The .276 caliber Pedersen was the primary competitor to the Garand as the first US military self-loading rifle. It used a Luger-style toggle action. Its main flaw was that it required lubricated cartridges. This lubrication came in the form of a thin and hard wax coating which was not obvious to the casual shooter, but it was made a significant argument against the Pedersen and for the Garand rifle. The Pedersen also was heavier and used more parts than the Garand design.
Manuals
Vickers-Armstrong Handbook of the Pedersen Self-Loading Rifle (English)
Documents
Letter from John Pedersen to Captain E.B. Porter with sample rifle
Patents
US Patent 1,062,604 (John D. Pedersen, Gun-Operating Cartridge, May 27, 1913)
US Patent 1,123,362 (John D. Pedersen, Cartridge, January 5, 1915)
Photos
Vintage news clippings, plus Aberdeen Proving Ground photos (click here to download the whole gallery in high resolution)
Original 10-round clip of .276 Pedersen
Resources
Milsurps.com has an excellent two-part article on the Pedersen, with dozens of photos. You can see it here: Part 1 – Part 2
john pedersen was my great grandfather! i never got to meet him but im having fun reading up on him and his past. my uncle pat moneypenny has alot of his old army stuff and his original browning 1911 which was a gift from john browning himself! i also have some old photos of my great grandfather with browning on a few hunting trips. do you know where i could get pedersen device parts? my family has no parts or pieces except some sketches and designs. the only relative that has any information doesnt want to talk, his grandaughter, my great aunt.
Mr. Gardner, may I suggest you go to a high class gunsmith or engineer with your schematics and see if he can build a copy of one for you. It won’t be worth too much, but it may be the only chance you have for getting one, as a recent auction for a Pederson Device and a few cases of ammo went for around $60,000(if memory serves). You would need to find a proper M1903 Mark I to use the Device and a few cases of either the original .30-18 ammo or get some French 7.65×20 Longue ammo (they are nearly identical)
Also if I may inquire, do you know of any remaining Pederson Rifles or even an en-bloc of his .276 ammunition that are on the market, as I would love to acquire one at some point
Hello Mr. Gardner,
I’m actually looking for some more information myself. I personally have two Mark 1 rifles with all the correct parts to accept a Pedersen device. I also have a Pedersen device which may have belonged to your great grandfather. The device I have came with a presentation clip that was given to your grandfather and has never been separated from the device. I’m looking for more information pertaining to this device because Remington has nothing on file having to do with Pedersen Device serial numbers.
I’m also looking for an En-Bloc for my Pedersen rifle.