I have a boner for a pedersen. THere's one for sale in the states-$17,250(http://julia.hanovercomputer.com/firearms/mar04/Catalog/images/50330.jpg). I know, originals are near impossible to find. But you think any reasonably equipped manufacturer could turn these out for a reasonable cost...
Pedersen Device
- Thread starter ollie
- Start date
- Location
- Edmonton, AB
And just exactly WHAT is it?
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
A bit more. Basicaly it was a .32 ACP mechanism designed to replace the bolt on the 03, having a 30 rd magazine The idea was for everyone to march forward, firing the rifle as their left foot hit the ground. supposedly this would make the nasty hun keep his head down until the victorious doughboys could assualt the trench. One could then replace the device with the regular bolt and carry on.
An excercise in sublime idiocy that, while making it into production, thankfuly NEVER got to the Western front. I believe 10,000 were made and most were turned into something useful like manhole covers or gas cookers after the war.
Rifles altered as such had an ejection port milled into the left side of the reciever and a special sear was installed. Many rifles so altered were rebuilt as standard rifles without the double sear.
An excercise in sublime idiocy that, while making it into production, thankfuly NEVER got to the Western front. I believe 10,000 were made and most were turned into something useful like manhole covers or gas cookers after the war.
Rifles altered as such had an ejection port milled into the left side of the reciever and a special sear was installed. Many rifles so altered were rebuilt as standard rifles without the double sear.
The Pederson Device did indeed turn an '03 into a semi-auto. It used special .30 calibre ammo about the same size and power as the .32 ACP. The ammo used an 80 grain bullet at 1300 fps. It completely replaced the bolt and came with a 40 round mag. The mag stuck out at a 45 degree angle.
The daft thing is that the device worked fairly well. Hatcher and Pederson demonstrated it in front of Pershing. Pershing wanted 100,000 of them. 65,000 had been made by the end of W.W I. A few years after the end of the war, the U.S. Army decided not to keep them and had most of them destoyed.
The daft thing is that the device worked fairly well. Hatcher and Pederson demonstrated it in front of Pershing. Pershing wanted 100,000 of them. 65,000 had been made by the end of W.W I. A few years after the end of the war, the U.S. Army decided not to keep them and had most of them destoyed.
John Sukey said:An excercise in sublime idiocy that, while making it into production, thankfuly NEVER got to the Western front. I believe 10,000 were made and most were turned into something useful like manhole covers or gas cookers after the war.
Why do you think it was idiotic? It has long seemed to me that a semi-auto with a large magazine would have made a huge difference in opening up a static front. You are right, though. The majority of pedersen devices wound up in burn piles post-war, and apparently many of the survivors have scorch marks, having been pocketed by soldiers manning the piles!
Production version was for the M1903. Prototypes were made for SMLE, Enfield and MN rifles. The French 7.65 Longue service cartridge as used in the M1935 pistols and Mas smg was derived from the Pedersen round.
A modern version could probably be made. Might be an interesting project. In a sense the unit might be akin to the calibre conversion units made for various pistols.
But would there be a market? Such devices wouldn't be cheap, and there are a wide array of different rifles in many calibres. I just don't see it as being commercially viable.
A modern version could probably be made. Might be an interesting project. In a sense the unit might be akin to the calibre conversion units made for various pistols.
But would there be a market? Such devices wouldn't be cheap, and there are a wide array of different rifles in many calibres. I just don't see it as being commercially viable.
