Johnson

big boomer · 04-26-2008, 09:57 PM

Found a Johnson rifle yesterday and it was nice except for the price was not so nice It had 2 barrels one 30-06 one 7 mm and was priced at 4995.00 but it was in nice condition.

Mooseman684 · 04-26-2008, 10:06 PM

Last year they were 2500 for a mint one...
Rich

nathangdad · 04-27-2008, 01:52 AM

Please post all markings on the 7mm barrel. Especially a full description of the caliber, any dates for barrel manufacture, name of manufacturer,
any markings such as a flaming bomb, and so on . . . .

It could be you have stumbled upon a very important experimental
gun especially if the barrel was manufactured in 1942 or 1943. If so, and I cannot say at this time, it could be worth a great deal
more than the asking price.

Mooseman684 · 04-27-2008, 02:02 AM

When Melvin Johnson was refused the U.S. military contract for W.W. II (the M1 Garand beat out the Johnson in the proving trials), he took orders from the Dutch and South American companies to keep his plant busy. This particular rifle was a part of a 1000 gun order from the Chile government for use in their military - specifically for a mounted state police division. These Chile Johnsons were not used hard and in fact spent most of their time in arsenals there. The Johnson Automatic Company did not want to retool for a mere 1000 barrels to make 7mms (it would not have been profitable), so they purchased over 1000 Mauser 7mm barrels from the National Arsenal in Mexico and these were assembled to the plant's existing .30-06 Johnsons. Only 1000 pieces were made into 7mm's with Mexican 7mm Mauser barrels - making this one of the rarer versions of the Johnson Rifle. In the 1980's Navy Arms imported a big batch of these Chile Johnsons into the U.S. and the gun is so marked on the bottom of the barrel. The front of the gun's barrel locking bushing is marked "41" and ".30-06" which is correct and is keeping with the fact that the 7mm Mauser barrels were mated with .30-06 parts.
Rare , but not Experimental...
Rich

DANA · 04-27-2008, 08:16 PM

I have seen a number of diffrent cal in the 1941 Johnson. All you need is the barrel stub and you can add whatever you want for a barrel. the best I have seen was a 257 Roberts. The stub is part of the barrel.

DANA

04-26-2008, 09:57 PM	#1
big boomer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Minn. Posts: 973	Johnson Found a Johnson rifle yesterday and it was nice except for the price was not so nice It had 2 barrels one 30-06 one 7 mm and was priced at 4995.00 but it was in nice condition.

04-26-2008, 10:06 PM	#2
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,668 Images: 2	Last year they were 2500 for a mint one... Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

04-27-2008, 01:52 AM	#3
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,469	7MM ?????? Please post all markings on the 7mm barrel. Especially a full description of the caliber, any dates for barrel manufacture, name of manufacturer, any markings such as a flaming bomb, and so on . . . . It could be you have stumbled upon a very important experimental gun especially if the barrel was manufactured in 1942 or 1943. If so, and I cannot say at this time, it could be worth a great deal more than the asking price.

04-27-2008, 02:02 AM	#4
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,668 Images: 2	When Melvin Johnson was refused the U.S. military contract for W.W. II (the M1 Garand beat out the Johnson in the proving trials), he took orders from the Dutch and South American companies to keep his plant busy. This particular rifle was a part of a 1000 gun order from the Chile government for use in their military - specifically for a mounted state police division. These Chile Johnsons were not used hard and in fact spent most of their time in arsenals there. The Johnson Automatic Company did not want to retool for a mere 1000 barrels to make 7mms (it would not have been profitable), so they purchased over 1000 Mauser 7mm barrels from the National Arsenal in Mexico and these were assembled to the plant's existing .30-06 Johnsons. Only 1000 pieces were made into 7mm's with Mexican 7mm Mauser barrels - making this one of the rarer versions of the Johnson Rifle. In the 1980's Navy Arms imported a big batch of these Chile Johnsons into the U.S. and the gun is so marked on the bottom of the barrel. The front of the gun's barrel locking bushing is marked "41" and ".30-06" which is correct and is keeping with the fact that the 7mm Mauser barrels were mated with .30-06 parts. Rare , but not Experimental... Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

04-27-2008, 08:16 PM	#5
DANA Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: WAITSFIELD VERMONT Posts: 1,595	I have seen a number of diffrent cal in the 1941 Johnson. All you need is the barrel stub and you can add whatever you want for a barrel. the best I have seen was a 257 Roberts. The stub is part of the barrel. DANA