M48TANKER

Mil-tech is still refurbishing 1941 Johnsons. I called about six weeks ago and talked to them about it. At that time they said that they did the restorations in "batches" and they only had two more guns available, yet to be spoken for, until the next "batch" would be done, sometime in October, I think. I don't recall the price right now but I think it was in the mid $6000.00 price range...but don't quote me on that. Call them and they'll explain all about it. I happened to buy a Mil-tech Johnson about two weeks ago from an individual who purchased it a long time ago. It's 100% perfect with NO blemishes anywhere. It came with a bunch of paperwork, a repro manual, a new 1907 pattern sling, a velvet feeling gun case inside a big wooden crate especially made for the gun. I think it was supposed to have a cleaning kit with it but I didn't get that....probably $10.00 at a gunshow. I've already got a 30 caliber cleaning kit from my collection of 1919A4s, so I'm not needing another cleaning kit anyway. I love the rifle. Since I believe that most Johnsons, not all, but most have been refurbished by Winfield or someone...I don't think it being a Mil-tech hurts it any. Of course, I've already completely disassembled it and cleaned it to my specifications, as it was bone dry and had not been shot since leaving Mil-tech. I inspected every aspect of the rifle and all parts look like new and are in 100% condition. There is no way to improve on it. Except of course if it could be documented to have been used by the US Marines, but it has not. I have heard some people bad-mouth Mil-tech for some reason, but I think it was just sour grapes, or maybe just because they really wanted one but couldn't afford it. M48TANKER

Gosh, we've got a lot of knowledgeable folks on here. I've only shot 30.06 commercially loaded rounds in a Remington 742 hunting rifle, and my experience with Military surplus 30.06 is limited to machine guns, mainly 1919A4s and they'll eat most anything. What is the consensus on CMP ammo? Which of their offerings is best for both rifles, M1 Garand and the 1941 Johnson? I've heard good things about the Greek HPX ??? and CMP sometimes has AP ammo for cheap too..sold out right now I think. Different lot numbers and years are corrosive, so I'll learn to look for those. I've shot so much corrosive ammo in the machine guns that the cleaning drill is just SOP to me now...all my guns get a through cleaning within hours of the shooting session, just to be sure. M48TANKER

The magazine is just the outer housing. I'll send you a picture of it and tell you the price. I like cash, but I love to trade. This mag housing has pitting on the rear that will be covered by the buttstock, the rest looks OK to me. It's "in the white" after being media blasted, ready to parkerize, blue, or paint. I'll get back with you. Do you have any other extra Johnson parts? M48TANKER

I would like to know the correct postition of the recoil tube assembly in relation to the rear of the receiver. I'm going to attach a photo of the distance I'm wondering about. My "new" rifle has the recoil tube positioned about 1/4" further forward than the replacement stock I might put on it. The stock on the gun now has a cheekpiece and rubber buttpad. I'm wanting to put the other stock I acquired with the steel buttplate and no cheekpiece on it. But I may need to repostion the recoil tube since it's farther back in the stock, and that would exacerbate the problem of my 11&5/8" mainspring. I'll order a new mainspring anyway, but I want the newly acquired stock to be set up correctly. Can some of you post the measurement that I am referencing in the picture? The picture below is the replacement stock where the distance is approx. 2". My rifle with the sporter/cheekpiece stock has a distance of about 1&5/8". I know this affects bolt recoil function. What is the proper measurement? Also the strength of the recoil spring will make a difference and my present spring is weak, 11&5/8" instead of 12". Thanks, TANKER Replacement stock:

I'm too new to know the difference in a #2 stock and a #5 stock. However I could use another military type stock and I can trade a Winfield Deluxe Sporter stock. Can you show me what these look like? I may have what you want, and you may have what I want. Thanks, M48TANKER....."michaeleroper@comcast.net"

Thanks for the input Brian! Your rifle seems to be a cut above mine. Your stock seems to be made of one piece, but with the potbelly middle still partially there. Don't you just really wonder about the history of these particular rifles? I guess that's what makes them "collectible" .....some are a mystery. Who in the world would graft a barrel like that? Since I see the barrel has been sectioned to show the chamber, I assume that you put another barrel on the rifle. It looks like they took the time to inlet the stock to fit around the hinges for the rotary magazine, but it's a shame that they also machined off the stripper clip guide as mine was done. For collecting and historical reasons I suppose these rifle should be left "as found" as much as possible. I have to admit though that I'd like to return this one to it's rotary magazine status...don't worry..I won't. Your receiver also started life as a rotary magazine receiver and was converted later by someone. Your buttplate was altered too, but you didn't show how. Mine has a "plastic/bakelite/whatever" buttplate off some other commercial rifle. I'm going to look at some old Marlin rifles to see if I can match the buttplate. Does your rifle have the filled in spots where a sling swivel was on the back and where the top of the military metal buttplate wrapped over the top? Any other markings on the top of your rifle or the barrel, as in the pictures of the "Marlin" stamping. Mine has none...just the regular 1941 Johnson lettering with patent numbers, etc. Would you hazard a guess as to the value of such rifles? Are they "rare, rare, very valuable collectibles" or just "redheaded stepsons" that don't rate getting excited over? Thanks, Michael Roper...aka...M48TANKER (btw...received funds today)

I think I can answer my own question, now that I have four rifles and five stocks to compare. It seems that the average distance from the upper tip of the recoil tube to the rear edge of the receiver is approximately 2&1/8 inches. So I'd say the the Deluxe Sporter stock with the tube at 1&5/8 inches must be a little too close to the action. Just an observation from what I've seen so far. M48TANKER

Actually $23.35 plus $6.00 postage. I happened to bid on it and won it. I was surprised that no one else bid. Yes, that's way too cheap! I also bid on another one somewhere for $100.00 thinking I would be outbid, but I won that one too! So now I have three extras and no use for them at the present. I'm just starting to horde Johnson parts for my future collecting. The $100.00 shell has not arrived yet so I don't know exactly what it really looks like. I can take some pictures when I get them all together, and you could pick the one that you like best at whatever price I finally arrive at. Or maybe we could do some trading if you have extra Johnson parts, ammo, or other gun parts. I love to trade. Don't go buying a high priced magazine just yet. I'll try to help you out. M48TANKER......P.S. Oh....thanks butch for not bidding against me. and thanks to Gonzo also. We should all try not to bid against each other unless we absolutely have to. Also...Gonzo, go ahead and you guys try to make a deal, because I don't want to butt-in. I'll just stand by in case you two can't get together.

Webmaster, I bought the two barrels that he sold a few weeks ago. They are both the same length, both marked "J.A.", and both cleaned up almost like new. One has the LMG front sight and the other has the JSAR front sight and bayonet lug. They look good to me. The lands and grooves are still present but not exceptional and the bores are shiney. I also got a rotary magazine drum shell and ten Johnson LMG magazines that will also clean well. I don't anticipate needing the LMG magazines, so if anyone wants them....they are cheaper to buy or trade for now, rather than after I bead blast them. I don't have a price set for them just make me an offer. Thanks, TANKER

Can an Israeli DROR barrel be altered to fit a 1941 Johnson JSAR. I know the barrel guide bushing would have to be relocated and probably changed. How about the locking lug bushing? If the DROR barrel in 8mm could be mated with a 1941 JSAR locking bushing and barrel guide bushing...would that work? I'd like to be able to shoot 8mm. Will there be differences in the DROR bolt locking lugs or might the JSAR 30.06 bolt fit the DROR locking lugs? It seems like I remember Mr. Scott having to fix a Johnson that had been retrofitted with a wrong bolt or wrong barrel locking lugs? I have the facilities to turn down the DROR barrel to make it fit the JSAR bushings if need be. Thanks, TANKER

Sorry, I was not aware that you had to join Snapfish in order to view a shared album...my bad! Well here goes:

Geeze! That tells me exactly what I wanted to know....it's beyond my present skill level. I'll just save my 8mm for my MG42. Thanks again guys!

When you do a project like that, how would you go about headspacing the assembly. I'm familiar with headspacing AK builds on new barrels, but that's all. I like to do things myself and have built many M2HBs, 1919A4s, AKs, Mg42s, etc. I've just built a few AKs with new barrels that had to be headspaced and that was easy with the right tools. On the Johnson barrel would you use a headspace guage and just screw the barrel in until the headspace is right and then pin it in place? or is there more to it than that? Actually I guess what I really want to know is: if you bought a complete DROR barrel, would it be a drop in change for the 1941Johnson or is the DROR locking lug bushing not compatible with the Johnson bolt.Thanks

Edtowguy, I've picked up a few spares so far. Whatever Numrich or Sarco had in stock that was not too expensive. I got a "latch plunger spring $4.75"......"a firing pin spring for $4.20"...."a trigger spring for $1.60"....and from other sources I got a couple of "bolt hold back" levers, an "extractor", an extra front and rear military sight for the next Johnson that I know I'll get sooner or later. Probably the best spares are extractor, firing pin, mainspring, maybe hammer and trigger spring. I don't know enough yet to be aware of what might break. Seems like takedown pins might get lost too. Other guys on the board know a lot more than I do. I was looking at the pictures that you posted and saw the front sight and bayonet lug in the process of being changed? Are you doing this and just haven't put the pins back in yet? I bought a "reamer" from Mr.Scott for "drilling/reaming" those pathways out for the pins. Plus I bought pins from him too with the sight. How did you go about getting the ramped sporter sight off? I know that Mr. Scott says there is a screw under the sight blade, and then you may have to apply heat and use a wrench to leverage it off. Just wondering how you did it? M48TANKER

Barry, I only reload 50 BMG for my MaDuece. I've never loaded for anything else. I really enjoyed your essay on reloading for the Johnson. I always wondered what my buddies enjoyed so much about reloading? If your time is cheap, and now mine is, then you can reload for less than store bought ammo most of the time. But you've brought up a point of view that I hadn't considered. That is, the enjoyment of reloading for a special rifle in order to get the receipe just right for both the rifle and the accuracy of your own ammo. I do have a friend who reloads 30.06 for his deer rifle, (and mine). He uses a certain powder, Nosler bullets I think, and one particular brand of brass. He has his reloaded ammo down to a science. He can even make my target shooting look good, because every round travels the same path at the same velocity. It does make a heck of a difference. Thanks for sharing your experience with me...and the group! M48TANKER Oh by the way: For Sale or Trade for 1941 Johnson.

Well, I just accidently learned something. You can't view attachments unless you are "logged in". As long as I'm logged in now: When changing calibers from 30.06 to 7mm, is the barrel all you have to change? Can the Johnson be made to operate with a 308 barrel? I know that cartridge length would be a factor in feeding from the magazine....but has it ever been done, perhaps with a spacer in the magazine? With my 1919A4 beltfed, I can change barrels, and change the size of the cartridge spacer (in the front of the feedway) to make up for the shorter 308 cartridge. I can also change barrels and run 8mm Mauser(7.92x57)as well. I know that Winfield offered the sporter in .270, so what other cartridges are adaptable. TIA.......M48TANKER

All the things you mentioned are under the heading below that reads:"Help with attaching files". I don't go there. I just type what I want in this big white box and if I want to attach a picture that is in a folder on my computer, I just "browse" for that file and click "Attach this file" and then hit "add to post" at the right. Then hit"Add Reply" at the very bottom.

I just used the "Attatchments" section that comes up when you clic "Reply" Then I browse my computer for the picture and attach it. I hope this works.

Edtowguy, in order to figure out the date, you must have one of the "no-prefix" serial numbered rifles. If your serial number begins with an "A" or a "B"....... then so far those records are lost to humanity. There are ledgers in existance for the "no-prefix" numbered rifles. One of the board members will cheerfully tell you all you want to know about all the marked parts of the rifle. When you get the headspace checked out then I would shoot all I could afford to shoot. I shoot my Johnson regularly. M48TANKER

Webmaster, you are so right! I was beginning to doubt my sanity. I guess I had a "senior moment" when I said Cranston Arms instead of Winfield Arms. I began to wonder where I read Cranston Arms. Now, I'm paraphrasing from Bruce Canfield's Book, loose quotes: "Maynard Johnson enlisted the aid of a old friend, Robert Leeson, chairman of the board and President of Universal Windings Company. Universal Windings Company was located in Cranston, Rhode Island, a surburb of Providence, Rhode Island. Leeson and his son, Robert Jr., operated a textile machinery manufacturing company and were interested in expanding into War-related contracted work. So a contract was negotiated for Universal Windings Company to manufacture most of the metal commponents of the Johnson rifles and light machineguns. As a subsidiary of Universal windings Company, "Cranston Arms Company" was established to manufacture the Johnson rifles and machine guns. Therefore on the right side of the receiver of most Johnson rifles, below and to the rear of the sight was marked "Cranston Arms" enclosed in a triangle, which was the Dutch National Symbol (in the same manner as the "star inside a circle" emblem on U.S. military aircraft. On many of these rifles there was a small five pointed star stamped above the triangle which was the Dutch acceptance mark."

Hello Ed, congratulations on your "new" rifle. Before you get too concerned about a "Garand" barrel, let some of the experts on the board here explain to you how Cranston Arms rebarreled some 1941 Johnsons. I believe that they used Garand barrels and 1903 barrels. So it's not unusual at all to find a 1941 Johnson with a different barrel in it. Be pleased that you've got a nice barrel instead of a pitted, shot out one. However you are very wise to be cautious because as you said, "some bubba may have done it". Hang on a bit and one of our resident experts will enlighten you further! Mr. Joe Scott can sell you a new barrel and headspace it for you. I'm not quite qualified yet. M48TANKER

Yes Joe, I've probably got some paper weights, but the price was right. Someone on one of the other forums was concerned about not having a BHO on his Johnson. I tried to explain how it came to be there in the first place, and that there was most likely no mechanical issue with his rifle. I mentioned your name, so he might be contacting you for a BHO lever. There is also a 1941 Johnson manual on Gunbroker by the same guy that I got the rusty parts from. His name is Chris. The manual looks to be museum quality. You may want to have a look at it. I can't afford it but it's really nice! Michael Roper....M48TANKER

Hello there, there is likely nothing wrong with your Johnson. It's built the way that Melvin Johnson wanted it to be done...no bolt hold-open. But the buyers of some of the guns wanted them to have bolt-hold-open devices....so Melvin gave in and put them on there. The BHO is just a small lever like piece that drops in over the hammer and the front take down pin holds it in place. Very ingenious. You can easily put one in there if you want that feature. Joe Scott has them in stock I believe. M48TANKER

Webmaster, thanks for the tip. I'm taking a big chance that the barrels are usable. I'll definitely have some LMG mags for sale. M48TANKER

Does anyone remember this "bad" Johnson....I definitely don't want to buy it. M48TANKER