tsmgguy

Tenuous "facts" at best. 

1 hour ago, camstuff said:

I believe TSMMGUY may be mistaken about the buffer.  If the buffer is quite commonly missing as it was mentioned, that means that there will be several non functioning JSAR’s with several owners searching for the buffers.  I’ve attached a picture of the part #65 “mainspring tube cap buffer assembly” with the #32 “mainspring follower”, both parts are crucial to the rifle’s function.  Also shown is the tube cap and buffer disassembled for clarity.

Wish I could find a link to the original post, but a member was wondering what screwed into his rifle's recoil spring tube plug. His photo showed that his JSAR's buffer assembly was completely missing. He also reported violent operation.

IIRC, there was also a discussion about how to tell if a JSAR buffer was missing without removing the recoil tube plug. Remove the butt plate. Stick a wire into the center hole of the plug. If the wire goes in a few inches and stops, then the buffer assembly is present. It's missing if the wire can be inserted virtually the entire length of the recoil spring tube.  

On 5/8/2024 at 9:00 AM, camstuff said:

Kind of a crude picture edit, but I learned early on from Joseph Scott that you want to make sure that there is 8” from center of screw to center of screw. You will find sporters that measure 7-7/8” or less.  It affects the recoil impact on the buffer if it’s not right. 

 

If the buffer is present at all, and they often are not. 

Not throwing rocks at any particular greenhouse, but these rifles are often shot out, worn out, incomplete, heavily modified and refinished. They still sell for big money. No wonder the rifle's design gets a bum rap, when condition is the real problem.

Nice original examples are rare indeed. I lucked into a B series JSAR in in original almost perfect condition, with a mirror bore. It's perfectly accurate and completely reliable. It has none of the violent action of the worn-out guns. It's a very different beast from what is usually offered for sale.  

Does Prestigious add the lightening holes under the butt plate? Could stock laminations be added as well? These are what would make a repro just that much more accurate.

Great post!

Additional reading:

To Challenge A Newly Won Throne: The Rise And Fall of The Light Rifle, Part II -The Firearm Blog

Doesn't look like an M1903 barrel star gauge, either.  

B3222 photo #12 shows the bayonet rivet. These were never serial numbered by the factory or the Marine Corps. 

17 hours ago, tinsoldier said:

Yes, this is true - I got an NRA sporter stock from him that I was not happy with.  A good friend sent him some JSAR samples and metal with the intent of Murray producing repro wood.  Much time elapsed before Murray returned the samples stating that it couldn't be done.

Yeah, I ordered a repro M1941 butt stock from Murray's. He sent a beautiful piece of wood that had the correct exterior dimensions. It was not inletted and was therefore useless as I lack the skills necessary to complete the job. Murray explained that he didn't have an original stock to use as a template. A full refund was eventually made, but I never did figure out the object of that exercise. I was out shipping in both directions.

Welcome!

The magazine cover spring should be a leaf of spring steel rather than the coil spring shown in your photo, It's part number 31 in the schematic and list shown here:

Johnson Semi-Auto 1941 Schematic | Numrich (gunpartscorp.com)

RARE ORIGINAL WW2 M1941 JOHNSON SEMI AUTOMATIC RIFLE MAGAZINE AXIS PIN WWII | eBay

I have bought from this seller before and have found them to be honest and diligent. Looks like the flared end of this pin might be slightly bent but that might be a trick of the camera angle. 

3 hours ago, ArtR said:

SN B2752 seen on GunBroker. Missing rear leaf sight, drilled and tapped with some filled drill holes. No bayo lug. Little spring steel tab missing for the front cross pin. Butt pad appears old/hard. Metal mostly worn, pitted, showing rust in places. Rear sling swivel incorrect. Current wood not too bad. Hard to discern all screws, but some questionable.

Looks like a stock lamination is about to separate, too. 

Couldn't find it. A link would be helpful.

I'd think that the recontoured receiver would pretty much preclude a restoration to the original configuration. 

3 hours ago, JSDKMS said:

I thought it would go higher than that. It is an interesting and historic piece.

HMMMM - If that was issued to the Marines, it either saw no use or was redone after? Just IMHO

This rifle shows none of the typical Marine front and rear sight mods. It doesn't look like a gun that saw hard service in the South Pacific.

"New old stock condition" my foot.

On 1/28/2024 at 2:55 PM, M48TANKER said:

The tube "stop" bar has been present on all the sporters which I have encountered. Most which I've seen, have no screws holding the "stop" in place...only wooden plugs recessed flush with the surface. Sometimes it looks like they attempted to match the wood grain and sometimes it appears they didn't even try to match the stock's grain or even come close. I have seen a few sporter stocks which have the plugged hole on only one side...I couldn't find a plug on the other side.

Thanks!

I don't think this is about the accuracy of the details. Rather, it's about one man's journey to a greater understanding of a classic design. His gunsmithing experience of many years aids him in this. I learned a few things, too. For instance, after owning and shooting a JSAR for the last 30 years or so, I didn't realize that the safety locks both the trigger and the bolt.

Very entertaining and informative video linked below. 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/9uXrWAR6GgE

Old thread, I know. Here's a pic of these stock markings found on the internet.

10 hours ago, ArtR said:

... JSAR's are notorious for spreading brass and imparting a good ding in the brass.

If your rifle is doing this look first to the recoil spring. The action should cycle gently, almost as an afterthought, dropping brass just a few feet to the shooters right. It should not be flinging dented brass to the far right of the firing line. Worn guns will cycle violently, too, causing excessive felt recoil and further battering the internals.

I shoot mine (occasionally) with full power Danish M2 ball from the early 1960s. Perfect functioning, and no problems.  

Question for you guys with knowledge of Winfield sporters.

I notice that on these the recoil spring housing tube stop screw holes are usually filled in on the butt stock. Is the stop usually present under the plug, or is the spring tube held in place only by wood contact and the butt plate? 

Are both pins serial numbered? The spare pin/collar/spring assembly in my collection is numbered H2039 and is most like the lower in your photo. I see no evidence or welding or brazing, just some bright metal where the shank was evidently milled to length. The collar wiggles slightly, and doesn't seem to be brazed in place.    

2 hours ago, ArtR said:

Back in 2010, this was Brian Alpert's (RIP) discussion on stock markings.

Thanks!

Photo found on the internet while doing a search for "M1941 Johnson Rifle butt stock":

Just a few pics of a gun that I've owned for almost thirty years now. It has almost all of its original finish and a mirror bore. The butt stock was heavily damaged along the comb, so the stock is a John Darling reproduction. Remember him? The stock looks the part as the grain has stood up with time. The sling and bayonet scabbard are repros, but the bayonet is original.