3662

Spectacular Exceptionally Rare Original .276 Caliber Semi-Automatic Pedersen Carbine with Box of Amm

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:6,000.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Spectacular Exceptionally Rare Original .276 Caliber Semi-Automatic Pedersen Carbine with Box of Amm
Buyer's Premium is 19.5% by credit card, reduced to 17% if payment is made by cash, check or wire transfer. Contact Rock Island Auction Company to complete your registration with the auction house.

Estimate: $15000 - 25000
This is an extremely rare example of a late production Pedersen Calvary carbine chambered in the rare .276 cartridge, as produced by the Vickers-Armstrong Company in England. These rifles and carbines were designed by J. D. Pedersen, a very experienced and knowledgeable gun designer who was active in the 1915-1935 timeframe. He gained considerable experience and notoriety while working for Remington Arms where he designed and developed several new pump action shotguns and 22 caliber pump rifles. He was also the designer of the infamous "Pedersen Device" for the U.S. Army, in the 1918-1920 era, which converted 1903 bolt action rifles into a semi-automatic rifles. Based on this continued interest in semi-automatic rifles, he developed this new rifle using a delayed-blowback mechanism, along with a new, high velocity .276 cartridge. This rifle mechanism or action uses a toggle system similar to the Maxim machine guns and Luger pistols, only with a mechanical delay built into the action itself. This mechanical delay is accomplished by a internal camming mechanism that holds the toggle assembly closed, to allow gas to escape down the barrel, lowering the actual breech pressure prior to opening to prevent ruptured cases. His real motive for this design was to do away with any recoiling barrels or any gas trap mechanisms on the barrel itself. This design was considered so unique at the time that Springfield Armory hired him to develop and produce approximately 20 rifles for testing to include his new ".276" cartridge. The initial lot to test rifles was completed and sent out to the infantry and cavalry for field testing in 1927-28. All 20 rifles successfully passed the initial tests and the Ordnance Corp was sufficiently interested in it, that they approved his cartridge design and authorized Frankfurt Arsenal to make a limited run of ammunition and decided to submit the rifles and cartridges for further testing. The U.S. Army held a field testing of all semi-automatic rifles in 1929 using the recently adopted/approved .276 cartridge and the Pedersen design was submitted for testing. Also during the same 1928-1929 timeframe John Garand was redesigning his Garand semi-automatic rifle, to use the standard primer actuated firing mechanism, which he also chambered in the newly adopted .276 cartridge. He also submitted his new Garand rifle design for the 1929 test trials. Based on the initial success of the Pedersen design in 1923, the British were very interested in both his rifle design and cartridge and based on anticipating that the U.S. would accept the Pedersen design, instructed the Vickers company to begin working with Pedersen to develop their own version of semi-automatic rifle. The British government eventually produced a limited number of rifles and carbines for testing also using this new .276 cartridge. The Japanese also produced a few test samples based on this same delayed-blow back toggle mechanism. Both the Pedersen and Garand designs passed the test trials, in 1929, however, the Garand design proved to be the more robust and reliable design and was accepted for further testing. In 1932 the US Army decided to retain the old 30-06 cartridge and accepted the Garand design in this cartridge, both were eventually adopted by the US Army in 1936 as the standard M1 Rifle and the rest is history. With the U.S. Army reverting to the old 30-06 cartridge, the British eventually dropped the Pedersen design and cartridge. This example of a Calvary-Carbine is one of only a handful that were produced by the British for those initial test trials in the mid 1920s to early 1930s timeframe. The left side of the receiver is marked "PEDERSEN SELFLOADER PA./VICKERS-ARMSTRONGS LTD.". The top of the receiver ring has a small circular "C/2" proof stamp and the top of the breech bolt and left rear side of the receiver both have a small British "1916 London Nitro Proofmark". The right rear side of the receiver has the early serial number of "264". With no other markings on the carbine. This model has a very unique fully adjustable rear sight that employs a rotating drum mechanism for elevation along with a one-piece front sight. The carbine also has a very unique barrel in that the first nine inches has been machined with a angled/rotary set of cooling fins that go all around the entire outside of the barrel, which are visible through the handguard. As a Calvary-Carbine this example has fitted with a one-piece dark English walnut stock, with the shortened forend/stock with a single barrel band held on by a spring band, with a perforated metal handguard. This lot is complete with a copy of an original 1931 letter from J. D. Pedersen (on the letterhead of the Samuel Green Company) to Capt Porter in Oregon, stating that Springfield Armory was providing him with a test rifle SN 23 long with a suitable amount of ammunition for testing. In the letter he requests that after he finishes his testing, could he return the rifle back to the Samuel Green Company. Also in this lot is an original box of 1929 dated, .276 Pedersen test ammunition as manufactured by Frankfurt Arsenal and an original copy of a British field manual as produced by the Vickers-Armstrong Company, London England.
BBL: 23 inch
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 276
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 264
Condition: Excellent with 98% plus of the original blue finish overall on the metal with only very minor edge or high spot wear. The walnut stock is also in excellent condition with a beautiful dark medium brown oil stock finish, with only some minor handling marks overall with some slightly heavier pressure dents on the right side above the trigger guard area, probably from sitting in a wall-mounted rifle rack. The markings are clear and shape and the action functions perfectly. The letter, field manual and box of ammunition are all in excellent condition. A super example of a early 1920s era British made Pedersen Calvary-Carbine.