bigfifty

I put my 1941 Johnson on Gunbroker 3am yesterday morning, 3200.00 starting price. I guess I made a mistake by putting a buy it now price of 3999.99, because it was bought by 6am. I don't think the price was outrageous either way. It so happens the buyer was a Johnson "nut" and buys as many nice ones he can. He also bought the one on Gun Broker for 7000.00 plus the other day. It seems that as long as a rifle is not altered from it's original form and in at least good shape it has reasonable selling potential. He told me that I priced it perfectly, in that if I had put the buy it now into the 4000s range he would have waited to see what happened. You never know.

I am attempting to figure out how to put photos here.

I have looked on GunBroker etc and could not find another Johnson that had not been modified or re-finshed in some manner. Prices are from 4,000 to 8,000 and they are chopped off or some kind of "sporterized" version. This one is purely as issued, no re-do, chopped stock,removed parts etc. It seems as if a lot of the Johnsons were messed with, or sporterized. Is there a market for those? I noticed these examples do not seemto be selling either. I sent more pictures of the Johnson I acquired, they are on page 2 of this posting. Sharps 50-140

Thanks for all your information. You have been extremely helpful in clarifying this for me. Sharps 50-140

Thanks, These rifles are marked M1 but were converted in the field to M2s. They were brought back by the father of the possessor. He was a special forces officer early in Nam and was able to by-pass "customs" coming home. So in this case if the NFA parts (trigger group)are abated, disposed of you have regular M1's?

If the M1 and M2 receivers have no differences, then why would the receiver need to be destroyed? I thinks almost all M2s were actually built on M1 receivers. Am I correct? I've been told that most of the "M2s" were actually M1s that were converted in the field or theatre of war. Basically an M1 with M2 trigger group is just an M1 if the trigger group is removed and not held in proximity of the M1, I.E. the M1 receiver ( or M2 marked receiver) is rendered harmless and not subject to NFA. Is this correct. Thanks for the help

I'll check on the M2's. I will send pictures of the Johnson when I get back to civilisation. Just for info what can a person do to legalize "undocumented" nfa weapons? Thanks Sharps 50-140

I forgot to mention the serial number is B1960. Is there a way to find the manufacture date? I read somewhere that there were 60,000 made, other places 30,000. Did they all leave the country? I am pretty computer disfunctional but I can e-mail pictures.. I will get some and send them to you. Any special locations on the gun that should be photographed? Same guy has two m2 (Yes I said M2) carbines his grandpa brought back from WWII, and believe it or not an original McClellan saddle, with an original 30-40 Krag his grandfather used in Cuba in 1898. I was skeptical of the story until he showed me a photo of his Grandfather taken with the Roughriders, (including Teddy R.) signed by a bunch of the Riders and Teddy on the back! In Alaska, pretty strange. I have let him know I am interested if he decides to part with them. I will forward some pictures when I get them. I am working on the North Slope (Prudhoe Bay) until after New Years. Thanks and Merry CHRISTmas, Sharps 50-140

Hello I am a new owner of a Johnson M1941. I acquired it in a purchase of several firearms fro the son of a gun collector. The man had a gun shop in California in pre-communist California days. He died many years back and his son inherited his collection and brought it to Alaska. This Johnson appears entirely original, parts and finish. The sling is the one that was on it when the gun was obtained in the late forties/early fifties.(as testified to by the son). Looks like an old 03 sling with brass fittings. It has no weird markings, only those that appear to have been on it when manufactured. The bore is very good/excellent,probably because a gun guy owned it. Wood is very good, a couple of dings here and there. I have not shot it, but did put a primer only 30-06 in it and it did set it off. The firing pin spring seems kind of weak to me but I know absolutely nothing about Johnson's. The bolt holds back, the front sights and bayonet lug are there. I do not believe it to have ever been refinished, well not in my lifetime anyway. I remember seeing these for sale for 75.00 when I was a kid. I thought they were pretty ugly then. I bought a model 1892 Winchester from the guy and he basically threw the Johnson in as a package deal. I have no real use for it as I am a single shot and model 70 fan. I had no idea the Johnsons had become collectible. Is there anything a person can look for on these to indicate that the barrel or other parts have has been replaced etc.? I believe this one is "attic fresh" and has not been re-finished or monkeyed with. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks Sharps 50-140