Availablity of 1941 Johnson rifles

[The Grand Inquisitor]

I know there had to be quite a few of these made, not only for the military, but also for the civilian market, so there should be more out for sale on the market (and as far as I know, the mil versions weren't full-auto...).

I'd love to get one, especially one that isn't in great condition, so that I could take it to the range, shoot it, and get the ooh's and ahh's of those who know about the Johnson.

Also, the price of Johnson's seems to be pretty erratic - I once saw one for around 900, and I've seen others for as much as $3000. I'm sure this has to do with quality and how well it had been preserved, but $2000 is a big price split....what's the deal here?


Dream - CMP finds a cave with 50,000 Johnson's in cosmo and begins selling them to the civilian market for $550. *end dream*

 

[Mk VII]

this was one I had about twenty years ago. A bunch of them came from Indonesia, I think, all well used with rather sad barrels. Jeremy Tenniswood and I spent an afternoon in the cellar putting one useable one together out of numerous filthy junkers. After a few shots it started to recall the rudiments of semi-automatic operation. The trigger pull on these rifles is rather poor, with a nasty vibration transmitted to the trigger finger, and varies according to how many shim washers you have under the screws holding the trigger group into the stock group, IIRC, (was 20 years ago). Accuracy was reasonable, and you could hardly expect much better with that pitted barrel.





Gee, I was somewhat thicker on the top, and thinner round the middle in those days

 

[Mk VII]

 

[Number 6]

Well if you have the money you can either buy from these guys or have them restore your Johnson rifle. They are supposed to do excellent work on a variety of guns.

http://www.miltecharms.com/rifles.htm#M1941

 

[pauli]

there were quite a few of them at the show a few weeks back. i was surprised at the width.

 

[History Nut]

M1941 Johnson Semi-Auto Rifle

Check the Johnson Rifle site:

http://www.johnsonautomatics.com

I have a 1941 JSAR in the 'B' series. I bought it in the 1970s for $134 at Retting's in Culver City, CA. According to the site, most JSARs run $2000 to $5000 depending on condition. One thing to note is that even though many parts have "serial numbers" no JSAR was assembled by the factory with matching numbers.

Back when I wanted a DCM Garand (yes, that long ago!), I took the Johnson to fire the required 60 rounds in 'competition'. I thought it a great piece of historical irony to use the rifle that lost to the Garand to get a Garand.

I have always found my rifle a pleasure to shoot and accurate enough for me. I confess to not trying to 'print' it but just enyoy its unique features and it hits the soda bottle targets I use at the range I can see them. Somewhere along the line I picked up an original bayonet for it with scabbard that is now worth more than the original cost of the rifle!

The commercial production ones are even rarer than the military production ones.

For all the real information, go to the site. I learned a lot there. One of the descendants of Melvin Johnson often posts there so a lot comes from 'original sources'.

 

[Trebor]

If you see a Johnson Rifle for $900, but it. Unless it is a solid piece of rust, it is worth at least twice that, if not more.

The last decent .30-'06 Johnson Rifle I saw sold for $4,500. I've seen pretty ugly beaters go for a bit less, but they aren't cheap rifles.

 

[slopemeno]

I passed on one back in the 80's for $200 bucks. Eh, what do I need another '06 for....

 

[Oleg Volk]

Friend who has one says he won't shoot it because of routine parts breakage...

 

[jobu07]

A friend of mine sold his many years ago. He said he was shooting it in the backyard and the quick change barrel decided it was time to detach itself from the rifle... In mid-firing
Somehow the exploding rifle broke his nose and after he stopped the bleeding he found the barrel stuck in the mud.
But they are a neat piece of history