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Outstanding Documented World War II U.S. Johnson Automatics Model
1941 Semi-Automatic Rifle with Bayonet, and Copy of Johnson Automatics
Mfg. Co. Invoice - Serial no. A0614, 30-06 Springfield cal., 22 inch round bbl.,
parkerized finish, walnut stock. Approximately 21,400 Johnson Model 1941
semi-automatic rifles were manufactured c. 1940-1945, per “Johnson’s Rifles
and Machine Guns” by Bruce Canfield. 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. Canfield’s book reports
approximately 750 were procured by the U.S. Marine Corps. 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 locking
bushing has the correct markings of “30-06” and “41” for the year on the front
flat. Blade front and 1,000 meter rear sight. The serial number “A0614” is on top
of the receiver, and the bolt is numbered “B4676” (it was standard for numbered
components on Johnson rifles to not match). It has a two-piece walnut stock and
forend. Includes bayonet with brown leather scabbard, M1907 brown leather
sling, an original Johnson 1941 semi-automatic rifle manual, and this rifle is
also accompanied by an original mailing envelope addressed from Johnson
Automatics company, an original invoice from Johnson Automatics indicating
this rifle was sold to an individual for $100 and delivered on September 14th,
1948, and an original typewritten letter addressed to the purchaser from Johnson
Automatics dated September 22nd, 1948, that states, “Thank you for your letter
of September 16, and the check for $100.00, which was enclosed. The bolt catch
to which you refer was purposely left out of this rifle, as we found that during the
war the average shooter had some difficulty with its operation, and most Marine
Corps personnel removed the piece and disposed of it.”
CONDITION: Excellent plus, retaining 99% original parkerized finish with a few
areas of old dried grease. Wood is also excellent with attractive grain and rich
oil finish, some scattered light handling marks, and distinct edges. Mechanically
excellent. Included bayonet is excellent, scabbard is fine, and the manual is very
fine. Writer cannot recall another example as outstanding as this Johnson M1941
rifle with the factory invoice!
Estimate: 14,000 - 22,500