andrewdl007
Member
I saw a show a while back, about the Pederson device which made the 1903 Springfield a semi-automatic rifle, with a lower powered 30cal. round (I think) Has anyone out there shot or own a Pederson Device 1903 Springfield?
Has Anyone ever shot a 1903 Pederson rifle?
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Buzzbox
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That's an expensive question, to be answered by what most would term an "advanced collector."
I'll be surprised if anyone has first hand experience.
I'll be surprised if anyone has first hand experience.
41magsnub
Member
Isn't that one of the most rare gun items ever? I thought all but a couple were destroyed for some reason.
tkendrick
Member
IIRC- There's only one known example and I think its in the Smithsonion.
OP
OP
andrewdl007
Member
I could have sworn on "Tales of the gun" they shot some rounds out of one. It may have been old footage.
Car Knocker
Member
Perhaps a reproduction of the device?
trstafford
Member
It was not a reproduction
They tried to fire one on one of the gun shows. It was the museum curator I don't remember his name.
They tried to fire one on one of the gun shows. It was the museum curator I don't remember his name.
Vityaz
Member
The modified 03 Springfields aren't overly rare, but they aren't common.
selector67
Member
On an episode of mail call the Gunny tried shooting one, but I think the ammunition craped out, too old.
No, there's more then one floating around. I think there are a dozen or so in private hands. Maybe a few less, maybe a couple more.
Dick Culver over at Culver's Shooting Page www.jouster.com owns one. He's posted about shooting it a few times.
His wife *LOVES* to troll gunshows with it. They'll install it on the correct '03 Springfield and she'll bring it into a show saying, "I inherited this from my Father, how much is it worth?" Some guys will be honest and tell her it's worth more then they can pay and to get it appraised, etc, but most guys will lowball her to try to buy it. She says guys will follow her around the whole show!
One of the gun rags shot and reviewed a Pederson a couple years back. Shooting Times, maybe? You might find the article in a Google search or Findarticles search.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
The rifles aren't that uncommon, but the bolts are very rare. Some ten years or so ago I saw an estimated value for a bolt at $3,750. Nowadays? Quien sabe? Sorta guessing, a 90% rifle probably would bring around $2,000, although I haven't paid that much attention lately...
Vern Humphrey
Member
By "bolt," I assume you mean the Pedersen device itself -- since it replaces the regular bolt when used.
Normally, the soldier would have carried the Pedersen device in a case on his belt. On reaching the German trenches, he would pull the bolt from his M1903 MKI Springfield and replace it with the Pedersen device.
M1903 MKI Springfields differ from other Springfields by having an ejection port milled in the left receiver wall, and having a slightly different sear arraingement.
Normally, the soldier would have carried the Pedersen device in a case on his belt. On reaching the German trenches, he would pull the bolt from his M1903 MKI Springfield and replace it with the Pedersen device.
M1903 MKI Springfields differ from other Springfields by having an ejection port milled in the left receiver wall, and having a slightly different sear arraingement.
cracked butt
Member
Essex County
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I have the rifle but neither the device or the ammunition. A few of the devices may be in collector's hands. I understand 65 million rounds of the ammunition was destroyed. Good luck tracking one down. Essex
Eightball
Member
I thought it was designed to be replaced before the charge, and used in similar capacity to the BAR--to keep their heads down while crossing no man's land? One's thing's for sure, the heck if I would want to volunteer to disable my firearm once I was in the enemy trench.
cracked butt
Member
I wouldn't want to trade a 30-06 for something that's about on par with or a little more powerful than a .32 acp either.
Hatcher's Notebook has a chapter about the Pederson device. Hatcher actually dealt with them and includes a description of operation, some ancedotes about range trials and number of photos, including one of his son (a Lt. at the time) shooting one in 1947, with some of the 1918 mfg ammo.
BTW, he indicates that War Department officials had visions of troops advancing across No Man's Land while smothering the enemy trenches with bullets out of these things.
BTW, he indicates that War Department officials had visions of troops advancing across No Man's Land while smothering the enemy trenches with bullets out of these things.
Vern Humphrey
Member
The US Army entered the war with little recent combat experience, and we got a lot of ideas from our Allies -- who themselves had a warped idea of the battlefield because they commanded from the rear and never went to the front.
Sir John French, the first commander of the BEF, did not visit the trenches until he went to say goodbye to the troops -- and he burst into tears saying, "Good God! Did we send men to fight under these conditioins?"
His successor, Douglas Haig, wouldn't even visit the wounded, for fear it would make him "soft."
tacweapon
Member
After reading this I am kicking myself in the butt, there was a M1903 Springfield with a pederson device for $ 800 or $ 900 in local classifieds, I did not realize they were so rare or I would have bought it.
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