jayhovers

If memory serves, the inside of the LMG is machined to allow the sear trip to come in contact with the bolt. The rifle has interior rails that prevents that. Additionally, the lower requires modifications

Johnson Carbine Clone Picture size is now 381kb and still no luck. Picture finally posted below. Many thanks to Brian

Yes, it was built on a DROR lower/buttstock. I'll get some more pictures (hopefully) up shortly.

A 6.35m picture evidently will not load - anyone have any suggestions?

Picture disappeared - Let me try again

Nice job! How is the rear sight mount secured to the receiver?

I should have said that no records have yet been found on B prefix rifles. There are records for no letter and some A prefix rifles.

I gave it a shot but came up short. Probably just as well, I really don't need another project right now. In terms of the added letter being an "altered" serial number, I vote for D for Dutch, or - you notice how the last digit on all serial numbers is always raised, after stamping over 25,000 rifles, the stamping machine was getting a bit cantankerous and got stuck and gave the same number to two rifles. The D stands for Double. Considering that no B prefix serial numbers are known to survive, there would be no way for the BATF to prove that the D could not have been added at the factory.

It is still in 303, but it has the original 30-06 magazine support assembly. The receiver is not capable of handling the rimmed cartridge so I use 303 cartridges that have been turned to a 30-06 base. I'm always interested in projects, so let me know what you've got. Apologies for getting the hat tip wrong - they were you're parts.

Here is the latest variation of my semi Johnson LMG. Hat tip to Ed, from whom I purchased some parts.

Another little project. I'm sure it has been done before, but I thought everyone might be interested in my adaption of a DROR barrel and bolt to my semi LMG. The DROR bushing was removed and modified to fit the barrel pinned and soldered in place. The rear lug was welded on, as the DROR barrel has no lug. The bolt had the bottom two lugs shortened as the front of the legs are longer to pick up cartridges from the BAR magazine while leaving the rear of the lugs alone so as to not affect lockup. The cocking handle had to be slightly modified to fit the smaller opening in the receiver. A couple of small tweaks to the receiver and it functions just fine.

Many of you will remember the 1941-1944 variations of my semi auto Johnson LMG. A few weeks ago there was a First Model Dror barrel on GB. It wasn't getting any interest, so I started thinking. Could I create a First Model Dror clone? I went ahead an got the barrel not really having any idea if it might work. Turns out the barrel is really pretty close, the rear barrel bushing is exactly the same and the center bushing is slightly larger in diameter and the locking lug is spaced exactly the same distance as the 30-06 barrel. Now if I'm going to do this, its going to shoot, so can I figure out a way to make rimmed 303 work? The magazine did not seem to be a problem since the 30-06 magazine will take some 303 cartridges. The problem was going to be the bolt and chamber. Waiting for a 303 bolt to surface is problematic, so I got to thinking. Why not make 303 cartridges rimless, the same rim dimensions as the 30-06? That's the course I decided on. I modiified the chamber face of the 303 barrel slightly to accomodate the 30-06 bolt and turned down 10 303 cases. I also found that the 30-40 Krag case can be used as well. Everything works like a champ. I've included a picture of the Dro clone and, just for fun, a picture of a "prototype."

Definitely interested. Let me know.

I'm sure many of you remember my privious post with my two versions of my semi auto Johnson LMG. There was the 1941 version with the wooden forend, similar to the very early Johnson's in Canfield's book, and the 1944 version with the original foot and adapted Dror trigger assembly. Finally got around to making a forend and machining a bracket and adopting a BAR bipod to make it a complete 1941 LMG. I've included a few pictures - Thanks to Brian for his pictures to give me some ideas.

Any chance you can make a LMG forend?

You're absolutely right about the cylinder being complicated, and I sort of cheated. I took a 1 5/8 metal tube and used a couple of brass end caps that I flattened with a hammer and then filed to get the approximate shape. I then took some 1/8 inch steel plate and cut a circular pattern to which I welded the two vertical posts with the hole for the attachment arm in between. I then used J&B weld to attach the circular plate to the brass end caps. The attachment to the foot is a piece of machined aluminum that is attached by screws from underneath. As for the springs, I used one big spring that is attached to the arm at the top and the bottom. That pulls the entire tube assembly together. Its a little weak but it does work. Once I can find a tube that has screw caps, I hope to remake it using the proper compression spring design.

I thought I would use this board since it has been quiet way too long. This my semi Johnson 1941/1944 LMG. Some of you may remember months ago that Ryche had a forend foot from a 1944 Johnson LMG here for sale. I had already found a DROR trigger group/buttstock that I had adapted to my 1941 Johson, so I thought why not be able to make it both a representative 1941 LMG or a 1944 LMG. I made the parts looking at pictures. I think I got it reasonable close. As a footnote, this is one of those "rare prototypes" that was auctioned of a couple of years ago. I don't think anyone bought the description, but it was a chance to pick up a semi LMG. Much to my surprise, I found that the magazine assembly was just stuck on the side of the rifle. There had been no machining, so if you put ammo in a loaded magazine it just hit the outside of the receiver. Well I called the auction company and told them the problem and since they had advertised it as a "rare prototype," they would have to take it back. After some negotiation, I agreed to keep the Johnson after a sizable refund. Now I need to find a LMG forend and I'll try to make a reasonable bipod.

Ed, Once I had agreed to keep the Johnson, I used the patent blueprints available on the internet to make the neccessary modifications. It was relatively simple with the caveat that I proceeded ultra slow, carefully and repeatedly fitting the magazine housing until it fed correctly.

It was Rock Island Auctions

Email sent

There is a good picture of an early experimental peep sight on page 36 of Bruce Canfield's book.

Would it be possible to replace the rear sight with one from an O3A3? Was wondering how close the threads are. Thinking it might be a good way to get a finer aperature.

Appreciate the offer but I'm afraid my 1903 with the Winchester A5 scope and O3A4 would get jealous. Actually got the idea from a 1940 era photograph of a Johnson with what appears to be an adjustable peep sight.

The idea was to get a finer aperature by removing the windage screw and peep sight and replacing it with a sight that could be messed with. When finished, putting the original windage screw and peep sight back. Just a thought.

Try S&S in New York for stocks and parts and Buffalo Arms in Idaho for brass and dies.