Rick S.

Your trigger group (contemporary fire control group) doesn't appear to be the source of your problem - it doesn't sound like you are 'bump firing'. Check your firing pin assembly! It should have a captive spring that prevents slam fire when the bolt locks into battery. Anything inhibiting proper function of that assembly could cause slam fire to failure to fire conditions. Getting a click when I expect a bang is bad. Pulling the trigger and holding on until the ammo is expended while attempting to grab the charging/operating handle with your trigger hand is the other extreme and infinitely worse, in my opinion. Kinetic energy (mass of the firing pin + velocity of the bolt) must be captured by the spring or you will experience slam fire conditions! A weak, damaged, broken or missing firing pin spring/firing pin spring retainer or damaged firing pin may require replacement - especially if you've replaced the 'buffer spring' or recoil spring in the stock. There's a delicate balance that has to be maintained in any recoil or blow-back operated weapon as any M1911 fan can testify to. Since you have to dismount the bolt carrier assembly to inspect your firing pin assembly, you might as well look those components over for anything peculiar: deformation, burring, galling, excessive grease, cosmolene, dirt, etc. Keep in mind these weapons may not have been properly maintained since they were originally assembled. Damage could've occurred so long ago that patina may hide conditions that would be obvious had it occurred yesterday. For your particular problem, I would look at firing pin protrusion, also. The firing pin hole in the bolt face may be excessively large or deformed, causing the firing pin to get stuck in the bolt face. Sometimes it sticks only when the firing pin is struck by the hammer, but shakes loose when the action is manipulated (the firing pin assembly may still function fine!), making it very easy to overlook. ('Snap caps' prevent this condition when dry firing, by the way.) I believe your bolt carrier group, particularly the bolt/firing pin assemblies, may be inducing an intermittent slam fire condition. If this is the case, continuing to fire it in this condition may cause it to become a constant slam fire condition, until properly repaired. That could get exponentially expensive. Exercise caution! I cannot take responsibility for your failures and will not take credit for your success. The very unique and interesting design, history and rarity of the '41 Johnsons mean you are on your own if you want to own and operate a functional JSAR. You will not find a live gunsmith with more JSAR knowledge and experience than some of those on this site. That's where I've gotten mine, including this information. The guys that gave it to me are too damned old to remember, though. (I'm no kid or expert, by the way.) I've owned two functional JSARs and have been a very small part of this community since the mid 90s. I credit that feat to the JSAR website, it's creator Jim Pullen, and all those who continue to return to share their knowledge and experience, in spite of the ravages of fire, flood, hurricanes, volcanoes, life and time. (OK, maybe not volcanoes.) Use this information well. Be smart. Be safe. Good luck! Semper Fidelis, Rick S.

korvette, Mr. Scott may be reached by sending him a message through this board. He posted in this string just above your reply. Click on the dropdown menu to the left of his post that has his name on it. You'll see the option to send him a message. You may first need to set up your control panel from "My Controls" at the top of the page to ensure you'll receive the reply. He responds to his messages, though maybe not as quickly as a direct email. That feature protects all of us from spambots and other evil cybersludge. I also need to contact him, and I use these features myself. As you can see, his work is highly recommended, and he is one of a very very few with expert functional knowledge of the JSAR. Semper Fi, Rick S.

sgtrock, Fair market value for bayonets, and any other accessories for this rifle have increased so much, so fast, that I couldn't possibly offer an accurate guess. $300 and up to whatever anyone is willing to pay is my WAG. Sorry, that's the best I can do. I guess I don't keep track for fear I may sell out. Yes there are definitely reproductions out there that will fool the uninformed. Go to the main site @ http://johnsonautomatics.com , click on the "bayonets" button, and get smart. As the repros do cost as much as the originals, and the original bayonets are at least as rare as the rifles, those selling a repro may genuinely believe they are selling an original. If you recognize a fake, the mere suggestion that it may not be real could make for an exciting afternoon at the gunshow, so be careful. Also, genuine bayonets can be paired with phony sheaths, and visa-versa. While it may be worthwhile to negotiate to make the best of an opportunity, it is advisable to be very diplomatic, and polite. As difficult as it might be, sometimes, you just have to walk away. Some folks are so proud that the more you try to help, the more agitated they become. They just don't like to be told they got taken in a public forum. Get smart. If you do find a genuine set, and have to have it, remember that you may not have paid too much, you just bought it too early. (Be advised not to say that to your wife: If she understands the concept, she may use it to justify a jewelry purchase.) Good luck! Semper Fi, Rick S.

akgunguy, You should get any used firearm "checked" before shooting it. The JSAR is a rare weapon, and because of it's rarity there just aren't many smiths who can wring it out like it should be. I would definitely have a gunsmith check headspace, to ensure you don't have a case rupture, and damage or destroy your brain housing group (head), and/or your rifle. Any smith with 30'06 gauges should be able to do this. The M1941 Johnson Website, of which this board is a part, has allot of information, in case you haven't seen it. Simply field stripping, cleaning, and performing a visual inspection of the parts would be a good start. Having a good understanding of how the parts interact and operate mechanically, and looking for burring, scoring, evidence of battering, and obviously missing, bent, cracked, or broken parts will save time and expense. Joe Scott, who frequents this site, but has been running from hurricanes, lately, sells a DVD that offers excellent guidance. He also sells some critical parts that aren't available elsewhere. Hopefully he, his family, and worldly possessions are fully mission capable, and we hear from him soon. There is a precarious balance between the mainspring, located within the buttstock, and the firing pin spring. Worn mainsprings cause battering of the bolt, boltstop, and receiver. I believe minimum acceptable length is 11.5 inches, if I recall correctly. (Someone please chime in, if I'm mistaken.) When worn mainsprings are replaced, and weak firing pin springs are not, the potential exists for slam-fires, causing doubling or possible automatic fire. This is a very dangerous condition to the shooter, anyone downrange beyond the backstop, the shooter's legal status, and possibly the rifle. These and other parts should be inspected for serviceability, by somebody knowledgeable, before firing the weapon. The only way to really fully test for these conditions is at the range. Again, there aren't many gunsmiths who've even seen a JSAR, before. This has made it necessary for many of us to do it ourselves. You've come to the right place, if you have to go this route, as there's allot of knowledge and experience here. If you aren't very confident, though, don't shoot it. The life you save may be your own! I've inspected, and fired my own JSARs. I have also been trained to inspect small arms in the military, and understand where the critical areas are. I still will not pretend to have the last word on this subject. I wouldn't have dared to do it without the guidance of participants of this board. Proceed at your own risk. That said, the JSAR is a well designed, very robust and forgiving rifle. So much so, that while it lost in competition with a design that had already been accepted and rushed into mass production by a country about to enter into a world war, several of it's unique design features can be found in modern small arms in use as we speak. Aside from the attention you get at the range when shooting a JSAR, if you possess an understanding of the unique features of this rifle, it's a genuine pleasure to own and shoot. Semper Fi, Rick S.

Matt, The "original protective coating" is likely very old cosmolene, or cosmolene-like. I can't imagine what's "original" about it, though. I would imagine the Dutch applied the cosmolene when the bayonets were retired from service, and placed in long-term storage. I have a JSAR bayonet that also has cosmolene on it, that I have tried my dead level best to leave intact. It has become brittle, and is flaking off. Underneath is a used and somewhat worn genuine JSAR bayonet. While the bayonet is intact, the original finish shows some edge wear, and the point is very slightly bent. On mine, the muzzle ring does have a four digit number, presumably applied by the Dutch, that did not match the number on the sheath. I have heard stories of others with similarly coated JSAR bayonets, and mine does have a consistency resembling a rubber coating. In my humble opinion, without being able to examine it first hand, coupled with a numbered sheath, it is likely to be genuine. The bayonet does have the contours of an original, and not those of the more recently made south asian re-pops. A couple of points to make about the referenced auction: 1) The USN did not officially posses or issue JSARs, in spite of the fact that they published information and photos in a 1943 edition of the Bluejackets Manual (a manual for all sailors, issued while in basic training). 2) Unscrupulous dealers have been known to coat phony or junk arms, and parts, in cosmolene to make a sale to gullible buyers. This practice has been around at least since the end of WWI. Looking at the photos in the auction, at least the "original protective coating" doesn't appear fresh. 3) Nothing outside of the words written by the seller indicate the piece is "mint", or anywhere close. In fact, I'm inclined to believe it's original, and if the bayonet or sheath appeared "mint", it would be highly suspect. JSARs and accouterments were made during wartime to fight war, and no one spent the time or money to preserve them for the pleasure of collectors at some future date. As I've heard Mr. Bruce Canfield (distinguished collector, historian, author, and editor, who frequents this and other websites) state: "Buy the weapon, not the story". Good luck! Semper Fi, Rick S.

BRDow, Be advised: While that barrel collar may be marked .30'06, as all were, the Chilean JSAR barrels were bored and chambered for 7mm in Mexico, prior to delivery to Chile. I don't know that the bolt would lock on a .30'06 round in a 7mm chamber, but it's something you should be aware of, if you aren't already. I don't believe that being a 7mm will detract from the weapon's value, as most Chilean JSARs are in better condition than Dutch JSARs. If I had to surrender a JSAR for twenty years, and had the option, I'd prefer that it went to the Chilean Army, as opposed to a Dutch Marine/Aboriginal Colonial Army in the Dutch East Indies! I don't believe Melvin Johnson made them for collectors, though. In fact, with the addition of a .30'06 barrel, which is completely and quickly interchangable, you stand the chance of seriously enhancing the value of the piece. All other parts on the JSAR are common. (Ensure bolt & barrels headspace properly before heading to the range!) As far as not having the original parts in the rifle, as delivered to the customer in 1941, don't give it another thought. Based on my understanding, after reading the original JSAR Site & message board since 1997, and this one since inception, you can probably count the number of JSARs with original parts on one hand. Those few were likely in the hands of JA/Cranston Arms company officers and family members or relegated to museums, national armories, and such. Of course, logs only exist for most non-prefix rifles. We may never know about the rest. I bought two Dutch JSARs in 1997, motivated in part, by Mr. Pullen's website, and those who've frequently imparted their friendly and thorough knowledge over the years. (You gents know who you are!) Certainly "more bang for the buck" than I could ever wish for from Wall Street. For the record, you can list this message as testament to the genius of Melvin Johnson's legacy to modern small arms, Mr. Pullen's efforts toward keeping that legacy alive, and the outstanding community those efforts have brought together right here. I'm proud to be a very small part of it. Semper Fidelis, Rick S.

To All, Just saw this, and wanted to pass it on. I don't know seller and have no interest. Someone may be looking for one, . . . See link below. Semper Fi, Rick S. '41 JSAR on CSP Board

Matt, I'm afraid I'm on the field service side of the business, which currently puts me in the People's Republic of Washington, in the vicinity of Ft. Lewis. I'm currently providing combat support to the Stryker Brigades rotating in and out of the sandbox. Our engineering and logistical support is located at the Sterling Heights Complex, right down the road from from you, though. US Army Tank Automotive Command (TACOM) is still headquartered nearby, coincidentally, even though the tank plants in the area have been closed for awhile. To Jim's observations (Oorah firecontrol!), I partly agree. Armored vehicles have never been safe places to be, by nature. (There are some that have said aircraft carriers were obsolete in the nuclear age, but no one had the guts to nuke one.) However, the same technologies that are used to destroy weapons (targets!), are also used to counter and destroy weapons (targets?). Ground combined arms tactics, in use since WWII, include air, armor, artillery, and men with bayonets and bad attitudes. Remove any single component, and it all falls down. The battlefield really is a dangerous place. Technology has improved to the point where an armored vehicle can be destroyed by an Explosively Formed Penetrator - Improvised Explosive Device (EFP-IED), delivered by an untrained suicidal terrorist. The trained vehicle crew gets another vehicle, and the "destroyed" vehicle is rebuilt to like new condition, IN THEATER, and returns to the fight. Crew and vehicle survivability is engineered in. The cost of the rebuild is far less than a new one. Of course, the human cost, while great, is ultimately less and less so, for the good guys. Find an "enemy combatant" who thinks tanks are obsolete. I agree that you won't see any US armored vehicles being scavanged from an old battlefield, anymore. If any modern US vehicles, aircraft, or vessels wind up in a private museum, it will be because the US Government gave it away for posterity. Same goes for the huge cemetaries left around the world after the world wars. The vast majority of our veterans will "succumb to obsolescence", instead of combat wounds. In spite of everything, museums and collectors will still have plenty of examples of our enemies implements of war. (Priced a Mauser, Arisaka, or semiauto Kalashnikov, lately?) Thank God I am a US Marine! I can enjoy the right to keep and bear arms, while I grow old, and die in my sleep. Sorry for the rant. (BTW: Where is that museum?) Happy holidays to all. Semper Fi, Rick S.

Mitch, That's a very impressive private museum. It appears to be on par with the Patton Museum at Ft. Knox, KY. The US Army Ordnance Museum at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD, is probably the best in the US, but is not privately owned or financed. Allot of folks may not realise how expensive it is to maintain something like that, not to mention putting it together and making the pieces run. I'm very impressed, and would love to see it one day. I don't know when that would be, but I'm interested. May I ask the approximate location? I was a Electro-Optical Ordnance (Firecontrol) Technician in the US Marine Corps, and have worked for General Dynamics Land Systems (M1 Tanks, Stryker LAVs) for more than ten years. I thought my firearms collection was expensive to keep. WOW! Nice one. Semper Fi, Rick S.

Yep! I believe that cut was in the previews, too. I'm betting that was the 1st Special Service Force, also known as the "Devil's Brigade", "Die Schwarzen Teufel" or Black Devils. Aside from a very few Paramarine Battalions, they were the only military formation to have the JLMG officially in their TO&E. The men in that video weren't wearing USMC issue. The 1st SSF made their mark in central Italy. Very well put together and researched film. Bulk of the video is actually correct for the campaigns being described, as opposed to many documentaries that show whatever war footage they come across, regardless of the campaign or even theater. I was surprized that most of the video shown while Guadalcanal was being described lacked the camoflage pattern Marines didn't start wearing until late '43 or '44, nor were they carrying M1 Garands. Just green herringbone twill, and M1903s. Very well done! Sad to say, even the History Channel's "Tales of the Gun" series has shown footage of Melvin Johnson showing off the JSAR durring demonstrations and trials while describing criminals and bootleggers durring the '30s. Aside from not being "period correct", it implied Mr. Johnson and others were gangsters! Damn shame. Nice one, Ridge Runner! Semper Fi, Rick S.

Ridge Runner, On the Johnson Automatics site, on the Identification Page, under Accessories, it says "It has been reported that Johnson Rifles were issued with a small wax paper envelope containing a replacement extractor, firing pin, and hammer spring - all heavily greased for storage. These 'spares packages' were found in the lightening cut located under the butplate". Identification Page @ Johnson Automatics.com It's a safe bet that there was good reason for the rifles to be issued with those parts. The extractor is an obvious candidate, as is the complete firing pin assembly. I don't know about failure rates of the hammer spring, but an ejector may be a better idea for combat. An extra hammer block pin with intact retainer might be a good idea, as would the recoil spring. Be advised, it has been stated that if the recoil spring is replaced, the firing pin spring probably needs to be replaced also, to prevent slamfires. This would probably apply to all recoil operated firearms, including the M1911 series pistols. I remember someone posting pictures of the 'spares package' envelope and contents, following much debate as to weather the the spares package was fact or fantasy. That pretty well ended the debate. As I recall, the paper was more like cotton gauze on wax paper, and was heavily greased. That was the only instance I'm aware of, of someone finding one in a butstock, and must've been a nice surprize. I had no such luck with either of my originally stocked JSARs. I hope more members jump in here, and give me a little back-up. The referenced posts were several years ago, on the original message board. It would be interesting if someone re-posted those pictures, too. Mr.s Pullen, Liss, and Scott, among others, might be able to offer far better insight regarding the spares question than I. Happy Easter to all. Semper Fi, Rick S.

To Walt, Splash! Package received, and I'm delighted. I got exactly what you described, and it's alot classier than I expected. Outstanding idea, and thanks for the opportunity to own one. To All, It's a nice one, get one while you can. I'll be wearing mine to the WAC shows out here on the left coast, in Puyallup, WA. Don't hesitate to say hello, and talk Johnsons if you see me. Sorry if I'm struttin' around like a peacock. Semper Fi, Rick S.

Awesome article! Not a "cut and paste" from the Book. Those who won't join the NRA for whatever reason, should just for the Canfield articles in AR. Nice one, Bruce! I don't care how rough the crowd is on the CSP forums. My question is: Who's going to start the "Betsy" to "Daisy Mae" conversions? I'd rather convert one of my JSARs to Daisy Mae configuration, than to a semi-auto Emma. It would be phoney as a three dollar bill, but would get alot of gawking at the range. It would be alot of fun to shoot, too. Coincidentally and very ironically, I believe the ultimate complement to the Johnson Automatics' design and engineering is the fact that the last few paragraphs of the article are bracketed by a Johnson Legacy: AR10/M-16 series rifles chambered in .30 caliber (.30'06, .300 Rem, .308 Win, and even .243 Win). Anyone know of any Garand derivatives still in production in so many chamberings? That's my two cents worth. Semper Fi, Rick S.

Walt, Look forward to it . . . I, for one, appreciate the opportunity. Thanks. Please think of a SAFE way for us to contact you, and then pay for 'em. The Trolls are running wild these days, as are the scammers, spammers, and outright theives. I don't want to hear of anyone getting burned, and ruining a good thing. I'll do what I have to, to allow you to protect yourself, and hope others will do the same. Semper Fi, Rick S.