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  • /Lot 1308

Lot 1308:Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd. Pedersen Self-Loading Rifle

August 24th, 2024|Bedford, TX
  • /Auctions...
  • /Catalog...
  • /Lot 1308

Lot 1308:Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd. Pedersen Self-Loading Rifle

August 24th, 2024|Bedford, TX
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Estimated Price$8,000 - $13,000
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Rare Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd. Pedersen Self-Loading Semi-Automatic Rifle with Clip and Ammunition Box

Originally conceived by John 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. Includes an original Pedersen 10-round en-bloc clip and a full 20-count box of 1929 dated Frankford Arsenal .276 Pedersen cartridges.

ConditionVery fine, retains 80% original blue finish with scattered light to mild freckling, and an absent rear sight assembly. Stock is fine as re-oiled, with numerous scattered light scratches and dents. Mechanically excellent. Clip is fine, ammunition box is good.
Details
ManufacturerVickers-Armstrongs Ltd
ModelPedersen
TypeRifle
Serial number
ClassCurio & Relic Long Gun
Caliber / Gauge276
Barrel24 inch round
Finishblue
Stockwalnut

Item LocationBedford, TX
Views2115
Catalog page286
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