Pederson devices recently sold

[Calif-Steve]

The Army was trying to funding for the M1 rifle project and having 60,000 PD's in storage hurt that project. It made Congress think the Army already had a semi-auto rifle in the system. Therefore, the PD had to go. Lots were grabbed from bonfires and put into pockets. I have also heard rumors that the Army tested them after WWI and found them fragile and not reliable. After the war ended they were quickly placed into long-term storage.