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LOT 3346
First Production Block World War II U.S. Johnson Automatics Model 1941 Semi- Automatic Rifle - Serial no. 3936, 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 (Canfield’s book). 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 and with 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 locking bushing has the correct markings of “41” for the year and “30-06” on the front flat. Blade front and 1,000 meter rear sight. It has a two-piece walnut stock and forend. This example is wearing serial number “3936”, from the first production block of 9,999 rifles, on top of the receiver and the bolt is renumbered to match with “3936” (it was standard for numbered components on Johnson rifles to not match). CONDITION: Very fine, retains 99% professionally refinished parkerized finish with a few areas of light pitting visible underneath the finish, and applied parkerized finish on the bolt with filed original number and restamped matching number visible underneath the finish. Stock is also very fine as lightly sanded and re-oiled, with some spotting visible in the finish on the left side, and defined edges. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
LOT 3347
Outstanding U.S. Springfield M1D Garand Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle with M84 Scope, Accessories, DCM Shipping Invoice and Letters - Serial no. 2504851, 30-06 Springfield cal., 24 inch round bbl., parkerized finish, walnut stock. The consignor states in relation to this rifle, “Referred to as the ‘Lottery’ M1D’s, applicants were selected in a lottery because of the limited supply. These had been prepared for issue and placed in storage with accessories separately wrapped and sealed.”The receiver of this rifle was originally manufactured in January of 1944 and subsequently arsenal upgraded to the M1D Sniper configuration. Rifles so converted were used as snipers during Korea and the Vietnam War. Blade front and peep rear sights, “DRC” windage drum, “S-A-8-52” marked barrel, “-12SA” bolt, the rifle was not disassembled for internal inspection, and the arsenal replacement stock is stamped with a circled “P” proof above a star and an uncircled “P” proof on the wrist. Includes the following accessories: M84 scope serial numbered “34745”, with a post-and-crosshair reticle, sliding sunshield and a rubber eyepiece, scope ring, canvas scope case, Hart M2 flash hider, olive drab green canvas web sling, cleaning tools, and a “MRT/1 52” marked leather cheekpad. It also includes a 1969 dated armorers hangtag marked with the serial number of the M84 scope, a February 25, 2022 dated Department of the Army Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request letter that lists this rifle by serial number as located with the 10th Regional Support Group in Okinawa, Japan on May 15, 1975 who then shipped it to Anniston, Alabama where it was received on October 27, 1978, and a letter from the Civilian Marksmanship Program that indicates this M1D rifle was sold December 13, 1996 through the DCM, and includes the DCM shipping invoice. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine overall as arsenal upgraded to M1D configuration, retains 99% parkerized finish, defined edges in the arsenal refurbished replacement stock, with a few light handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Scope is excellent, retains 99% original blue finish on the tube with crisp clear optics. Accessories are very fine to excellent.
Estimate: 3,750 - 5,500 257