This is an exceptional example of a scarce, John D. Pedersen Designed Self-Loading Rifle manufactured by the Vickers-Armstrongs LTD. circa 1932. The Pedersen Self-Loading design was the result of U.S. Army interest in development of a semi-automatic infantry rifle following WWI. In 1923, the Ordnance Department awarded John D. Pedersen a contract to develop a semi-automatic rifle for the Army. Pedersen developed the .276 caliber Self-Loading Rifle. The Pedersen rifle was tested by the Ordnance Department and was initially recommended for adoption, however after additional testing of other candidates, the Infantry Board recommended the develop the T3 Garand manufactured by Springfield Armory. Prior to that, in 1930 the Pedersen Company had contracted with Vickers-Armstrongs LTD to manufacture approximately 200 self-loading rifles and 50 carbines for testing by the British Government. After the Army discontinued development of the Pedersen rifle, they were able to sell a limited number of rifles to China, Portugal, and even Japan who were also attempting to develop a self-loading rifle, possibly with his delayed blow back toggle mechanism. These rifles all have several distinctive features such as: (1) 10 round box magazine loaded with en-bloc clips, (2) fine adjustable, 1/2 minute rear sight, (3) unique 24 inch barrel with spiral cooling fins, (4) perforated metal hand guard and (5) sliding bar safety in the bolt. They are all chambered in the early rimless .276 bottleneck Pederson cartridge. The metal components have a dull military blue finish, and the one-piece black walnut stock is oil finished. The left side of the receiver is roll-stamped: "PEDERSEN SELFLOADER P.A/VICKERS-ARMSTRONGS.LTD" in two-lines. The serial number "159" is stamped on the right rear of the receiver. The top of the sliding bar safety is marked "REDY" on the left side and "SAFE" on the right side. An encircled "C/2" is stamped on the top of the receiver. There is an early Birmingham Nitro proofmark (used until 1925) stamped on the top of the front edge of the bolt and the left, rear side of the receiver. This is a high quality, well-finished rifle with finely milled components. The Pedersen Self-Loading Rifle was the primary competitor to the T3 semi-automatic rifle developed by John C. Garand and is a key piece in the development of the M1 Garand rifle. This Pedersen Self-Loading rifle would be an important addition to any advanced collection of U.S. military or British rifles. This rifle includes one original (full) 20 round box of .276 Pedersen ammunition.

Excellent with 98% of the original combination British military finish; that consists of a blue on the barrel with the darker matte blue on the complete receiver and magazine system with dried grease overall. The underside and internal components of the action area is still in the white to include the breech end of the barrel. The stock is in excellent condition with its nice original oil finish overall with only a couple of very minor handling marks/light pressure dents on the sides from handling over the years. This is a really nice, super high condition late production Pedersen self-loading rifle.