This is an exceptional example of a scarce, John D. Pedersen designed Self-Loading Rifle manufactured by Vickers-Armstrongs LTD. circa 1931. In 1923, the Army hired J.D. Pedersen to design a semi-automatic rifle as a replacement for the Model 1903 and Model 1917 rifles. The first Pedersen Self-Loading Rifle was chambered in .276 caliber and was approved for testing in 1924. In 1927, Springfield Armory manufactured twenty Pedersen rifles for initial field testing with these rifles intended to run concurrent with the .276 caliber semi-automatic rifle developed by John C. Garand as a potential candidate for replacing bolt action rifle and the 30-06 cartridge. The Pedersen rifle performed well in the initial service tests, and in 1929/30, Pedersen contracted with Vickers-Armstrong (of England) to manufacture approximately 200 of the Pedersen Self-Loading Rifles for use in the final Army tests between the Pedersen rifle and the new M1 Garand rifles. Although both passed, in 1932, the Army selected the Garand rifle in .30-06 for limited procurement. Consequently, the Army stopped all further development of the Pedersen rifle. 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-blowback 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) 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 "204" 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.

Excellent with 95% plus of its original blue/black finish remains overall with only minor edge and high spot wear. The stock and handguard are also both in excellent condition showing only minor handling marks on the sides of the stock. The action hand cycles correctly. This would be an exceptional example to add to any high end M1 Garand rifle collection or an advanced U.S. Martial arms collection.