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LOT 1322
World War II U.S. Johnson Automatics Model 1941 Semi-Automatic
Rifle - Serial no. A9491, 30-06 Springfield cal., 22 inch round bbl., parkerized finish, walnut stock. Originally up for
consideration by the Netherlands Purchasing Commission as a service weapon for colonial troops in the Dutch East
Indies, a large order for the Johnson Rifle was placed in 1940, but the Japanese invasion of the East Indies prevented delivery. These
rifles were not able to gain interest for adoption by the U.S. Army, who favored the M1 Garand, but a small amount of them were subsequently
used by the U.S.M.C. Marine Raider and Parachute Battalions in the early Makin Island, Guadalcanal and Tulagi Island hopping campaigns in the Pacific. One source reports approximately 21,400 Johnson
semi-automatic rifles in total were manufactured, and approximately 750 were procured by the U.S. Marine Corps (per Canfield). These rifles employed several unique features such as the rotary magazine which allows reloading at any time, and a recoiling barrel that has the ability to be easily removed from the rifle by hand for takedown, which allows the rifle to be stowed in a parachute jump bag. The rear, right side of the receiver is marked “CRANSTON/ ARMS/CO.” in a triangle below a small five-pointed Dutch star as commonly seen on Johnson rifles, and the top of the receiver is marked “CAL. 30-’06 SEMI-AUTO./”JOHNSON AUTOMATICS”/MODEL OF 1941/MADE IN PROVIDENCE, R.I., U.S.A.” above the serial number with U.S. and foreign patent date markings to the rear. The barrel bushing has the correct markings of “.30-’06” and “41” for the year on the front flat, and “1993A” and “M” on the underside of the chamber. Blade front and 1,000 meter “M2” rear sight. It has a two-piece walnut stock and forend. Includes a brown leather sling, and a hand-numbered Miltech wood case.
CONDITION: Very fine as professionally refinished, with 98% plus parkerized finish, showing some mild pitting on the frame, some dings on the magazine, and light handling marks overall. The stock is also very fine, with a few light dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,000
LOT 1323
Pair of American 48-Star National Flags, Attributed to the Surrender Ceremonies of the Japanese Forces on Mili Atoll and Wake Island - According to information supplied by the consignor, the two flags in this lot were originally part of the inventory of the USS Levy (DE-162) during World War II. A 1,620 ton Cannon-class destroyer escort commissioned in 1943, the
Levy spent most of the war performing anti-submarine and anti-aircraft action in defense of the American logistics chain, while also participating in bombardment in the Marshall Islands. In August and September of 1945 the ship would be involved in the surrender of two Japanese occupied areas. The first would be the Mili Atoll on August 22nd, where Captain H.D. Grow of the
Levy negotiated and settled the surrender itself, and the second would be Wake Island, where Levy transported USMC Brigadier General Sanderson to negotiate the surrender. After the war, Levy spent 2 years in reserve, and then was transferred to the Atlantic Inactive Fleet for a time, before being struck from the list and scrapped in 1974. Both Mili and Wake were used by the Japanese
as airfields during World War II, Mili being a pre-World War II Japanese holding and Wake Island being American territory taken at great cost. The Mili Island surrender stands as one of the earliest formal surrenders at the end of the war, taking place on August 18th, three days after the Emperor’s public announcement to the Japanese people and nearly 2 weeks before the official ceremony
on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Both flags are constructed with 13 alternating red and white stripes and 48 white stars on a blue field, roughly 60 inches tall along the hoist and approximately 108-114 inches long. Both are marked on the obverse hoist with a black ink “USS LEVY” stamp, one bearing markings from the Valley Forge Flag Company and note “JAP SURR-WAKE I”, the other marked as Sterling made with “JAP SURR-MILLE(sic)”. Included with the flags are information about USS Levy and the flags, including a pair of inventory forms from the Heritage Foundation of Lexington, Massachusetts, stating the flags were donated in June of 1966 by one C.R. Rungee.
CONDITION: Very good. Each flag shows minor wear and staining, but was generally well kept and cared for.
292 Provenance: The Saloga Collection. Estimate: 1,500 - 2,500