Description
In an effort to break the stalemate of trench warfare in WWI, noted arms designer John Pedersen developed a mechanism which would fit into the bolt channel of a rifle, successfully transforming the bolt action into a semi-automatic firearm. Capacity increased from five rounds to forty rounds, and rate of fire increased from fifteen rounds per minute to eighty. Seen by the War Department as a highly advanced offensive and defensive advantage over enemy troops, the development and production proceeded under secrecy with a deceptive designation given by Ordnance Department as the US Automatic Pistol, Caliber .30, Model of 1918. Today, we simply call it the Pedersen Device. Sixty-five thousand Pedersen Device units were built at Remington Arms from late 1918 through mid 1920.
