The very first few O/U guns that Pedersen (Mossberg) showed were actually made up for them by Lefevers Gun Shop in NY. I don't recall right now who's barreled action was used, but they were stocked and engraved at Lefevers for Pedersens. Only a few (less than 5) were made up. That was in late '70,,early '71. They were engraved in an oakleaf style. The first Pedersen produced guns were made up on Beretta O/U barreled actions imported in the white in 12 and 20ga. They were totally unmarked and had to be stamped in the forend clearance cut of the frame with a 'Made In Italy' hand stamp. All other markings were added by the engraver, at least on the early guns. Also, for some reason, Beretta did not permit Pedersen to use the Beretta trigger guard so a home grown replacement was produced at Mossberg. The Pedersen facility was a small building adjacent and to the rear of the main Mossberg mfg. facility at North Haven, Ct. Stocks were preturned by Wysoski Bros.(sp) also of Ct but I do not remember the town. Fitting, finishing, checkering was 'in house'. The first checkerers to work there were a husband and wife team,,Harold and Mildred Arthur. They had been doing freelanz checkering for most all of the gun factorys in the MA and CT area since WW2. Most of their work was for Winchester (M21 & M12). Harold did work at Winchester in the wood room at one time, I believe it was before WW2. They were fast, production checkerers and were able to work as well as teach several other people how to checker. Hot blueing needs were met by using the Mossberg facilitys. Rust blueing was set up in the Pedersen shop, but not without a battle. Engraving was at first sent out, mostly to Ralph Alpen in Cincinatti. He then shortly there after joined the company and moved to the area and set up a shop in the Pedersen facilty. He along with local engraver George B. Spring Jr. set up their engraving dept. and several apprentice engravers were started along. Geo. Spring had been both a feelanz and factory engraver in the area. His son later entered the art (I do not know if he ever worked at Pedersen) and was at one time a Colt Custom Shop Engraver. The Arambrerri line was a straight import from Spain, being only unboxed, inspected, put into a Pedersen case with accessorys and resold. Many were rejected upon inspection for visual as well as mechanical defects. Pedersen also used the Mossberg centerfire rifle (model 800?) as a line, fitting it up with a custom stock and offering it with engraving, etc. One was made up and given to USSR Prm. L. Bresniev. Seems to me it was a .338 cal. I think the first time the Pedersen line was shown to the public was the NSGA Show in 1971 or 1972. (NSGA was the National Sporting Goods Assn Show and was the forunner of the SHOT Show). When the Pedersen project folder, everything was sold and empolyees could buy remaining guns, barreled actions, parts, stocks, etc. The 'in the white' Pedersen probably came from that time. More than you ever wanted to know about Pedersen.....
