M48TANKER

I wish I'd said that

Please let us know what you find will weaken the glue. Perhaps a heat gun? Is the top of the butt stock inletted (and now probably filled in too) for the upper "L" shaped tang of the original butt plate?

Hey Tater! In my humble opinion, the rear portion of your butt stock has been added. Perhaps to accommodate the eye relief needed for the scope. If you look at the distance from the sling swivel to the butt plate, you will notice that it's extraordinarily long...and more in keeping with the placement of an original. Of course the difference in the wood grain and the curved shape of the metal butt plate indicates this as well. If you decide to keep the scope you may want to keep that extra length. If you try to return the rifle to a more original configuration, you'll want to very carefully remove that couple of inches on the end of butt stock.

I'm surprised that no one bid

Hello cvgresch, Welcome. That's a very clean rifle. No doubt it's been reconditioned by someone. The butt stock is a great looking and great fitting replacement. The rifle looks so good that I'd bet it's been refurbished by Miltech. They do an outstanding job. Your pictures show that the magazine door spring is installed upside down. The larger section with the small 90 degree lip bent on it, goes toward the top. When it's toward the bottom that bent lip is getting in the way of those last couple of rounds. When re-installing the magazine, make sure that you get the bolt hold open "tongue" inserted properly into the rear of the magazine. You'll have to push the follower inward to about the position you show it now in your pictures. I agree that the barrel has also been replaced but it may be possible that the JA with out punctuation, is indeed a Johnson Automatics produced barrel. Johnson did make barrels for other manufacturers. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. I know that Joe Scott will be able to tell you for which firearm the barrel was originally made, based on the "offsets" for the front sight and bayonet lug and this superfluous groove. I hope that I've got all this info right.

You are certainly welcome! If you don't have access to a milling machine, you could use a dremel tool and take your time. Joe suggested using a screw in an existing hole and some type of epoxy. You sure couldn't hurt the receiver that way. A good TIG welder could do the job too. I would make the dovetail a bit tight and file to fit after attaching it. One of the members here made his own bayonet lug and did an excellent job. There is a lot to be said about putting the scope back on and letting it be just what it is...A "SPORTER" and enjoy it as is. Most of the guys here eventually get a sporter. Nice Winfield Sporters are increasing in value too.

I can see that I'm not the only one to think of replacing the rear piece of the dovetail. I actually drew up a diagram to show you my thoughts...but then I hit a wrong key on the computer and lost the message. Since Joe already posted the same procedure, I dropped the idea. Just in case, here it is again. At least this is what I'd try to do.

It does have a certain "Miltech" appearance. There are several things to which Miltech probably would not attach their name: The magazine door spring is wrong and the front take down pin is either missing or has been replaced by one which is of the short type, sometimes seen on "Sporters" which have a wooden fore arm not notched for the take down pin or retainer. The cartouche of course is highly suspect. I wonder if Miltech would have taken in someone's gun to refurbish, but not to completely return to the proper configuration? Cost may have been a concern for the customer? That barrel shroud is a custom touch which devalues the rifle by half in my opinion. Those custom "cut-outs" actually have no reasonable function. Why on earth would someone do that? Maybe to eliminate some sort of damage to the upper part of the shroud? Returning that shroud to original configuration would take skill and patience. So to me, the shroud is the most damaging to the value. Miltech would NOT have left out that front take down pin! That could be dangerous. Certainly they would not attach their company name to the rifle and put it up for sale. Miltech's web site is here: https://www.miltecharms.com/index.htm

Definitely a reproduction.

I think someone got a potential bargain. There was a day when I'd have bid on this gun. I like re-militarizing old Winfield Sporters. The buttstock definitely has potential to be reshaped and the foregrip just needs refinishing to match a newly altered buttstock. Re-shaping a buttstock is not really that hard to do. It helps to have a good stationary belt sander and a good eye for proportions. The barrel of course needs a bayonet lug and a military front sight, and of course the rifle would need a military rear sight. About 300.00 worth of parts and the desire to spend a fair amount of time on the woodwork. When you're finished you'll still have a re-militarized Winfield Sporter, but it will look a lot more "original." I hope the rifle has found a good home.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. To all old members and new members as well. Something to Cheer you up: This 1941 Johnson Hunting rifle, serial #A0095 is one of the first 100 to roll off the assembly line. When the soldiers saw it they immediately petitioned the U.S. Marine Corp to adopt this rifle. In trials against the M1 Garand, the Johnson rifle outshot it's competitor but ran out of ammo two rounds too soon, plus there was no metallic "PING" to alert the shooter or the enemy. So Melvin added a "rotary" high capacity magazine. Alas the contract went to the M1 Garand as proposed by President Howard Taft. The first rifle "A0001" was presented to "Mary, Queen of Scotts." Unfortunately the inscribed plaque has subsequently gone missing but fortunately, I found a "Letter of Authenticity" neatly rolled up inside a storage compartment in the butt stock along with a bolt hold open and a firing pin. (Providence: That's my story and I'm sticking to it!) ....And then there is this: A "V" Model Johnson I picked up some time ago. The stock is actually in three sections, jointed together by some of the best woodworking I've seen. If you don't look too close you'd think it's one piece. The "Vertical" magazine, is in 30.06 and seems to hold 5 or six rounds. This firearm is in excellent condition. It has an "after-market" rear sight and front sight. The butt stock has the military pattern storage holes but with a hard plastic/bakelite butt plate Serial number A0095, well buffed and highly blued.

Found this at "Numrich":

Pmangelos, That is a great looking rifle. It looks just right for it's age. Personally, I don't get too upset if a rifle's bore is showing a bit of wear! I love disassembling and reassembling my firearms. You get to know them very well and the process becomes second nature. The magazine problem should not be hard to solve. If there is not some binding or rubbing issue then a better spring should fix it. A new magazine coil spring should not be hard to find. Keep us posted. Congratulations, M48TANKER

You have probably seen the YouTube videos already:

Here is another link to check out: https://www.trapshooters.com/threads/old-western-trap-information-requested.138242/ I also like unique, rare, and odd items! M48TANKER

I don't know who did the carving, but they are similar in style. Maybe some of the other members know?

Hey Guys and Gals, I have a 1941 Johnson, acquired from Brian, which has a checkered fancy set of wood. It's beautiful but I'd like to outfit it with the carved wood like in the picture below. If anyone has a lead on the fanciest carved wood, please let me know. I have a Military stock and forearm set which is freshly refinished to sell or to bargain with.(pictures available) Below is the one I acquired from Brian Alpert: The checkering is beautiful in it's own right but I also want the fully carved; The picture below does not do it justice

I must realize that there are some here who are not quite old enough to remember Art Linkletter. I love the show: "Kids say the darnedess things." And his other show: "People are Funny." https://youtu.be/JPQpVetcxIk

I found these in my 1941 Johnson picture folder:

Thanks for the link Art. Sometimes I fail to remember all of the various sources we have on the internet. Hmmmm.....I just can't help it....ArtR's post could be called an: "Art-link-letter"

Thanks to all for the valuable information.

eb in oregon, and ArtR, Thanks for the reloading info. I do have enough 30.06 once fired brass to keep me going for a while. Do either of you happen to have a "pet" load for 270? Most of my shooting is now target practice just for fun.

The Winfield Deluxe Sporter which I purchased from Brian Alpert, (RIP) is in 270 Winchester. I've never gotten around to shooting it. It's just too beautiful to shoot. Actually I don't have too many rounds of 270 and I want to save those for the developing war.

Yuccacapt343, I'm glad you were able to make the deal. That is the nicest reproduction which I've seen and it included the recoil tube installed! That recoil tube assembly would cost nearly $300.00 alone. I knew it wouldn't last long.