Editing Pedersen device (section)

{{Infobox weapon
| name = Pedersen device, officially US Automatic Pistol, Caliber .30, Model of 1918
| image = U.S. RIFLE MODEL 1903 MkI .30(1).jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = 
| origin = United States
| type = [[Semi-automatic rifle]]
<!-- Type selection -->| is_ranged = yes
<!-- Service history -->| service = 1918–1931
| used_by = [[United States Army]]
| wars = <!-- Production history -->
| designer = [[John Pedersen (arms designer)|John Pedersen]]
| design_date = 1917
| manufacturer = [[Rock Island Arsenal]] (bolts)<br>Mount Vernon Silversmiths (magazines)
| production_date = 1918—1920
| number = 65,000<ref name=nra>{{cite journal |last1=Canfield |first1=Bruce N. |year=2003 |title=Never in Anger: the Pedersen Device |journal=[[American Rifleman]] |volume=151 |issue=June |pages=58–61&71 |publisher=[[National Rifle Association of America]]}}</ref>
| variants = <!-- General specifications -->
| weight = {{convert|2|lb|2|oz|abbr=on}} empty<br>{{convert|3|lb|2|oz|abbr=on}} loaded<ref name=nra/>
| length = {{convert|43.2|in|mm|abbr=on}}
| part_length = 
| width = 
| crew = <!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| cartridge = [[7.65mm Longue|.30-18 Auto (7.65×20mm Longue)]]
| action = Simple [[blowback (firearms)|blowback]]
| rate = 
| velocity = 
| range = 
| max_range = 
| feed = 40-round box [[Magazine (firearm)|magazine]]
| sights = Flip-up rear sight graduated to 2,700 yd (2,500 m), blade post-type front sight
}}

The '''Pedersen device''' was an experimental weapon attachment for the [[M1903 Springfield]] [[bolt action]] [[rifle]] that allowed it to fire a [[7.62 mm caliber|.30 caliber]] (7.62&nbsp;mm) pistol-type cartridge in [[semi-automatic rifle|semi-automatic]] fire mode.<ref name="guns.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.guns.com/2013/06/22/perishings-super-weapon-the-pedersen-device/|last=Eger|first=Chris|title=The Pedersen Device: The WWI superweapon that (almost) won the war.|publisher=Guns.com|date=2013-06-22|access-date=2017-12-07|archive-date=2018-08-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828035617/https://www.guns.com/2013/06/22/perishings-super-weapon-the-pedersen-device/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Century 2000. pages 284 & 285">Military Small Arms of the 20th Century. 7th Edition. by Ian V. Hogg & John S. Weeks. [[Krause Publications]]. 2000. pages 284 & 285</ref> The attachment was developed to allow an infantryman to convert "their rifle to a form of [[submachine gun]] or [[automatic rifle]]" in approximately 15 seconds.<ref name="guns.com"/><ref name="Century 2000. pages 284 & 285"/>

Production of the Pedersen device and modified M1903 rifles started in 1918.<ref name="Century 2000. pages 284 & 285"/> However, [[World War I]] ended before they could be fielded.<ref name="guns.com"/><ref name="Century 2000. pages 284 & 285"/> The contract was cancelled on March 1, 1919, after production of 65,000 devices, 1.6 million magazines, 65 million cartridges, and 101,775 modified Springfield rifles.<ref name="guns.com"/><ref name="Century 2000. pages 284 & 285"/><ref name="Julian S. Hatcher 1947, pp. 361-372">Julian S. Hatcher, ''Hatcher's Notebook'', Military Service Publishing Co., 1947, Chapter 15 The Pedersen Device, pages 361–372.</ref>

The devices, magazines, ammunition and rifles were subsequently placed in storage,<ref name="guns.com"/> and declared surplus in 1931.<ref name="Julian S. Hatcher 1947, pp. 361-372"/> When the [[United States Army]] decided they did not want to pay the cost of storing the devices, nearly all of the stored devices were destroyed except for a few examples kept by the [[United States Army Ordnance Corps|Ordnance Department]].<ref name=nra/> Fewer than 100 Pedersen devices escaped ordered destruction to become extremely rare collectors' items.<ref name=nra/>