clinocio

eBay is your best bet for finding the spring to fix your rifle, but Sarco or Numrich might have one. Your rifle is beautiful, but it is not an Iver Johnson and it is almost certainly not one that was used by the US Military. It is a Winfield Sporterized 1941 Johnson that was most likely purchased in the 1950s from a mail order ad in a gun magazine. Winfield marketed these rifles to budget minded hunters and target shooters and because the original rifle was very heavy and considered a bit ugly, a large percentage were modified to appeal to the market. Winfield imported these rifles from Holland through Canada and offered them in several versions from original parkerized military to high polished/blue, with original stocks or a lighter Sporterized stock, with original military barrels (with bayonet lugs) or aftermarket barrels with a ramped front sight and no bayonet lug. Some even came with Weaver scopes. The one you have looks like an original barrel, but the original rough-texture Parkerized finish was replaced with a high gloss blue that prevents it from ever being restored to original military appearance. As far as the stock, if there is a cross bolt behind the pistol grip, it may be original, though the light finish would indicate otherwise. The sporter stock has a wood plug in the right side where they covered the cross bolt pin and a rubber butt pad that would have deteriorated considerably by now. Pricewise, I am sorry to disappoint, but $7.500 is pretty much the upper end for an all original rifle. Winfield sporters go for about 1/2 that much. These rifles are extremely rare and have gone up in price, including the sporters. You may want to consider keeping it?

Original Johnson barrels are seldom on the market and when they are, the price is high. Last year I bought an LMG barrel for $600 which turned out to be a bargain. 9 days ago one sold on Gunbroker for $1,810 (ridiculous) http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=557123621 It would definitely be better to have an original barrel, but a 1903 barrel or even an M1 Garand can be turned to fit. A previous thread indicated Criterion has been asked if they would make them, but responded they would need a minimum order of 50. Who knows, maybe there would be enough interested from this web site to meet that threshold?

I believe barrels are normally measured from tip to the back end of the chamber. So measure the full length with bushing and then deduct the distance from the end of the bushing to the back end of the chamber. For the bayonet lug, there should also be a step in the barrel just behind the pin slots. As far as front sight, it also pins in place and is back about 1/2" inch from the tip (don't quote me on the distance). if it doesn't fit snug, you may be able to get a machinist to make a threaded sleeve that would fill in the gap and may even cover the forward threading. It is kind of interesting someone would thread the barrel because additional weight on the tip (muzzle break or silencer), could interfere with automatic cycling. Maybe that is why there are just threads and nothing attached to them?

Here is an article that indicates where the Winchester/Winfield rumor came from http://unblinkingeye.com/Guns/WAC/wac.html Apparently, there was a Western Arms and Cartridge Company (Chicago) that was purchased by Winchester after WWII and a Western Arms Company (New York) in business during the American Civil War. There was also a Western Arms Company (Los Angeles) that was established sometime between 1945 and 1947 and this company later became Winfield Arms. The article sites several sources that link Winfield with the CIA, as a source for collecting/importing foreign military arms that the CIA could buy from for clandestine operations (like the Bay of Pigs).

You can get one from Sarco for $35 http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/johnson.aspx It does make taking the barrel out a little easier. I have heard many were removed by Winfield before being sold as surplus in the 1950s.They were trying to market to the budget minded deer hunter and every ounce they could reduce could make the rifle more appealing.

From your comment, I assume you were on johnsonautomatics.com To put it back together, use the disassembly steps in reverse order - not that complicated. Joe Scott made a good video with details - contact him at jmscottparts@gmail.com Or go to Utube and search for "1941 johnson field strip"

Gunbroker.com occasionally has one in reasonable condition, but most listings recently have ridiculous $6K+ starting bids. Proxibid is another source. Only one listed right now - don't bid until the day of the auction or the price will go up beyond reasonable. https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=9943&aid=103285&lid=27390537&rts=/asp/searchadvanced_i.asp%23searchid%3D0%26type%3Dlot%26search%3D1941%20johnson%26sort%3Drelevance%26view%3Dgallery%26length%3D25%26start%3D1%26refine%3DCategoryName%7Cfirearms%2B%2526%2Bmilitary%2Bartifacts#topoflothttps://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=9943&aid=103285&lid=27390537&rts=/asp/searchadvanced_i.asp%23searchid%3D0%26type%3Dlot%26search%3D1941%20johnson%26sort%3Drelevance%26view%3Dgallery%26length%3D25%26start%3D1%26refine%3DCategoryName%7Cfirearms%2B%2526%2Bmilitary%2Bartifacts#topoflot Regarding Winfield, there are various states of conversion from barrel change to restock to complete polish and blue. Many have been drilled and tapped for scope. Returning to military condition can be pricy. Stock or original barrel will cost you over $500 each, if you can find them. Front sight, bayonet lug or barrel bushing each are over $150 and re-blued means much of the lettering is buffed out and you can't restore the original machining marks or surface imperfections, so it will never look original.

Rear sight - Numrich has reproduction parts https://www.gunpartscorp.com/ad/439410.htm Part# 439410 Sight $21.95, Part# 439420 Elevator $12.95. eBay also has them, but you are likely to find they are reproduction parts also from Numrich. Gunbroker.com may have these from time to time. Joe Scott may have originals or reproductions (Joseph Scott 2808 Memphis Ave. Nederland, Tx, 77627-6732 jmscottparts@gmail.com (409) 722-6279). ALL original Johnson barrel (30-06), have a step for the bayonet lug. You can probably find one from Joe Scott, Gunbroker or eBay. If there is no step for the lug, it may be an original barrel, re-profiled by Winfield (or someone else), but it also could be a replacement. Look for markings near the chamber area - J.A., 30-'06, proof mark (circle O [Sword] I inside) and a 4 or 5 digit number with one letter on the end.

If it is a real 30-06 Johnson Barrel, you will find the standard markings in the chamber area; 1). J - A, 2) 30 - ' 06, 3) Dutch Proof (Circle -O and Sword) and 4) Sr#. The locking bushing will also have a Sr# that may or may not match. Joe Scott puts a JS on the bushings he made- no other markings. I don't know if he put his JS on barrels, but I know he would not attempt to duplicate the original marks. In the 1950s Winfield had many barrels made in CA with different profiles. Some had Bayonet steps and others were for the ramped sporter sight with no bayonet lug step. The first Johnson I bought had an M-1 Garand barrel re-profiled to fit. What gave it away (other than no Johnson markings) was a vertical slot for a pin that was just forward of the front bushing. Many barrels were made from 03 Springfield and other. When Johnson assembled the barrels, the distance between front bushing and locking bushing was sometimes short. In these cases, they put a shim washer behind the step and the front bushing to move the bushing forward. There could be some variation in exact length as a result. Machining was all done by hand so it is possible they may have cut the step for the front sight too far back, but that would not explain why the distance to the front sights are the same. I don't know if this helps, but at least you will be able to tell if it is an original Johnson.

In the US, the 30-06 is far more popular than the 7mm Mauser and the fact the few 1941 Johnsons that were actually used by US Marines were in 30-06, probably plays a big factor. I doubt the problem you are having with a 7mm that won't cycle has anything to do with the caliber because it that was the problem, there would probably be a lot of reports by the Chilean military. Cycling requires the barrel to recoil until the cam within the receiver engages the bolt assembly as it moves back. This unlocks the lugs and allows the bolt assembly to complete the cycle. Anything that prevents or delays the barrel from recoiling can cause the gun not to cycle. Start with a good cleaning and a light lube and then push back on the barrel to see if it moves rearward easily. If it is too tight, either the front or rear bushing on the barrel may be a little oversize. One of my barrels is in 270 Win. with hard chrome plated bushings. It turns out Winfield added chrome plating if they had bushings that were undersize or perhaps if they had a rifle with a lot of wear in the inside of the receiver tube. However, the fit in my rifle is too tight. So it shoots, but won't eject the cartridge. I bought a shot-out 30-06 barrel for the hardware and haven't decided whether to use the bushings on the 270 or try to remove the plating.

Numrich and Sarco are out. Your best shot is Joe Scott. If he doesn't have one, ebay has them from time to time. The other thing about the lug is, is your barrel an actual Johnson with the step for a bayonet lug? A real Johnson has "JA" near the rear lug and a circular proof mark with "I" "C" and a sword. Some of the barrels were reprofiled to remove the step for the bayonet lug and replace the front sight with a ramped sporter style. Joseph Scott2808 Memphis AveNederland, Tx, 77627-6732jmscottparts@gmail.com

Contact Joseph Scott 2808 Memphis Ave Nederland, Tx, 77627-6732 jmscottparts@gmail.com (409) 722-6279