Joseph Scott

Sorry, I am not making stocks due to a vision problem.  To repair a crack, use super glue.  It penetrates all the way like penetrating oil and actually is stronger than wood.  No other glue penetrates to bottom of cracks.  Since the Johnson rifle takes recoil through the keys, most cracks are not critical.

It is an original MG.  Look just above the front edge of magazine and you will see the anti-bounce part riveted on.  This keeps the bolt locked until the barrel recoils preventing bolt unlocking on a "bounce".  Don't know about "Winchester" tag.

The barrel latch may not be engaged which puts barrel forward.  There appears to be a white plastic ring on the front collar.  The bolt should close on a latched lmg barrel unless modified.   Pictures of the barrel out of the gun will help.  If the stock is cracked, use superglue to repair it.

I think that is a 1944/45 lmg barrel with the gas assist collar.  The two groves are where a lmg front sight had been.  Otherwise looks like a nice purchase.

One possible case is the bayonet forging is original (v-shaped entrance) but the spring and rivet have been replaced.  I think Sarco sells the parts.  Most of the replicas have a circular entrance from a round milling cutter.

The hurricane went ashore about 70 miles east of me.  No damage except no power, been on outdoor generators for 3 days. Lots of pictures of Lake Charles damage on internet. Look at what 150mph winds do.  Joe

The retainer spring is not essential.  I have seen originals which never had the clip.  Don't know why, maybe a minor cost savings at request of Dutch inspectors?

The two over the trigger and in the forearm are 1/4" square.  The small one in the stock for the recoil tube is 3/16"  square and has smaller retainer screws.  The holes through the wood are square to prevent rotation of the keys.  The holes are counter-bored just enough for the screw heads to be below the surface. I have seen several stocks made by others which were incorrectly round all the way through.

Not one of my stocks.  Suspect someone bought it and found it was drilled incorrect and sold it.  Joe

I modified a truck tie-rod tool (looks like a large 1" screwdriver bit, 1/2" drive) by grinding to fit the slots.  With breaker bar handle, even tight ones  come loose.

Be sure to drill the 1/16" vent holes from bottom and thru side hole.  This vents trapped air behind plunger.

Sorry, but I no longer do barrel work due to vision lose.  As to cost, I have new lugs for $75.  The only front sight I know of for sale is priced at $225 on line.  Then there is labor to machine proper steps, installation, bead blasting and finally reparking.  When you machine the lug step on a tapered sporter barrel, it leaves bare steel showing and barrel needs overall refinishing. Finally return shipping cost.  When I also made front sights, I used to charge $395 for job.  I might guess $400 to $650 now..  Good luck, Joe

Years back when I made barrels;  I bought a manufacturer's lot of .30 cal straight rifled blanks from Shilen and had them profiled/threaded at a CNC shop near Ft. Worth.  Then I had to chamber them and bevel throat.  Tightened on rear collar to establish bottom, this gave me the position for the extractor cut.  Reinstall rear collar tight and then install guide collar and front sight.  I have a factory original test bolt for head-spacing purposes.  After some experiments, I made an adjustable reamer stop and can get correct head space every time.  Took me about 10 years to sell 50 barrels.  The demand is too slow for a manufacturer to make them.  The profiled blanks for bolt guns are too heavy.  A Remington 700, .30-06 take-off barrel is close and I have made several with them before eye sight problem arose.  M1 Garand barrels were used when they were cheap.  I tried to cut one and lathe jumped all over on the interupted cut on M1 chamber area. 

If any one is wanting to do this route, the barrel steel come in 12ft lengths, ask the barrel shop cut them into 24" lengths instead of the standard 27".  This reduces waste and still give 1" at each end for trimming to the 22" Johnson length.  When the rifling button goes in or comes out, the bore is large and the ends must be trimmed.  If you make barrels, stamp caliber and your mark, please.

I  suggest reading in "the book" on usage.  I know Chile got 1000 for a special unit, police I think.  The NPC, who ordered the rifles for the Dutch East Indies army, I believe, shipped a number the before the Japanese got there.  There was a website on this army showing native troops and Dutch officers with Johnson's.  It has disappeared and I can't find it.  The Dutch fought a good retreat but were overrun with light Japanese tanks.  The US 36th division sent an artillery unit there who fought well.  They were captured and are known as the Lost Battalion of the Texas 36th division.  I don't know if Johnson's were actually used in the combat.  The Dutch west indies got theirs after the war.  Other members probably have more information.

How I bought the story (and gun).  On a trip to the large gun show in Pomona, Ca, (now closed) I found the "Queen's Guard Carbine" on a table of a younger person (25-35yrs) who said he and a friend had gone to a antique furniture sale and found six of these carbines.  The furniture buyers were not interested in the lot and so they bought the guns.  According to him, they were made for the palace guards but were not shipped due to Nazi takeover.  The finish is "English enamel" over Parkerizing. It is a perfect blue-gray and very appealing.  Being new to Johnson collecting at the time, I bought the story and the gun.  Just as I finished buying it, a person from europe came rushing up with cash he had obtained by cashing his traveler's checks.  Boy, I thought I had something special.  I have since concluded, the young person was a setup seller for the person who made these fakes with several different crests.  Brian and I compared three versions side-by-side and could tell they were not die stamped, but engraved by pantograph.  Over the years, there have been several float through auctions.

A "USMC" sling is a reproduction that showed up in the market about 20 yrs ago.  Suspect from China by an importer.

I am not sure on either question.

yes, Johnson Automatics did make replacement barrels for the 1917 rifles that the government refurbished to arm freed territories.

My trip to the Phoenix show was a once in lifetime to see the Grand Canyon and visit wife's brother.   Too old to repeat a 2900 mile drive. Seeing Grand Canyon with 4" snow on ground and elk under the trees was worth it.  Trip to Louisville was to see Brian again after 16 years.  We met in Houston at a Johnson get-together and have been long distance friends since.  I do go 500 miles to Tulsa twice a year

Brian had 13 Johnson products on his tables.  He also has replacement barrels for sale. I had 3 rifles for sale on my table.  I walked the SOS military show Friday and saw only one average rifle for $6200 and one bayonet for $1150.  .  Joe

If you can follow various listings to completed sale, please post sale prices.  Thanks

To plug a scope screw hole.  Buy some of the small screws made for that purpose.  Before installing, slightly taper the entrance with a drill so that the taper is larger than the screw diameter.  Install screws with Loctite, being sure they do not protrude into bolt path. Leave slot above receiver surface, file screw down almost to surface with about one thread showing. Then using small ball peen hammer peen the metal so that it covers the bevel.  Then file flat.  This covers the crevice between screw and tapped hole.

we have all learned a great deal about the rifles and lmg's.  However, I think we should know more about the business end.  If anyone knows of an old employee (man or woman) still living, please talk to them.  My questions are such as:  who were the investors by name?,  what bank did they use?, who were the sub-contrators, for what items?,  who did the accounting?, how did JA get paid for contracted weapons?,  I read elsewhere that the wood was made at Woonstock(sp) plant, was it JA or a sub?, who made the forgings?,  how many milling machines did Cranston plant have?, was the large vertical broaching machine at  Cranston or elsewhere?. what price did JA get for each rifle, did it vary with buyer or time?.  what were the cost to make them?,      When I think about running such a business, it amazes me.  Hope this stirs some thoughts?

I think I worked on this short barrel years ago. It had a ramp sight and extreme muzzle blast on a sporter.  Young owner bought one of my new barrels and probably sold this one.  Not factory original. 

The mag support looks unfinished, if so it may be one of my new production.