MarkP776

ArtR, yes definitely a keeper. As I stated in my original post I had never heard of the Johnson until my son told me about it, he is quite the gun buff. After our discussion I hadn't given it much thought until I stumbled across SN5839 for sale privately. I've cleaned it up, and heading to the range again tomorrow to see if I can figure out why it's only a single shot vs. semi-auto right now. My buddy thinks its the main spring, but the manual says it could be the magazine spring, and feedback on the forum gives advice on the bolt/extractor. So we'll see what I can work out. Whatever the case, this weapon is now a family heirloom and will never be sold. Once I get it back to being a semiauto vs a single shot, the next thing to determine is: Do I leave it as is? Pretty sure it's a true Winfield sporter because it has the sporter buttstock and front handguard - I wonder if any records exist of the guns Winfield modified and sold? Looking at other pictures, the right side of the front handguard has a curved notch in the top corner by the magazine. My front handguard doesn't have the notch, so I assume this is a sporter replacement handguard by Winfield? So as I said, do I leave as is or look for four pink unicorns (Original buttstock, butt plate, front handguard and a production barrel)?

OK, thank you. That helped, I was pulling on the big knob, not the little pin. I was able to fully disassemble the rifle, with the exception of removing the front handguard and magazine. I couldn't loosen the front screw on the handguard. I did confirm that most of the SN's match what was provided in the production log: SN. 5839 Manf by or Rec'd From Cranston Arms 01/27/1942 Stock No. 2 Barrel No. 7218E Hammer Block No. 6192 Hammer No. 8152 Bolt No. 5153 Locking Cam No. 6017 Firing Pin No. 6665 Ejector No. 2931 I couldn't find a SN on the Ejector, but the Extractor is B6851 Magazine No. 8736 Disposition Date 01/29/42 to J.A. Inc -NPC It also has the star above the Cranston Arms logo on the right rear side of the receiver. So, I believe that given the SN, the Winfield Arms stock and relatively new looking 30.06 barrel with no SN this weapon is one that was "sporterized" by Winfield Arms (What were our grandfathers thinking!). I some crud out of the ejector when I removed it from the receiver. Reassembled the bolt seems smoother going forward so maybe that had something to do with why it wouldn't fire semi-auto at the range. Now that I've figured out it comes apart and goes back together without extra parts left behind :-) , I'll pull it back apart soon and give it a good cleaning before I head to the range again. Maybe I'll be able to get the front handguard off next time.

A question as I'm trying to remove and disassemble the bolt group on SN: 5839. What to do if the operating handle spindle will not pull out? I've removed the bolt stop plate, bolt stop and disengaged the link from the main spring plunger. The manual states: "d. Raise the operating handle and retract the bolt about two inches. With the thumb and forefinger of the right hand, grasp the knob of the operating handle spindle and pull it outward to its fullest extent. Slide the operating handle forward until it is clear of the shoulders in the extractor recess and remove it. Lift out the extractor. NOTE: The operating handle should be regarded as a single part, but should it be necessary to disassemble it, merely unscrew the operating handle nut and allow the plunger and plunger spring to fall into the hand". I cannot get the operating spindle to budge. Reading the instructions it seems to be a relatively easy process, but it will not move. Suggestions? Unscrew the operating handle nut (Which I assume is the piece with the nipple and two holes?) and see if I can lossen things up?

Thanks for the SN's. So I know the bolt SN matches. Will check the rest and look at the cylinder. Appreciate it.

OK, thanks. Will do.

I was shooting standard .30-06 Greek HXP 150 grain M2 ball ammunition. The action had no problem cycling rearward, ejecting the round and coming back forward it just seems to drag at the very end and the operating handle doesn't fully lock down, so maybe it is a weak spring. I will say there was some scarring on the brass, but my buddy who reloads says that will come out with the resizing die.

I recently acquired JSAR SN: 5839. The rear sight appears to be original and is graduated 13579. The bolt appears to be SN: 5153. If possible I'd like to know if the rear sight and bolt are original to the weapon. What other SN's should I look for? Additionally, thoughts on whether I should try and find an original rear buttstock, front handguard, and barrel w/front sight and bayonet lug would be appreciated. I saw a post where JS is no longer making rear butt stocks. So while I believe that finding this JSAR in the condition/price I did is like finding a purple unicorn, I believe finding an original rear butt stock and front handguard would be like finding pink unicorn! A buddy and I came across this weapon at a private sale. He saw it before I did and knew what it was. After he told me, I remembered my son who is a gun buff bent my ear for about 45 minutes one night after he saw it featured on Forgotten Weapons. The owner had acquired it some time back from another private seller, and never fired it. Overall the weapon is in good shape, and reading other posts on this forum I got it for a good price. Based on the sporter buttstock, the 30.06 barrel and front sight, I believe this weapon to be one of the ones purchased from the Dutch by Winfield Arms and then modified and sold as a sporter. It appears the shroud on the front sight is missing. I fired it this past weekend and while it cycled well, the bolt didn't lock all the way forward so I had to manually push the operating handle down to get the bolt to fully lock so I could shoot the next round - so not really semi-automatic right now! Based on it's condition I wouldn't doubt if the 20 rds I fired through it this weekend were the first since it left Winfield Arms. The military handbook states that a failure to reload, w/the bolt handle "Open, handle up, part-way closed" could be caused by "a. Defective magazine spring (temporary)". Pulling the handle for re-loading worked if I recall correctly, but as it failed to reload on every round the immediate action may be to be "b. Repair spring". Thoughts? Winfield Arms 1.pdf