Alasdair MacDonald

"For the what its worth topic"; In the early 1970's I was attending a gun show in Sacramento California, when I walked up to a table that had a JSAR for sale. As I admired it an elderly large man came up behind me and exclaimed, "Oh my God!" I asked him if he was familiar with this rifle and he said "yes", "I carried one in the South Pacific for a short time before they took them away from us". I asked him where he was in the Pacific and with whom. He said he was with the First Marines in Bougainville.l I asked him how he liked the rifle and he said all those who had them loved them. Cordially, Alasdair

FYI, for those who are NRA members and receive the "American Rifleman", August edition, on page 55 it shows a nice picture of a JSAR with bayonet. The article is The Guns of Guadalcanal used by the 1st Marine Parachute Battalion. Very nice!

In the book "Shots Fired In Anger" by Lt. Col.John George, He goes into detail of the weapons and ammo the Japanese had and our own issued weapons. He mentions the good and bad points of them all. His main complaint  of the M1 Garand was the magazine system. He says you could not "top off" this rifle after you fired a few rounds. Then you either finished the en bloc clip and reloaded or ejected the entire clip. With both situations you are left with an empty rifle. not good in combat. On page 388, second paragraph, he mentions the following: "So far as I know, the Johnson rifle is the only military rifle which meets this specification, and it does so admirably by means of a cleverly designed rotary magazine with a sidegate loading port, independent of the bolt passage. The Johnson can be loaded by a rifleman on the run with one, two, three or any number of rounds up to ten at a time. The individual cartridges are simply thrust through the gate, or five round chargers (Springfield Clips) can be be handily stripped into the magazine. In the field, a Johnson type magazine would eliminate two thirds of the present delay and danger of reloading." The writer must have seen them there as he says he evaluated every weapon listed in his book. He also noted that during his time on Guadalcanal he never saw any M1 carbines although he had heard about them.

Firearms News, June 2018 issue 11 has three photos of Johnson LMGs page 53. Cordially Alasdair Lovely stuff!

Hey Ed, I was at Barnes and Noble today and spotted a copy of the edition you need. I bought it but need an address to send it to you. Maybe you can get my Email from Jim. I have it tubed up in a cardboard tube so just need to know where to send it. All the best, Alasdair

Ed, you pay for nothing, it is my pleasure to provide it for you if you cant get it. All the best, Alasdair

Ed, he is correct, this use to be "Shotgun News." The cover shows the new "Galil ACE pistol from IWI., cordially, Alasdair

Also the writer is definitely pro Johnson rifle and products. Shotgun News now Firearms News also has big pages for the photos and information. Let me know if you cant get it and I will copy mine and send it to you, Alasdair

Firearms News, January 2018 issue 2 has a 6 page article with photos on the Johnson rifle and LMGs. Cordially Alasdair

Hey Joe, the stock I got from you, lovely stuff. Fits like a glove. Next phase for me is recommendation for parkerizing if you don't do it. The  daddy Winfield will come home  to military clothes as was origionally built. Thanks again, Alasdair

Joe: certified check sent this am. Alasdair

OK Brian will send you his email as that is what he gave me. Cordially, Alasdair

When I saw this rifle it was torn down to barrel, magazine tray, receiver and all the wood. Where the selector was, was totally welded and milled perfectly before parked. He said he has all the legal papers for it but that it had to be sold outside of California to conform to the law. The work was very pristine and nice to see.  Hey Joseph Scott, I still am in the marked for a complete set of wood for my Winfield sporter to convert back to military. Will pay whatever up front. Cordially, Alasdair

I just got back from a gun show where a man was selling the following for a woman who just had her husband pass away. (estate sale) It is a 1941 Johnson LMG that had been torched in half and rewelded and made to fire semi only. The receiver says full and semi on it but that is only from its previous life. It is complete with all wood and pistol grip , magazine tray and one 25 round magazine. It is only missing the bipod. The gun has been reparked. Serial number is four digit, no prefix. Price $9,000.00 I have the contact information for seller. If anyone buys it, my drool marks can be wiped off. Cordially, Alasdair

That is a big 10-4 rubber duck ArT, Did you see the Johnson 15 minute clip on the JSAR and assault weapon and the light machine gun on the Outdoor Channel.? It was on Wednesday and I believe will re-show it all this week. It was short but it was very good. Love the LMG ripping off rounds. Cordially, Alasdair

Joe, I would like to buy a complete set or partial whatever you have, one set only. Let me know how you want to be paid and where, Cordially Alasdair

Guns and Ammo magazine February, 2016, page 48,  has an excellent reference to Eugene Stoner and Melvin Johnson collaborating on using the Johnson 8 lug rotating bolt on the AR-10 and AR-15 (M-16). This bolt design was patented clear back in 1937 showing how way ahead of the pack Melvin Johnson was in firearms design. He was a true pioneer in this field. The Johnson family should be very proud of him. Cordially, Alasdair

Joe, when you get the new wood I am interested in buying front and stock. Let me know, Cordially, Alasdair

Sounds good Ed. Joe Scott, are you selling any of the stocks or parts? Cordially, Alasdair

No problem Joe, enjoy your traveling and be safe. All the best, Alasdair

I know his situations and he has my thoughts and prayers. I wait, I am retired so I am very patient. I need to go back into law enforcement, I am not use to working for a living. Only joking to my fellow porkers. Cordially, Alasdair

I just realized that I was thinking of Joe Scott. Is he still rebuilding rifles? Cordially, Alasdair

Greetings Mitch J, yes I have been very busy, wife and I opened two restaurants where we are in San Francisco Bay area. I think I have all the parts and want to put this "B" series back to military standards. I hope all the basic gang is still operating here to keep this knowledge going. Gun shows here selling high mileage Johnson's and are going for $4,000 and up, good grief! All the best, cordially, Alasdair

Hey Joe, are you accepting Johnson rebuilds. I have a Windfield sporter that I want to convert back to military. Needs new wood and the barrel, although in good shape, is from a Garand. I think I have all the parts and want to put it back the way it came off the assembly line. Repark and all. Price no object. Let me know. Will pay in advance.

Cordially, Alasdair

Is the member of this site still rebuilding Johnson SR?

Thank you very much uncle Walt. I know it is a pain but I thought I was doing something wrong. This is for a newby that has the rifle and bayonette and scabard. He is delighted to have any and all information. Hope I can recp-rocate, cordially, Alasdair