Who Wants a 1919 M1903 with Pedersen Device Cutout?

[CmdrSlander]

Because I found one for $1300 in the gun library at the Kansas City Cabela's. Too much for me as I don't collect 1903s.

It looks to be in good shape, but I could not see down the bore (action locked closed by the store). Overall I would say the gun is in 85-90%. The barrel is dated February 1920, the action is September-November 1919. It has not been sporterized or messed with at all. This is just a heads up, I can't afford it and wouldn't want to spend the money on it if I could, but its of interest to the collectors among us I'm sure.

 

[AlexanderA]

The M1903 Mark I rifles are not all that rare (there were about 65,000 of them made). After the Pedersen devices were destroyed, the rifles had their special parts (magazine cutoffs, etc.) replaced by standard parts, and were put into regular service.

I've seen original Pedersen devices for sale recently in the $40,000 range. (These were some of the few that escaped destruction.) At that price, it's expected that a Mark I rifle is included.

Even more rare -- if any still exist --are the modified rifles for the prototype Mark II Pedersen device (M1917 Enfield) and the Mark III Pedersen device (U.S.-made Mosin-Nagant). These have to be "holy grails" of U.S. military collecting.

 

[Hacker15E]

A Mark I with all of the Mark I parts will be worth more than a standard M1903, but the vast majority of Mark Is were retrofitted with standard '03 parts...making them just ordinary 1903s.