Ed Johnson

As a point of clarification, and as a brief review, here is the current information of the 4 serial number production log previously in the possession of Robert Lamoreaux, who wrote the original manuscript for the book later co-authored by Bob with Bruce Canfield, titled Johnson Rifles and Machine Guns. There were 3 production logs. The 4 digit (no prefix) log was recovered. It had slight water damage due to a flood in the Johnson basement many years ago. Bob has used this for several years now, but we wanted to protect the log itself from any further deterioration. Walt Liss is in the process of doing this....a lengthy process....and material will be sent back to Bob Lamoreaux when this is completed. This is why Walt has the log. However, please be patient with your inquiries, as Walt's progress will be slow. The other two production logs with A and B prefix are not in our possession and their location or disposition remain unknown. Thank you. Ed Johnson

To 5.7 Club Members Fulton Armory is unable to obtain M1 Carbine Receiver Cores, also used for 5.7 manufacturing. However, there are other alternatives which are less costly, as conversions can be easily made by gunsmith/manufacturers such as Richard Hoffman. A bulletin is being sent to Club Members with more detail. We are also very pleased with the 5.7mm ammunition being produced by "T's Ammo." Thanks all for your continued interest and support. Ed Johnson

Our thanks to Jim Pullen for giving us this new section of the Johnson Website. As most of you know, from reading the recent Johnson book by Canfield & Lamoreaux, my father was heavily involved with the attempted production of the Dardick Pistol back in the late '50's into the '60's. Dad and David Dardick, the inventor, had a long association prior to that time. While the pistol did not prove to be a commercial success, nevertheless the concept of an open chamber system used for Military application remains as a topic of interest and possibly further research, perhaps leading to a book or more magazine articles (refer to above entries in Spitfire Section and Johnson Rifle Section). There is a growing interest in the Dardick and we therefore made a decision to start an informal "Dardick Gun Club" (referred to as the DGC) for the benefit of collectors and fans. Similar to our existing other JGC and 5.7 Clubs, there is no cost to join. I will simply need your first & last name, town & state, with your preferred E-mail address. This is informal, and both Steve Dardick (Dave's son) and I will make ourselves available to answer questions. Walt Liss has obtained some additional production info, in addition to research by Bob Lamoreaux and Jim Pullen. As topics come up, we will announce them on this website section and I will E-mail short bulletins to DGC members directly. You may contact me directly at this website at: ERJohnson@JohnsonAutomatics.com Thanks, all. Ed Johnson

As most of you know, there are a much larger quantity of Johnson Rifles still available or being traded on the market as opposed to actual bona fide legally registered Johnson Light Machine Guns. We are ocasionally running into Johnson Semi-Auto receivers modified into the Johnson LMG style. When Brian Alpert and Joe Scott joined Walt Liss and I at the Springfield MA show, they had one of these variations with them. (Collector Bruce Stern even has a Mexican version.) So, because the Johnson Rifle and LMG are so similar in design and are somewhat interchangeable with modification, it makes sense to lump them together for the Johnson Gun Club E-mails. However, for the purposes of this website, Jim Pullen has given us this separate section for the Johnson LMG. My thought is that we should use the section for any discussion of any variations of the LMG, even if they are actually only semi-auto. I know, for example, that LMG parts and magazines come on the market. This would be a good place to announce or discuss them. If anyone has further thoughts, please chime in. And again, many thanks to Jim Pullen for providing us with this section. Ed J

This is to advise everyone that we have recently been testing commercial sources of 5.7mm Johnson Spitfire ammunition. One manufacturer has done very well in all tests currently, and we are finalizing the last phase very soon. We will make an announcement in this website section within one month, along with an E-mail to our 5.7 Club membership. Stay tuned. A big thank-you to Jim Pullen for providing us with this new Spitfire Message Section. Ed J

Hope everyone gets to read the article by Bruce Canfield on page 50 of July issue American Rifleman titled "Model of 1941 Johnson Light Machine Gun." Many thanks to Bruce and AR for a fine article....just in time for Father's Day. Ed Johnson, and the Johnson Family

Mark, we are working on some ammunition tests currently. If you e-mail me at ERJohnson@JohnsonAutomatics.com with your E-mail address, I can get you more info on what we have. As for the carbine and serial # I would need to see photos of the gun and any key markings, stamps, etc. to validate whether it was a Mel Johnson Spitfire or not. I'll be glad to help any way I can. Ed J

As a footnote, I tried to check the number you gave above and could not see the gun in question. Sorry I can't be more helpful to you. ej

Dad was definitely involved with custom rifles using Mauser actions, post WWII. The operation in Hope Valley, RI was not just my father's. I believe it formed after JA finally folded it's tent and Dad moved on to Winchester. The principal was a Mr. Kenneth Kemp, assisted by "Ike" Isaacs, both former JA employees. Their new company was called "Johnson Automatics Associates, Inc." with Dad's blessing. The JAA,Inc. operated for many years in Hope Valley, in an old building presently occupied by a furniture company. As an irony, after Dad died in 1965, I ended up having them act as our final assembly plant for the 5.7 mm Spitfire Carbine which Dad and Jack Fitzgerald designed in the early '60's. Much of this is covered in the latest Johnson book by Canfield & Lamoreaux. JAA,Inc. remained a custom rifle & shotgun refurbishing business for many years and they had many of the older machines from JA, including the older "hook" rifle turning machines and drillers, as well as a complete Blueing tank. I believe Joe Scott told me that he purchased some older tools after Ike Isaacs passed away some years ago. In any case, we would have to have a pretty close look at the Gunbroker piece to validate that Dad's firm actually built it. Hope this background info is helpful. Ed J

Art, thank you for the book endorsement. I know that Walt now plans to have autographed books at the June Springfield MA Show. I believe you can order copies from both Bob Lamoreaux directly or from Bruce Canfield on his website. Both authors check this website frequently. As for the new book, this is being authored by our own Jim Pullen and it will be a while yet as he has much work and little time to do it. We are still gathering material for him, as new items keep cropping up. More later as it happens. Ed J

Sandy....a very nice story. Only sorry Dad isn't alive to read it. Ed Johnson

Bob, I believe the Johnson book quotes Dad on page 229, Col.2,Par.2 in stating "a bunch of heavy handed monkeys and apes" and the official in charge was "a stupid, incompetent bastard." Ah, those were the days. ej

Hope everyone has a chance to read Bruce Canfield's nice article on "The American Lewis" starting on page 63 of the 12/04 AR. Naturally, I was especially interested to read about the problems of acceptance by the US Army versus the more favorable attitude by other nations. The story does sound familiar to me. Also, in the same AR issue, an article by Daniel McElrath covers Armalite and on page 54, col. 3, par. 2, briefly describes Mel Johnson's involvement and chief contribution to the effort. It also suggests that his involvement may have been something of a liability in terms of his previous military relations. Based upon the Johnson book research by Robert Lamoreaux covering the AR10 project (on pages 227-229) this may well be true. Anyway....life goes on. Ed Johnson

I'm not certain about "original finish" being strictly parkerized with no other options from the Johnson factories. We do know about the Wilhelmena presentation piece being blued, but there may have a few other variations. Bruce Canfield owns a presentation rifle originally the property of Johnson Director Sheldon Jones (Johnson book page 112) but this may be parkerized. I'm not sure from the b & w photo. Bob Lamoreaux has in his possession a '41 JAR which hung on Mel Johnson's library wall for many years, and this unit has some blued finish, almost black as I recall. Ed Johnson

We probably should have made this switch a long time ago. Glad we are here now. Congratulations, Jim. Ed J