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Up for auction is my M1941 Johnson's
(Manufactured by Cranston). These guns are very rare with less than 30,000
produced 70 years ago. These rifles went head to head with the Garand and actually
did better in accuracy and about the same in reliability during the Army
trials. According to the Johnson Automatics website :
The Army Ordnance Board trials commenced in
December 1939, again at Aberdeen. Using Taft-Peirce manufactured rifles,
over 6,000 rounds of ammunition were fired with only 12 minor stoppages
experienced. These tests found that although the Johnson rifle was well
made, it was not suitable for Army use. The Ordnance Board stated in their
report of the trial dated February 23 1940, that the rifle was too long and
heavy for their requirements and that it would not function reliably with
the bayonet fitted. The magazine was considered delicate and its design
would allow the ingress of sand and other debris into the action, causing
stoppages.
Having suffered a set back with his hopes of
acceptance by the Army, Johnson set his eyes on the Marine Corps, which
still had doubts on adopting the Garand as their new semi-automatic rifle.
Initial trials were held at Quantico Marine Depot, Virginia, in May of 1940.
This trial was supervised command of Captain George Van Orden and the firing
party consisted of four distinguished Marine Corps. marksmen and a Chief
Marine Gunner as the shooting coach.
The test took place on the afternoon of May 6 and
the whole day on May 7, and consisted of instruction in the operation and
firing methods of both types of rifles. Courses of fire at 300 and 1000
yards both slow and rapid fire were then shot. All shooters firing both M1
Rifle and Johnson Rifle at each stage.
Results concluded from the tests found that the
Johnson Rifle was more accurate with a score of 81.2% total hits to the M1's
71.3%. There were no malfunctions with the Johnson Rifles or the M1Garands,
however the M1's dropped their centre of impax during the test. The M1's
were found to load and reload faster than the Johnson's but rate of fire in
the rapid mode was identical with both rifles.
Capt. Van Orden's Summary Opnion stated " The Johnson Semi-Automatic Rifle, Rotary Magazine Type, is materially superior to the US Rifle, cal. 30, M1 in accuracy and potential combat efficiency"
This gun is beautiful & complete (except it
does not have the bolt hold open device). Receiver has NOT been tapped
and rear butt stock appears to be original (has the three holes when you
remove the butt plate & there is a different color piece of wood near the
magazine since they used a laminated piece to get the extra width).
This is from the first series of Johnson's (No letter prefix) so some
factory records have been kept for it. Going over the Johnson, the
numbers do not match but I understand it is extremely rare to find one that
does. Here is what the factory records say about it:
Here's what the factory records have to say about it:
Received from Cranston Arms March 18, 1942
Stock #
2
Barrel # 0336F
Hammer Block #9619
Hammer #9473
Bolt # 8383
Locking Cam #9693
Firing Pin #A7506
Extractor #5703
Magazine # A1527
Transferred to Netherlands Purchasing Company March 20th, 1942
Click on thumbnails for a larger pic...
 
   
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