Joseph Scott

There is a nice Pederen device with rifle and pouches coming up August 23th. Also a Johnson. AS much as I lusted after a Pedersen, I decided not to bid as the funds would have to come from our self-insurance money during hurricane season.

The news about pistols full auto re minded me of modifications to Johnson triggers for FA. Most semi rifles have two sears to prevent FA. Years ago we found modified hammers for FA. By filings the rear sear gun will go FA. Not many were so modified. To check for condition, with trigger/ hammer block in hand, cock hammer, pull trigger and hold back trigger. The rigger should hold hammer. If not, Hammer rear sear has been filed just a little. With so many Johnson's being "flipped"by traders, there may be other such rifles. I was told this technique was common knowledge among WW2 marines and soldiers. It is both illegal and dangerous. If you get a new rifle, check for this condition.

I have seen a movie of making the stocks. The wood was full round, either solid or laminated. Both Brian Alpert and I have seen several missing one or both cheeks. It is a glue failure for unknown reasons. I have tried adding a piece on and it is difficult.

Thank you for sharing these awesome photos and the information on the maple syrup process. Very informative and quite overwhelming to think of that much sap and that many trees! WOW!!!

Lots of incorrect details.

They are interchangeable. The top hat version was adopted after reports of the early fingers breaking off. The grooved top hat allows rim of cartridge to pull pin. If rear pin is hard to put in, release bolt catch by pushing in loading door. This takes pressure off catch and allows it to align with pin. Be sure to lubricate catch which pivots on the rear pin.

I will not be at Tulsa this weekend. Still fighting liver cancer. Joe

I have just returned from liver cancer Immune therapy treatment. It did not work and the three liver tumors have grown but not spread. It leaves you with fatigue and brain fog and I have not been answering messages. I have couple of weeks before different TACE procedure where they inject chemo drugs direct into tumors through thigh entry and then seal them into the tumors with a plug. Surgery is not an option because of my age. If we think Johnson's are expensive try cancer treatment ($400K+)

Numbers are also found on the face of the stock against the magazine. I am of the opinion they were indications of which shift made the stocks. I have seen more at this location than on the exterior.

The first bipod is definitely a Johnson bipod. If it is one I built it will have "JS" stamped under the feet and inside the main plate. I used to sell them for $1500 some years ago. If it is an original I would estimate $2000 plus. You will have to make a front mount to replace the rifle style forearm front block. For newcomers to website, factory started with BAR bipods, but army stopped supply, so Johnson Co. designed their own. I also built a few BAR style, also marked "JS".

Drilling the through hole from the rear is fairly easy. The hard drill is the one from the receiver end. It is just below the thru hole and makes a figure 8 with the top thru hole. The drill wants to run out into upper drilling. It only goes about halfway just past the small recoil key. The wood must be carved just so to fit the jig and so the cross hole for the small recoil key intersects the notch on recoil tube. Actually these steps critical and my fixture has hardened drill bushings for each location. I bought the fixture from a person who had it built by an aerospace company during a downturn It took me a year to work out the kinks. Trying to teach my wife to be my eyes and continue stock making.

A word of caution: It is necessary to permantly modify the LMG lower to prevent full auto. It is possible for the gun to "run away" if not modified and still has a rifle bolt. If owner has not fired it, ask for return option.

It has the cross pin. Pin is straight but hard to find, 90 deg to lever.

The missing rear sight dovetail can be replaced by attaching a piece with screws and epoxy to secure it from moving when installing new sight. The tricking part is getting the gap correct. Measuring a dovetail involves using two small drills in dovetail and measuring between them. It helps to have another gun to compare. Be sure screws don't interfere with bolt.

The flat rivet is the give away for early reproduction.