*RARE MODEL 1903 MARK I BOLT ACTION RIFLE WITH ORIGINAL PEDERSEN DEVICE AND TWO MAGAZINES.

*RARE MODEL 1903 MARK I BOLT ACTION RIFLE WITH ORIGINAL PEDERSEN DEVICE AND TWO MAGAZINES. SN 1035807 & Device #60839. Cal. 30-06/30 Model 1918. Standard Mark I Springfield with 6-18 dated Springfield barrel, standard sights and mounted in a later Type-C pistol-grip stock with “DAL” cartouche. It has milled front band/bayonet lug with stacking swivel and grooved lower band with sling swivel and a corresponding sling swivel in the buttstock. It has full-checkered buttplate with trap. Accompanied by an original Remington-Bridgeport Mark I Pedersen device, serial no. 60839. Also accompanied by an original Pedersen device carrying can, two original magazines and an original Rock Island Arsenal OD canvas magazine pouch dated 1-20. During the period October 1917 through March 1919, approximately 65,000 Mark I Pedersen devices were produced along with 1,600,000 magazines and 65,000,000 cartridges. In 1920, the Springfield Armory altered 64,137 Model 1903 rifles to the Mark I configuration. The last experiments with ammunition for this device were conducted in April 1921 and in April 1931 64,873 devices and 60,000,000 rounds of ammunition were destroyed. By 1938 all of the Mark I rifles in storage had the special parts removed and were reclassified standard 1903 rifles. Originally this project had been classified Top Secret with knowledge of its existence maintained among a few senior officers and testing personnel only. However, in 1945, at the end of World War II, a complete M1903 Mark I rifle and device were found in the military museum in Nuremberg, Germany. It had been in the collection for a quarter century, “THE SECRET HAD LEAKED”. The above technical information and manufacturing numbers were obtained from The Springfield 1903 Rifles, Brophy. That information is found in this book on Pages 154 through 174. It is apparent from the above numbers that 127 of these devices were not “destroyed” as reported although, undoubtedly, many were destroyed or lost during testing. The remainder wound up as surplus and in salvage yards and sold by the military for scrap. Only a few were placed in military museums and very few have ever found their way onto the commercial market making this one of the most rare military accessories in the world. CONDITION: The rifle and stock are extremely fine, retaining most of their original arsenal finish. Floorplate and trigger guard finish is slightly thin. Stock has a very few minor nicks and scratches, and retains about all of its orig oil finish. Pedersen device retains about 97-98% strong original blackish oxide finish. Can, probably one of the finest extant, retains about 98% strong original blackish oxide finish. Magazines are extremely fine, retaining about all of their original finish. Magazine pouch has had the dividers removed but otherwise is crisp and new. Rifle mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 4-38825 JR162 (27,500-37,500)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1026	$57,500.00	RARE MODEL 1903 MARK I BOLT ACTION RIFLE WITH ORIGINAL PEDERSEN DEVICE AND TWO MAGAZINES. SN 1035807 & Device #60839. Cal. 30-06/30 Model 1918. Standard Mark I Springfield with 6-18 dated Springfield barrel, standard sights and mounted in a later Type-C pistol-grip stock with “DAL” cartouche. It has milled front band/bayonet lug with stacking swivel and grooved lower band with sling swivel and a corresponding sling swivel in the buttstock. It has full-checkered buttplate with trap. Accompanied by an original Remington-Bridgeport Mark I Pedersen device, serial no. 60839. Also accompanied by an original Pedersen device carrying can, two original magazines and an original Rock Island Arsenal OD canvas magazine pouch dated 1-20. During the period October 1917 through March 1919, approximately 65,000 Mark I Pedersen devices were produced along with 1,600,000 magazines and 65,000,000 cartridges. In 1920, the Springfield Armory altered 64,137 Model 1903 rifles to the Mark I configuration. The last experiments with ammunition for this device were conducted in April 1921 and in April 1931 64,873 devices and 60,000,000 rounds of ammunition were destroyed. By 1938 all of the Mark I rifles in storage had the special parts removed and were reclassified standard 1903 rifles. Originally this project had been classified Top Secret with knowledge of its existence maintained among a few senior officers and testing personnel only. However, in 1945, at the end of World War II, a complete M1903 Mark I rifle and device were found in the military museum in Nuremberg, Germany. It had been in the collection for a quarter century, “THE SECRET HAD LEAKED”. The above technical information and manufacturing numbers were obtained from The Springfield 1903 Rifles, Brophy. That information is found in this book on Pages 154 through 174. It is apparent from the above numbers that 127 of these devices were not “destroyed” as reported although, undoubtedly, many were destroyed or lost during testing. The remainder wound up as surplus and in salvage yards and sold by the military for scrap. Only a few were placed in military museums and very few have ever found their way onto the commercial market making this one of the most rare military accessories in the world. CONDITION: The rifle and stock are extremely fine, retaining most of their original arsenal finish. Floorplate and trigger guard finish is slightly thin. Stock has a very few minor nicks and scratches, and retains about all of its orig oil finish. Pedersen device retains about 97-98% strong original blackish oxide finish. Can, probably one of the finest extant, retains about 98% strong original blackish oxide finish. Magazines are extremely fine, retaining about all of their original finish. Magazine pouch has had the dividers removed but otherwise is crisp and new. Rifle mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 4-38825 JR162 (27,500-37,500) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009 Please Note:* All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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