Arms, Armor and Militaria

.30-06. 22" barrel length. SN: B8665. Parkerized metal finish with oil finished walnut semi-pistol grip stock and featuring perforated heat shield with attached handguard. Short-recoil operated rotating bolt locked semi-automatic rifle fed by an internal rotary magazine charged with stripper clips. Sights consist of an adjustable rear aperture and front blade with protectors. Top of the receiver is marked with four-line manufacturer mark reading CAL. 30-'06 SEMI-AUTO./"JOHNSON AUTOMATICS"/MODEL OF 1941/MADE IN PROVIDENCE, R.I., U.S.A. along with five-line patent mark reading U.S. PATENT NOS./2,094,156-2,146,743/2,181,131-2,215,470/AND OTHER U.S. AND FOREIGN/PATS. AND PATS. PENDING. Right receiver is struck with the CRANSTON/ARMS/CO within a diamond below a Dutch Acceptance {Star} stamp. Barrel bushing is struck with caliber marking .30-06 and a date marking of 41. Rifle shows the mixed serial numbers typical of Johnson Model 1941 rifles, along with a laminate to the right side of the stock behind magazine that was done to permit the rifle to be stocked using standard 2" blanks. Item comes with a reproduction Pattern of 1907 sling marked MILSCO/1944. Non-functioning bolt catch. Only approximately 22,000 Johnson Model 1941 rifles were manufactured with scant few seeing service with the United States Marine Corps and the bulk passing into Dutch service. Developed by Melvin Maynard Johnson Jr., what fame this rifle has is owed as much to Johnson's dogged and often mercurial temperament when dealing with the Board of Ordnance as it is to its brief use by the Marines. Passed over in favor of the continued issuance of the M1 Garand rifle, the Johnson's unusual design and rarity make it an attractive secondary military arm of World War II.