Only one ever built, a semi-auto 1903 Springfield

[tark]

Here's an odd duck for you. In 1909 A Rock Island Arsenal worker was tasked with converting a 1903 Springfield to semi-automatic. Only one was ever made. I don't know if it functioned or not. It featured a recoil operated action, whether it was long or short recoil I know not. As can be seen in the photos it is a rather complicated, bizarre contraption. The action cover was removed to show the internals. Another conversion featuring gas operation was made. It has since been lost in time.

This gun is currently on display at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum.

 

[Walkalong]

Cool, but can it really be called a 1903?

 

[4v50 Gary]

I wonder how much of the original if any of the 03 receiver remained? The Aussies did the same w/the SMLE.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I wonder how much of the original if any of the 03 receiver remained? The Aussies did the same w/the SMLE.

The Enfield conversions retained most of the original gun, just with an added gas piston and cam to flip the bolt around. Pretty ingenious, though still a cludge, lol.

 

[tark]

Cool, but can it really be called a 1903?

An excellent point! I'm thinking ...not really! There appears to be little remaining of the original gun.

I wonder how much of the original if any of the 03 receiver remained? The Aussies did the same w/the SMLE.

From what we can see...not much! Again, an excellent observation. I think I would not call this a conversion, more like a new manufactured action with a few of the original 1903 parts retained.

Nevertheless, it is a one off, only one in existence example of an early attempt at an autoloading rifle design.

There was another rifle made, with the same goal, which was gas operated. Little is known about it. Unfortunately, that rifle has been lost in the sands of time...

Or maybe not. I would not be the least bit surprised if Lysanderxiii weighs in and tells us what happened to it...

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

The ones that blow my mind are the Garand primer-piston guns, whereby the primer sits loosely in its pocket and combustion gas pushes it halfway out of the case against a tiny spring-loaded piston, which then locks the action until pressure drops low enough to permit cycling.
Reportedly, they worked very well, but couldn't run on any of the old stockpiled '06 ammunition of course.

 

[armoredman]

That is neat, indeed.

 

[MikeInOr]

Very unique and interesting specimen! I can't understand why they wouldn't go into production with it?

There was also, of course, the Pedersen device that was supposed to convert a 1903 to a semi-auto: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedersen_device

 

[Walkalong]

Nevertheless, it is

seriously cool.

 

[tark]

There was also, of course, the Pedersen device that was supposed to convert a 1903 to a semi-auto:

Not "supposed to," it did exactly that. They were made by Remington. 65,000 were completed, the war ended and the Army destroyed all but a handful of the things. There were also plans to make 1917 and Mosin Nagant devices. Don't know how many, if any, were actually made.

The ones that blow my mind are the Garand primer-piston guns, whereby the primer sits loosely in its pocket and combustion gas pushes it halfway out of the case against a tiny spring-loaded piston, which then locks the action until pressure drops low enough to permit cycling.
Reportedly, they worked very well, but couldn't run on any of the old stockpiled '06 ammunition of course.

You mean one of THESE? These pics were taken at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum in 2018, before the Army took back their guns. When the Army started crimping the primers, this system would no longer work. That's what I was told.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Not "supposed to," it did exactly that. They were made by Remington. 65,000 were completed, the war ended and the Army destroyed all but a handful of the things. There were also plans to make 1917 and Mosin Nagant devices. Don't know how many, if any, were actually made.

You mean one of THESE? These pics were taken at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum in 2018, before the Army took back their guns. When the Army started crimping the primers, this system would no longer work. That's what I was told.

Wow, you got to play with some amazing toys, Tark! I'm, like, soooooo jelly.

IIRC, There are several surviving M1917s milled for the Pedersen ejection port, but no actual devices for them.

 

[CapnMac]

and the Army destroyed all but a handful of the things.

One of which is up for sale at Rock Island Auction
https://www.rockislandauction.com/d...el-1903-mk1-bolt-action-rifle-pedersen-device
They have it listed as a C&R auction, even including the Device.