Very rare Mark I Pedersen Device, Springfield M1903 Mark I rifle, one rare 40-round Pedersen Device magazine, one Remington Arms 40-count box of .30-18 Pedersen cartridges, Rock Island Arsenal "7-19" dated magazine pouch. Designated "Automatic Pistol, Caliber .30, Model of 19 - Mark I" by the Ordnance Department, the Pedersen Device consisted of a replacement bolt and 40-round magazine which fitted a special Springfield Mark I M1903 with modified receiver, stock, sear, and magazine cut-off. The Pedersen Device converted the bolt-action M1903 to a semi-automatic rifle that fired a low velocity .30 caliber pistol cartridge. Designed by John D. Pedersen, the Pedersen Device was intended to provide the infantry with a close-range high-capacity semi-automatic rifle for suppressive fire that could be rapidly converted to the standard .30-06 M1903 bolt-action rifle. The Pedersen Device was developed secretly with the intent of introducing it on the Western Front for the allied spring 1919 offensive. The Ordnance Department issued procurement orders to Remington Arms, U.M.C Company for 65,000 Mark I Pedersen Devices, 1,600,000 magazines and 65,000,000 cartridges. Springfield Armory manufactured nearly 145,000 M1903 Mark I rifles. No Pedersen Devices or Mark I rifles had been issued when armistice was declared on November 11, 1918. 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. This Pedersen Device appears to have not been marked with the standard markings on the cocking knob as typically seen other standard serialized examples. Under hard light with a close eye, the left side top corner of the cocking piece has a faint small "FA" mark, which may stand for Frankford Arsenal although unconfirmed. Page 165-166 of Brophy's book "The Springfield 1903 Rifles" has a chronology of main events during consideration by the U.S. of the Pedersen Device and states "April of 1921 The last experiments with ammunition for the device were conducted at the Frankford Arsenal." A hand-numbered upside down "20" is visible on the front surface of the cocking knob. This Pedersen Device, marked as such, could have possibly been a test piece made for the aforementioned Frankford Arsenal ammunition experiments. The included 40-round magazine is stamped with the manufacturer's code "OCL". The M1903 Mark I rifle has the special receiver with oval ejection port, special first variation two-lug magazine cut-off (reference page 155 of Brophy's book "The Springfield 1903 Rifles") and special sear. The correct Mark I stock has the indentation below the oval receiver ejection, "RA-P" arsenal overhaul stamp on the left wrist, and a circled "P" proof. The receiver is roll-stamped with the "MARK I" designation, and the barrel is dated "SA/(flaming bomb)/11-18". Absent standard M1903 bolt. One absent retaining pin in the rear of the Pedersen device. Also included with the group is a World War I era M1907 sling, "SA" 1918 dated parkerized bayonet, and canvas wrapped scabbard with name "R.L. DAWSON" handwritten in black ink. Provenance: The George Moller Collection

The M1903 Mark I rifle is very fine as arsenal overhauled and retains 95% arsenal parkerized finish. The replacement rear sight retains most of its refinished blue finish with scattered moderate pitting. Stock is fine as lightly sanded and re-oiled with some light scratches and light handling wear. Mechanically excellent, although absent standard rifle bolt as mentioned above. The Pedersen Device is also fine, retains 90% original parkerized finish with some very light pitting on the cocking knob. The rare magazine is excellent overall and retains 95% original parkerized finish with a few very small patches of light pitting. The Pedersen Device mechanically functions fine when installed in rifle, one absent retaining pin in the rear as mentioned above. Included magazine pouch is very fine. Included bayonet is fine, retains 97% refinished parkerized finish with some patches of mild pitting concentrated at the end of the blade, and the scabbard is also fine with some light wear and handwritten name as mentioned above. This is a solid representative example of an extremely rare and very desirable Mark I Pedersen Device with an equally rare 40-round magazine, magazine pouch, M1903 Mark I rifle, bayonet and scabbard. The Pedersen Device is one of the most desirable of all U.S. martial arms accessories, and no advanced collection of M1903 rifles or U.S. Military arms is truly complete without a Pedersen Device.