This rare British experimental Pedersen Self-Loading Rifle was manufactured by Vickers Armstrong LTD., c. 1930. The British Vickers Armstrong Pedersen semi-automatic rifle was developed by John D. Pedersen under contract with the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps in the 1920s as a replacement for the bolt action Model 1903 and Model 1917 rifles. The Pedersen semi-automatic rifle was chambered for a .276 cartridge and featured a delayed blow-back toggle action with clip fed, ten-round magazine. The rifle had a ventilated, stamped, steel hand guard, and walnut stock with grasping groove. Following successful initial tests by the U.S. Army Infantry Board, the British government decided to produce limited numbers of the Pedersen rifle for testing. Although Infantry Board tests of the Pedersen rifle were positive, the Ordnance Department decided to retain the existing .30-06 cartridge and eliminated consideration of the .276 Pedersen rifle in favor of the .30 caliber M1 Garand rifle. The .276 cartridge was not popular with the British and development of the Pedersen rifle was not pursued by the British Army following the U.S. Army decision to develop the Garand rifle. Total production of the Vickers Armstrong was approximately 200 rifles. Surviving examples of the British Pedersen rifles are rare. This rifle has a military blue finish on the metal components with oiled walnut stock. The left side of the receiver rail is roll-stamped: "PEDERSEN SELFLOADER PA/ARMSTRONG LTD.". The serial number is roll-stamped on the right side of the receiver rail. The rifle is fitted with a U.S. Model 1907 leather sling and is complete with a Pedersen .276 clip. The Pedersen semi-automatic rifle was a well-designed firearm that represents a key stage in the development of the military semi-automatic rifle.

Exceptionally fine. This rare Pedersen Self-Loading Rifle is all original and retains 85% plus of the original military blue finish. The markings are crisp. The oil-finished walnut stock remains in very fine condition with some minor handling and storage marks. This is an excellent example of a rare and historically significant Pedersen Self-Loading rifle that would compliment both an advanced U.S. or British martial arms collection.