BRMCII

Brownell's has a product called Cerrocast, which is designed for casting a chamber positive. It is excellent for making a copy of the chamber/case dhape and dimensionsand then you can measure it and determne what it is. It is easy to use. You might check with local gunsmiths and see if they use it and get them to make a casting for you. The picture of the fired case at the end of the pic thread looks like a .30 Carbine case does not come close to fitting. Bob Naess Black River Militaria CII Long story short, when I went to shoot it, .30 Carbine ammo wouldn't chamber. Figured out that the bullet didn't match the muzzle either, started putting two and two together, did some research, and end up here. There are no markings on the barrel or receiver that I could find which indicated what it has been re chambered as. The receiver is marked SG, the top of the receiver has had the caliber info removed, and the barrel is marked MACO. Based on the fact that the bolt face still holds the .30 Carbine ammo correctly and ejects it well, I'm guessing it is chambered in 5.7 Johnson, but I haven't got that confirmed yet. Bit of advice on how to confirm the chambering, and where to go from here on acquiring a handful of ammo to try this sucker out? Pictures, for those who are interested. The caliber markings have actually been removed here, it looks like. Bolt face and extractor still fit the 30 carbine case just fine.

>The lack of front sight and bayonet lug (or LMG sight) was not the only problem I saw. As you noted, the guide collar looked different than the standard guide collar (the front was wider and shiny) and the bbl finish to the rear of the collar was missing. LMG and JSAR bbls are identical except for the sight and lug. It just did not look right. Also note that the locking collar finish did not look even close to the bbl finish. Even so, it was worth gambling $300 on it...no more. An original JSAR bbl with decent bore will bring $700 and up.< Do you have any pics of the barrel? A friend recently acquired a '45 Johnson barfel, marked 45 only, which has a very square blocky center lug, not like the '41s or '44s. There are '41s and '44s in private hands, but I don't know of any '45s in pirvate hands. Anyway, if someone has a pic of the barrel that sold on GB, I'd like to see it. Bob Naess Black River Militaria CII

>Hi, again, Bob. Guess what! I haven't scanned the Form 2s -- guess I should, so they are "all over the place" chronologically. I think I might have a chronological list of the s/ns though. Here is the interesting thing: even as last as 1944 or '45 (can't remember last date available), the JLMGs were registered (except for one or two prototypes, if my memory serves me -- and it frequently does not) as M1941s. I am not sure if this indicates that Johnson Automatics considered the M1944s as simply a M1941 variation or if the M1944 Form 2s are missing. Because the Form 2 is a tax document, they are unavailable under the Freedom of Information Act, but I suspect that all of the JLMGs were reported as M1941s, excepting the later prototypes.< I know of two registered, transferable 1944 LMGs, and know the owner of one of them. I'll see if I can find out if they were registered as '41s. Bob Naess

The issue "bulk" mag carrier held 12 magazines, but was made of canvas with canvas straps and some reinforcement. There is no way they would have survived given the weight of twelve mags and the resulting chaffing and tearing of the canvas. Probably not a lot were made as well. So, they are very scarce. I've only seen and handled one in many, many years of close-up involvement with MGs. I'd like one to go with my '41LMG. Julia Auctions just sold a Johnson '41 with a canvas 12 mag carrier, so you can look at their site where it is pictured with the gun. Bob Naess I'm looking for the magazine carrier that carried a number of loaded magazines. I can't say I know if it was a metal can or a pouch of some sort. If anyone has one for sale or a couple good pictures...I'd appreciate it. I have accumulated a long list of all the cans the magazines "WON'T" fit in. Thanks Jim Walters

Thanks for the response, Bob, I appreciate it. I will do an FOIA on the '41 LMG that I own and see what was the date of the original registration. If it was the factory that registered it, it would be on a form 2 and dated sometime during the period of manufacture. It'll be interesting to see what is the registration history on it. Bob naess Black River Militaria CII Guess what! I haven't scanned the Form 2s -- guess I should, so they are "all over the place" chronologically. I think I might have a chronological list of the s/ns though. Here is the interesting thing: even as last as 1944 or '45 (can't remember last date available), the JLMGs were registered (except for one or two prototypes, if my memory serves me -- and it frequently does not) as M1941s. I am not sure if this indicates that Johnson Automatics considered the M1944s as simply a M1941 variation or if the M1944 Form 2s are missing. Because the Form 2 is a tax document, they are unavailable under the Freedom of Information Act, but I suspect that all of the JLMGs were reported as M1941s, excepting the later prototypes. Bob Lamoreaux

>Unfortunately, there are no production logs for the Johnson light machine guns. Or at least none that have been found. Some fragmentary Form 2 (Treasury Department manufacturer's registration forms) survive.< Ah.....thought that might be the case, but didn't know for sure. Too bad! Where can I see copies of the fragmentary form 2s? These would be interesting to see as they woould have lists of series of LMGs manufactured and would be by serial numbers. Thanks for the response. Bob Naess Black River Militaria CII

Would appreciate input on how to post to the archives "serial numberts" section so I can find out what the part numbers are for '41 LMG #1176. Bob Naess Black River Militaria CII