M48TANKER

Well, I think you did OK. It sure looks to be all original to me. Personally I've never heard of the serial # being on the stock too, but I can't say that some military unit didn't do it. The NPC put serial numbers on the bayonets....didn't necessarily match the rifle? but I'm not sure the bayonets and rifles stayed together. Other than cleaning up the barrel and mild non-abrasive cleaning of everything else, I'd leave it just as is, wood dents, scratches and all. But to each his own! I've been able to work wonders with dark bores on MG-42 machine gun barrels. I chuck up a cleaning rod in my cordless drill, attach a bore brush to the end, use lots of old US mil-spec bore cleaner and run the brush through the barrel as long as it takes to make it shiney again. You might not get out any really bad pitting, but you can sure make it shine. My brother collects all sorts of military rifles and he completely restores every one...that's the way he likes it. He steams the dents out of the wood, touches up blueing, uses a whole lot of BreakFree on everything else. He can really put a nice original looking finish on a Johnson, Mauser, or anything else. He can match original military finishes on most all guns. Welcome to the board by the way. You'll enjoy it here. M48TANKER

Great advice Barry! All Johnson owners should have Joe Scott's CD...it's worth it's weight in gold, probably even in silver (that's an insider tip) . Also be selective in the ammo that you use in the Johnson. There is a thread on here that explains what you need to know about some of the modern high power ammo.

Here is a parts diagram and the bolt catch is marked (F).

Here is a shot of the bolt catch. It surrounds the hammer and then the little tab or lever on the front goes into the rotary magazine where the follower trips the catch when the magazine is empty. When reassembling the rifle always depress the shell follower until the bolt catch lever is inserted into the magazine. Melvin Johnson didn't originally design the rifle to have a bolt catch but it was added later at the request of the Netherlands Purchasing Commission. Please correct me if I'm mistaken.

I think the cut out you are referring to is the cut out for the front "take down" pin. On some of the Winfield Arms reconditioned Johnsons the wood was replaced. I guess that they didn't want to take the time to cut the wood and refinish it, when they could just shorten the retaining pin and cover it up. The forestock then held the pin in place. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. Here is a picture from our Main Johnson Site. And then here is a photo (borrowed from Gunbroker Auction # 200850833)that shows a Winfield "Sporter" that has no notch cut out for the assembly pin.

Hey oldtirediron, can you post a picture of the rifle for us? It could be what's left of a "V" model Johnson. I have a picture of mine in the "gallery" under "TANKER". Yep, I'm the same guy on 1919A4 and M2HB, so I recognize you. My "V" model has also had the stripper clip guide ground off of the right side, as well as the "hinges" for the rotary magazine ground off on the left side. I'm leaving mine "as is" just in case it turns out to be a factory prototype instead of a "bubba special". If it was done by bubba, then he definitely had some great gunsmithing skills because the thing looks like a factory job on the stock and on the vertical magazine well. Also it lacks any sort of sling swivels, so I don't think it was intended for public sale. It has a "Marbles" type rear buckhorn sight and a civilian type front sight. It's anyones guess as to whether it was factory done or not, so it may just be an odd "bubba-ized special" but I don't want to think so. If you can't post the pictures yourself then send them to me and I'll do it for you. Thanks for sharing. TANKER...."michaeleroper@comcast.net"

I could use a firing pin retainer (sometimes called the firing pin stop)....the half round cut out part of the bolt, one of mine does not have the spring clip. Thanks.

Here is an auction,(not mine), for a book that someone might want. Not the greatest condition, but useful. TANKER eBay item: 1941 366pg Book on Automatic Arms by Johnson & Haven (#200523329844)

I went to that website and did find the book on ammunition. It's there if you want it! Home > Search Results > Book Details View Larger Image Ammunition;: Its history, development and use, 1600 to 1943 -.22 BB cap to 20 mm. shell, Melvin Maynard Johnson Bookseller: Books From California (Simi Valley, CA, U.S.A.) Bookseller Rating: Quantity Available: 1 Price: US$ 46.65 Convert Currency Shipping: US$ 4.50 Within U.S.A. Destination, Rates & Speeds 30 Day Returns Policy About the Book Bookseller & Payment Information About the Book Bibliographic Details Publisher: W. Morrow Publication Date: 1943 Binding: Unknown Binding Book Condition: Good Edition: Description: Bookseller Inventory # mon0000489653 TANKER

OH NO.. ...I think I'm hooked !!! Now to hunt for all the parts. TANKER

Congratulations to "frenchy" on the purchase of a 1941 Johnson barrel on Gunbroker. The final price was $513.00 and then shipping will be probably around $10.00....quoted to me by "BestMan", the seller, when I inquired about the barrel. I never did bid on it but was prepared to go as high as $300.00.... hehehe. Guess I would have lost! I might have bid more if "BestMan" had sent me pictures of the bore and chamber, but I never got those. Now, if "g.g.ands" or "paperkiller", or "peggy" or any of the other bidders are still in the market for a decent 1941 JSAR barrel....I've got one. Right now it's still "in the white" and ready to be parkerized or blued. I can and will parkerize it for my own use if I don't sell it first. It has all the correct "attachments" per a military configuration and has not been "messed with". It does still have lands and grooves and the chamber looks nice. The lands and grooves are worn but will still make your cleaning rod turn. So it's a good usable "shooter" grade barrel...not a "like new" barrel however. Externally it's fine and marked "JA" and "30.06" and "41". Plus it has the NPC acceptance star, and the "sword in the circle" seen on Dutch contract barrels. The number on the barrel is 3480E and on the rear collar it's 3470F. I also have a Johnson LMG barrel with all the same markings (numbers are different of course). Both barrels are exactly the same length, the only apparent difference being that the LMG barrel has a LMG sight on the front and it has better rifling. It's also "in the white" and awaiting parkerizing. I don't know if the barrels are supposed to be the same length, but they are. Both chambers look good and the locking lugs appear excellent. I'm wondering however if JSAR and LMG locking lugs fit the same bolt lugs? Can someone enlighten me? I was preparing to parkerize these for my own use, now and in the future, but I don't have an immediate need for either of them. They could eventually wind up on Gunbroker after parkerizing but I'll sell or trade them now if someone really needs one. I guess that $500.00 plus price got me to thinking that I could use the money right now to buy 30.06 M2 ball ammo so I can shoot my other Johnsons. Heck, I was trying to buy up any parts that I could find and I still want to do that, but money talks. "M48TANKER"

Thanks Brian, nice looking rifle!

Ryche, have you got a picture of a "para-carbine"? Now I'm going to need a donor rifle. Oh man, I see a LMG in my future.....and this is after I sold my stash of LMG magazines. TANKER

So if I understand correctly....the firing pin "retainer" block(half round) is OK even if it just falls out when the bolt is turned over? As opposed to being held in by the clip over the firing pin? Thanks. TANKER

Posting for Craig:

I'm just making sure that I can post pictures OK as I have in the past. Craig it this works again then I'll be sure of my directions. TANKER

M48Tanker, I appreciate the info. I was already thinking about using some quad 0 but hadn't considered a lubricant. Regarding rust removal, I wonder if anyone has had any experience with naval jelly and if it would cause any harm. Looking at Wiki, it might be a good way to go. Gary

I want to get some more ammo for my Johnson. The only 30.06 that I have any quantity of is the PS 74 Headstamp.(Korean made for the M1 Garand, I think) I read on the CMP forum that the PS headstamp ammo is boxer primed, non-corrosive, reloadable. The only problem has been with the PS 75 headstamp ammo. Splits in the cases. OK, but my ammo is all PS 74,(not 75) so does anyone know how well this ammo is for shooting in the Johnson? I've never had a problem shooting it in my 1919A4 or my Remington 742. CMP currently has some Greek HXP ammo but I believe it's mildly corrosive. I need some advice here. Thanks, M48TANKER

Hey Gary, I believe that Mr.Scott does have all the parts you need. I think you definitely got your money's worth. Some "0000" stell wool soaked with Ballistol or BreakFree and rubbed very lightly on the rust spots can usually make them better. Don't rub too hard and keep the steel wool wet with lubricant. The buttplate will clean up the same way or maybe use a brass bristle brush with the lubricant to get in all the "lines". Congratulations on your purchase. Many mainsprings have to be replaced anyway, so that's kind of par for the course. Mr. Scott sells new 12 inch long mainsprings for $20.00 I think. I bought a couple from him and probably need two more soon. Use a shotgun bore brush to clean the mainspring tube and it will be fine. "M48TANKER"

Thanks to Brian for the excellent photos of the stock and the pertinent information. I hope that more will use the "Gallery" feature to show us their collections. "TANKER"

Check out my latest photos. I removed the shiney combed stock and forearm from "My First Johnson" and installed another set of wood. The newly installed buttstock is more like a "military pattern" but I believe it's still one made by Winfield? I need the tiny metal plate that is nailed into the forearm, to secure the front takedown pin. Got to see if Joe has these for sale. If not, I can make one. I'm going to leave the metal blued for now..it's a very good bluing job. Also leaving the "Dahl" ramped front sight for a little while. Someone might want to put it back into the "Sporter" configuration. Sorry about the poor quality pictures...I just can't seem to take good pictures indoors. And the new sling...well it's NEW !!! I think I need to bury the sling in the back yard for a month or so. I'll try to find an older looking sling at the next gunshow.

Sorry it took me so long to reply. I bought the wood as a finished product from a private seller on the internet. I don't know where he got it. It is a beautiful piece of wood! Not an exact duplicate of the "military" stock, but close. Maybe it's a John Darling stock? Does anyone know? There have to be others out there.

I followed the auction closely and as I expected the real bidding came at the last hour. The rifle sold for $3951.00 .......worth the money I believe. It appeared to be close to "original" to me? One flaw was the front magazine "take-down" pin being repaired, but that's a very small thing. The buttstock has a couple of small chips on the left side, but what the heck...it's just "patina" to me. It looked almost as good as the $8025.00 rifle that sold last week. That's a big price difference. Someone did "Pay for the Story". Actually they paid for the bragging rights as to who owned it before. I suppose the past owner being well known for the "AutoMag" pistol, and a collector, is worth $4000.00 extra....just not to me! Both buyers got nice firearms I believe.