Many years ago my father bought a surplus 30-06 from wards or sears. The action has this slot milled in the left side. Someone told him years ago that this was from when they made some of them into autos. I saw an article about the peterson device I believe? Was that what this was call and do you think this action was one?


Unfortunatly its been drill and sporterised but was wondering about the slot?
Dean

The Peterson Device converted the 1903 into a semi auto rifle, firing a reduced power .30 cal round with a straight sided case somewhat like the 30 carbine. The Peterson device replaced the bolt and had a high capacity straight magazine which projected upwards at an angle. The slot was to eject the spent brass.

I doubt if your rifle is one set up for use with the Peterson device. While the slot is in the right place and about the right size, it does not look right. It looks like a milling cutter was used paralled to the action. Those two holes are also not right.

However, there is one way to know for shure and that is the markings on the receiver ring. The rifles made for the Peterson device were designated Mark I. If yours in an original the receiver ring will be marked:

U.S.
Springfield
Armory
Model 1903
Mark I

I know the 2 little holes arent right they were added for a side mount scope. What else would have the slot been for? when my father got it surplus in the 50s it had the slot and he said the rifle looked like it never had been used.?(if only he knew)

the #s are Springfield Armory- model 1903 -mark1 -1129xxx < !--color--> it might be one? Is it worth trying to get it back to original? the barrel has been cut and the action drilled and of course I dont have the wood. Could one get an regular 1903 and swap parts around or wouldnt it not be worth the effort?

Thanks again

Dean

In case you want to do a web-search for it, or other research, it is a "Pedersen" device. That spelling might improve your results.

With a receiver marking of Mark 1, there is no "might" about it. However, they are not that rare, and trying to restore one back to original configuration would not be worth the effort. You would spend far more than the value added.

Tonto...All Springfield 1903 Riles under serial number 800,000 are considered unsafe to shoot. The single heat treatment process causes the receiver to be brittle. When such actions fail, they come apart like grenades and folks have been killed and seriously injured. Yes..I know your daddy used it for years with no problems, but a wise man will put it up and keep it as a family keepsake of a lucky man.

chargar
Thanks for all the info its very interesting. I forgot a digit in the serial # its 11299xx. So i think it new enough to shoot. Ive been working on restocking and ect to pass on down the line to my boys, didnt want to do further damage to a rifle that was unique. But looks like thats not a problem.
Thanks again Dean

All of the Mark I Springfield rifles are of "double heat treatment" steel and are safe to shoot, all other things being equal. You will most likely NOT find a PEDERSEN Device on E-Bay or any where else as they were supposedly all destroyed.

One of the drawbacks was the heavy trigger pull, which originally was around 20 lbs! Modification eventually got this down to near the 10 lb. mark.