The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Re the destruction of The Pedersen Device

amd6547 · May 31, 2014, 06:37 AM

I doubt the Pederson devices were destroyed to keep enemies from developing it...
After all, converting manual actions to semi was not a new idea. John Brownings first semi was a Winchester lever action converted to gas operation.
And the Australians converted some Lee Enfield No1MkIII's into light machine guns when faced with a probable Japanese invasion and a lack of machine guns.
Allied planners thought the first war would continue into 1919-1920, and the war had changed to one of fire and maneuver by 1918...the Pederson device might have proved useful.
What really killed it, I think, was the end of the war, and full examination of captured Bergmann SMG's, as well as evaluation of The role of LMGs like the Lewis and Chauchat.
Then, as the first BAR's were tested, it was obvious that the Pederson was a dead end.

May 31, 2014, 06:37 AM	#24
amd6547 Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2006 Posts: 2,313	I doubt the Pederson devices were destroyed to keep enemies from developing it... After all, converting manual actions to semi was not a new idea. John Brownings first semi was a Winchester lever action converted to gas operation. And the Australians converted some Lee Enfield No1MkIII's into light machine guns when faced with a probable Japanese invasion and a lack of machine guns. Allied planners thought the first war would continue into 1919-1920, and the war had changed to one of fire and maneuver by 1918...the Pederson device might have proved useful. What really killed it, I think, was the end of the war, and full examination of captured Bergmann SMG's, as well as evaluation of The role of LMGs like the Lewis and Chauchat. Then, as the first BAR's were tested, it was obvious that the Pederson was a dead end. __________________ The past is gone...the future may never happen. Be Here Now.