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LOT 1336
U.S. Springfield Model 1903 Mark I Bolt Action Rifle with
Rare 1918 Mark I Pedersen Semi-Automatic Device, Pedersen Ammunition and Accessories - Serial no. 1083512, 30-06 Springfield cal., 24 inch round bbl., blue/parkerized/black finish, walnut stock. This U.S. Springfield M1903 Mark I rifle is accompanied by a rare example of a Pedersen Device with a 40-round Pedersen Device magazine, two Pedersen Device adjustment wrenches, “R.I.A./1919” marked tan canvas rifle bolt carrier, “R.I.A./7-19” marked tan canvas Pedersen Device magazine pouch, one 40-round full
box of rare .30-18 Pedersen ammunition, and a scanned copy of
a Pedersen Device manual. The Pedersen Device consists of an ‘automatic bolt’ with 40-round magazine which when fitted in
place of the standard rifle bolt of the Springfield M1903 Mark I rifle, allows the rifle to fire semi-automatically. The Pedersen Device was developed secretly and named the “Automatic Pistol, Caliber .30 Model 1918” with the intent of introducing it on the Western Front
for the allied spring 1919 offensive. The Ordnance Department initially issued procurement orders to Remington for 133,450 Mark I Pedersen Devices, but the contract was canceled due to the end of the war, after production of approximately 65,000 Pedersen Devices, 1,600,000 magazines and 65,000,000 cartridges. Springfield Armory continued to manufacture nearly 145,000 M1903 Mark I rifles. 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. The left of the Pedersen Device cocking piece is marked “U.S.A. 1918-MARK I/25538 “ in two lines and “REMINGTON-BRIDGEPORT/PEDERSEN’S PAT’S. PENDING” on the right.