This is an example of a scarce John D. Pedersen designed self-loading rifle that was manufactured by Vickers-Armstrongs LTD. circa 1932. The Pedersen Self-Loading design was the result of U.S. Army interest in development of a semi-automatic infantry rifle following WWI. In 1923, the Ordnance Department awarded John D. Pedersen a contract to develop a semi-automatic rifle for the Army, to which Pedersen developed the .276 caliber Self-Loading Rifle. The Pedersen rifle was tested by the Ordnance Department and recommended for adoption in 1928. In 1930, Pedersen contracted with the English firm, Vickers-Armstrongs LTD. to manufacture his rifle for the Army. However, after additional testing in 1931, the Infantry Board recommended that the Army develop an alternate rifle the "T3 Garand" as designed and manufactured by Springfield Armory. As we all know eventually the M1 Garand was chosen over the Pedersen rifle and as such the Vickers-Armstrongs company only manufactured approximately 250 of these rifles. The Pedersen Self-Loading rifles were tested by the British Government, however they chose to stay with the British Enfield design of WWI. Many of these rifles were later sold to China and Portugal with the Japanese also producing a few test samples based on this delayed-blow back toggle mechanism. This rifle is chambered for the .276 rimless cartridge and has the distinctive Pedersen Self-Loading rifle features which include: (1) 10 round box magazine loaded with en-bloc clips,(2) fine adjustable, 1/2 minute rear sight, (3) unique 24 inch barrel with spiral cooling fins, (4) perforated metal hand guard, (5) sliding bar safety in the bolt, 6) and the short "carbine" length stock. The metal components have a dull military blue finish, and the one-piece, black walnut, stock is oil finished. The left side of the receiver is roll-stamped: "PEDERSEN SELFLOADER P.A/VICKERS-ARMSTRONGS.LTD" in two-lines. The serial number "199" is stamped on the right rear of the receiver. The top of the sliding bar safety is marked "REDY" on the left side and "SAFE" on the right side. An encircled "C/2" is stamped on the top of the receiver and below it is stamped with the early Birmingham Nitro proofmarks, as well as on the top of the front edge of the bolt and the left, rear side of the receiver. The Pedersen Self-Loading Rifle was the primary competitor to the T3 semi-automatic rifle developed by John C. Garand and is a key piece in the development of the M1 Garand rifle. It is complete with one original enbloc clip.

Very fine with 85% of the slightly faded original combination parkerized/blue finish showing only minor edge and high spot wear, with thinning on the extend box magazine. The refurbished stock is in very good condition, with an old repaired crack on the left side of the front forend area, above the middle barrel band. The wood has been heavily sanded and revarnished with the middle and upper barrel bands having been nicely refinished. This is still a very scarce and very desirable early Vickers-Armstrong Pedersen rifle.