, 30-06
Springfield cal., 24 inch round bbl., parkerized finish, walnut stock. This is an excellent example of a late production U.S.
Springfield M1 Garand manufactured as an early pattern Type I National Match M1 Garand Rifle. Due to rules in place that
required National Match weapons to be essentially “as issued”, none of the more extensive upgrades seen on the subsequent Type II National Match Garand
rifles are present on the Type I. In lieu of proprietary components, the Type Is were built using hand picked components with great attention to fit and detail, making
them “as issued” but of the highest possible quality. The original included document, titled “Rifle Sales Record” identifies this rifle by serial number as a “National Match” sold to
an individual in Culver City, California, from the Raritan Arsenal on January 17th, 1956, (the rifle was likely brand new when sold). Springfield barrel dated “3 55” with correct “T”,
“U”, “M”, “P” and DoD eagle stamps on the right of the chamber, “NM” marked on the left of the barrel, “DRC” windage knob, “SA” relief cut operating rod, bolt, trigger group, hammer and safety,
and standard markings on the receiver heel. Smooth pistol grip stock (not glass bedded, correct for a Type I National Match) with DoD eagle stamp on the left, circled “P” proof on the underside
of the wrist, and checkered steel buttplate. Information on these Type I National Match M1 Garand rifles can be found on pages 546-550 of the book “The M1 Garand Rifle” by Bruce Canfield.
CONDITION: Excellent plus, retains 99% original parkerized finish with some light handling marks. Stock is also excellent with rich oil finish and distinct edges, a hairline crack in the upper handguard, a few scattered light dings
and handling marks, and a clear cartouche. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 1293
Rare Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd. Pedersen Self-Loading Semi-Automatic Rifle - Serial
no. 94, 276 cal., 24 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Originally conceived by American
arms designer John D. Pedersen in 1924 and developed into the 1930s, the Pedersen self-loader was the strongest competitor to John Garand’s rifle
for adoption by the U.S. Army as their first self-loading infantry rifle. Both were originally developed around the Pedersen-designed .276 Pedersen cartridge
to have a more compact, lightweight and easy-shooting operation than a .30-06 gas or recoil driven rifle,
with the Pedersen using a novel delayed blowback toggle lock system (often compared to the Luger Parabellum
system). While a novel weapon, and somewhat prescient in light of later efforts to introduce small bore high velocity
infantry arms, Pedersen’s cartridge was met with mixed response by the Army, which had concerns about lethality and the use of
waxed cartridges to aid feeding and extraction, as well as the logistics burden of fielding infantry units with .276 caliber rifles and
.30-06 caliber machine guns. The .276 failed to displace the .30-06 as the main infantry cartridge, and Garand scaled up his rifle to
handle the larger round, in turn making history with what was officially adopted as the M1 Garand rifle in U.S. military service. While
not closing the deal with the U.S. Army, the level of interest shown to Pedersen’s design intrigued other nations eyeballing a semi-
auto upgrade, leading to talks with the Imperial Japanese Army and the United Kingdom, the latter leading to a partnership with
Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd., though in the end the British opted to stick with the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield bolt action rifle, shelving the semi-
automatic question until after World War II. Pedersen rifles and carbines were made in limited quantities and earmarked for (often deliberately
harsh or destructive) government testing, making surviving examples rare in any condition. Blade front sight, absent adjustable peep rear sight,
with the deeply cut half-fluted barrel protected by a ventilated steel handguard. Bayonet lug located on bottom of the front barrel band. The top of the
chamber is stamped with a circled “C/2”, with “PEDERSEN SELFLOADER PA/VICKERS-ARMSTRONGS LTD.” on
the left side of the receiver and the serial number on the right. A set of small “Lion” proofs are present on the
receiver and the bolt, the latter fitted with a “SAFE” and “REDY” marked crossbar safety. The smooth pistol
grip stock is ventilated along the bottom and fitted with an enlarged magazine floorplate to accommodate
an en-bloc clip, with a pair of sling swivels and a checkered steel buttplate.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 85% original blue finish with some areas fading to a smooth brown patina on
the balance and sharp markings and edges in the metal overall. Stock is fine with rich oil finish, scattered
light scratches and dents, numerous bullet tip dings on the right below the receiver, and defined edges.
Mechanically excellent. This excellent Pedersen semi-automatic rifle would be a significant addition in any advanced military arms collection!
Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000