Joseph Scott

I was contacted about rifle B88xx. He said that someone stated it was highest they had seen. If correct, this raises production number into the 28,000 range. Has anyone seen higher? Comments?

i once started to collect data concerning serial numbers, part numbers, location by state, etc, on a form. Many persons did not know how to find part numbers or were reluctant to share about their guns. This may be due to concern about gun control and records. Finally gave it up. i did note that many were on the east coast, Texas, California and some in mid west. Not many in northwest or southern states. This may be due to low population or low income. Extremely few overseas as most were re-imported.

I was given more information on the above marine. He was a native American and there were several others in the para-marines with him. I was sent a roster including him. There is a pair of cleated football shoes under his cot. It is likely that he helped defend on "bloody Ridge" with his Johnson. He is buried in the national cemetery near Buffalo NY.

I have several new old stock round magazines (stripped) for $125 ea. I am getting very close on project for the lmg mag carrier. All the sheet metal is formed, need to make end supports and do some welding. Having 10 built. Hope vendor will finish them this month, been a long, slow effort. Will post pictures when ready.

OTI, try newspapers around Providence, Boston, and in national gun papers. Might get lucky. I bought factory gages from a person who lived in Hope Valley, who bought them at an estate auction of gunsmith who worked on Johnson rifles. Did once know the name but have forgotten it. Who knows what might still exist? Might need to describe the logs so people who might know what they have can respond.

I recently sold a Dardick pistol and .22 carbine adapter, both in factory boxes. The principal idea was to make a gun that the cartridge did not have to reciprocate in and out of a chamber. Dardick's design was to go only sideways, up from a handle magazine and rotate through the "chamber" and out the side. The pistol I sold had a very heavy trigger as it was double action. I found out that there was more ammo made than guns and it is available through ammo collectors.

I suspect you may have an extractor from a Remington rifle which was similar, but different. I have some original JAR extractors. Message me.

Yes, thanks for the link. The rifle he links to is the one I saw at Tulsa some years ago. 13 US stamps of different sizes all over the place. In my opinion, they were bright, freshly made. There were several steel nails in a repair that had bright ends from fresh filing. I have a few pictures but didn't get all, because my camera battery died. The person was about 25-35 years old, would not bring the gun inside and claimed it had "field repairs". Made me look at it outside. Still seems strange unless he was a known scammer and did not want it spotted. Again in my opinion, a Bubba doctored rifle.

There is a long write up on "Armchair Generals" website where someone claims to have visited the Johnson home and examined all three log books. I have been told that there was no recall of such a visit. If story is correct and there were three logs, then it is likely that a full A series were produced. It seems illogical that B series would be done at the same time. The writeup mentions the flood damaged files, so the logs apparently were not damaged. I have reservations about the story and suspect the missing logs still exist in someone's stash.

Where are the A series rifles or is there some production history missing?

Now that I think about it, I do not see as many A series as none and B series.

Bret, I can help with converting back to military with new wood, misc. parts and putting barrel back to military style. Message me.

I looked in my safe and found rifle B80xx and B77xx, so I am now fairly sure production went into 28,000 range, maybe more. Import numbers account for about 20-21,000, so where are the the others? There are some in Canada but I believe they were part of the Winfield purchase. Rumor has 800 in Cuba from the Bay of Pigs, but they were purchased here from the re-imports. Maybe there are some still to be found.

It was not directed to you or any information concerning Johnson products and history, but against comments on handgun dealers not related to this website. Every comment or question about Johnson products adds to our shared knowledge base, keep those coming.

Remove the lower group by removing bolt stop plate and bolt stop at rear of receiver, then pull the rear pull pin just behind the magazine. Slide off the lower. Then pull the front pin to free front end of mag. You should see a long pin on the left side of receiver holding magazine to upper. That pin usually a bent end at the rear but it sometimes is in front. Slide long pin out and magazine should come out. Remove the hinge pin and door spring. Look at the case pusher, it should be aligned with the center axis. If needed, straighten. Pull the mag center pin and remove coil spring and pusher to clean. Putting it back is tricky. Hook the end on the little notch and roll assembly back in place, insert center pin. If the spring is hooked wrong and has too much tension, it can restrict mag capacity. When assembling door, hold the pusher back so that door, when depressed, is below the pusher. The bent ends of the long pins must fit in the small recesses of the stock, or the lower will not go all the way forward and rear pin will not go in.

Let's cut back on the negative comments, that was not the reason for this website. There are others sites that might be more suitable for them.

About 8 rifles for sale. None sold that I know of. I sold three bayonets. Inspected five rifles, two had loose firing pin collars. Told them how to fix them. Be sure to inspect for this when buying. I was amazed to read an auction description that the gun was made for Denmark. Boy,that is one rare gun.

The big Tulsa show will be April 5 & 6. I will be relocated to downstairs section 12LA table 3,4,5. I will have three rifles, new stocks and misc small parts as usual. Also a few M14E2 folding handles and metal parts of the special flip up buttplate. If anyone has the rubber pads, I will trade for them or buy. Come visit, free inspections of your Johnson's. See you there, Joe

Lots of rifles here Friday. Inspected three including one bought at the big auction a while back. Every single numbered part matched the log book including the number 2 marked stock. Absolutely one of the best I have seen. Had the small cross scratches on wood, barrel finish showed correct sanding marks, color was correct, just totally correct. Owner has two others. He is very proud of this one.

I have new rear swivels and screws, the front swivel is riveted in place. I don't have any of them. Message me. Joe

In the 1942 BlueJacket manual, it states that the 1941 Johnson is the official navy rifle. The navy issued rifles to vessels, not individuals. It is possible that the rifle came from such a source, not the USMC. I talked to one person who said they had one on a blimp to shoot mines, a common use of navy rifles.

Cut off ears by the MC was not standard practice. I have a documented Para-marine rifle with ears and a picture of a marine on his cot on the canal with ears. There is a picture of the beach landing on Bouganville with a barrel with ears visible. I have replaced many sights without ears. Modifying military sights was very common in the 50's and 60's.

Inspect the back of the bolt lugs for deformation on the edges. I have seen a number with this problem. The inside lugs of the collar may also be deformed but you have to remove it to inspect. Let the bolt slam forward on a round and compare with your closing normal procedure. The handle should be in its down and locked position. Drag on the lugs and manual release on first round may be the clue to not firing first round. You could remove the firing pin and try closure on a new round with manual release vs fast closure. Be sure firing pin is out for trial. If the barrel tube has been replaced, there may not be minimum clearance from the angled face of bolt to the tapered chamber inlet and hence drag. Try some prussian blue on bolt tapered shoulder and close gently. Inspect for contact, there should be none. Tolerances of bolt and receiver were tightly controlled but none factory barrel jobs varied.

I don't have any built at this time. Have a backlog of other items to build. Could probably do one by early summer. I need to build several, one for myself.

Over the years, I have formed the opinion that the numbering was for accounting purposes. I believe the Nederland Purchasing Commission wanted to know how many parts were made for their money. As for German numbering of gun parts, they had a very long history of hand fitting, numbering, polishing and disassembly for blueing, then reassembly. As war progressed, numbering and finishing decreased. America's system of interchangeable parts did not require matching numbers. I have seen several matched number guns which were not factory numbered but done by an owner.