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LOT 1317
Exceptional World War II U.S. Remington Model 1903A4 Bolt Action Sniper Rifle with Weaver M73B1 Scope - Serial no. 4996231,
30-06 Springfield cal., 24 inch round bbl., parkerized/blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured c. 1943-1944. The original iron sights are properly absent,
with a Remington “1-44” dated barrel, “R” marked bolt with properly turned and contoured handle, and the properly offset manufacturer, model and serial
number markings on the receiver ring. The included Weaver M73B1 scope is serial numbered “7635029” on the top plate, and mounted on a parkerized
Redfield scope base. Smooth pistol grip scant stock with various inspection stamps ahead of the floor plate, a crossed cannons Ordnance cartouche and
“FJA” inspection initials above an “RA” cartouche on the left of the wrist, a circled “P” proof on the lower front of the pistol grip, and checkered blue finished
steel buttplate. Includes leather scope lens caps and cleaning kit in butt compartment.
CONDITION: Excellent plus, as issued, retains 99% plus original parkerized finish on the barrel, receiver and scope base, and 99% plus original blue finish on
the remaining components including the scope, with some light handling marks. Stock is also excellent plus with rich oil finish and attractive raised grain, a
few light scratches, defined edges, and exceptionally crisp stampings. Mechanically excellent. Included scope is excellent with crisp optics. This outstanding
example of a World War II U.S. Remington Model 1903A4 Sniper rifle would make an excellent addition to any U.S. Military arms collection!
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
LOT 1316
Outstanding World War II U.S. Johnson Automatics Mfg. Co. Model 1941
Semi-Automatic Rifle - Serial no. A8945, 30-06 Springfield cal., 22 inch round bbl.,
parkerized finish, walnut stock. Manufactured c. 1940-1945, as one of a reported
total of roughly 21,400 Model 1941 semi-automatic rifles manufactured for Johnson
Automatics Manufacturing Company, per “Johnson’s Rifles and Machine Guns” by Bruce Canfield. Developed by Melvin M. Johnson Jr. (1909-1965) in the late 1930s, the design of the
Model 1941 rifle features a novel short-recoil operated action, utilizing a rearward moving barrel assembly and eight-lug rotating bolt design, which Johnson believed to be more reliable
than the at-the-time recently adopted M1 rifle designed by John C. Garand. It also features an internal 10-round rotary magazine, which could be fed and topped off using standard issue
Model 1903 rifle pattern stripper clips. Despite its features and Mr. Johnson’s use of personal connections to force about an impromptu
test of his design versus the M1, the U.S. Army did not favor the M1941 rifle with the concerns of reliability issues, including the bayonet
mounted to a moving barrel. Despite this, the M1941 did find some success with a large order placed in 1940 by the Netherlands
Purchasing Commission, as service rifles for colonial troops stationed in the Dutch East Indies, but the invasion of the region by Imperial
Japanese forces in early 1942 prevented delivery. Approximately 750 rifles were also procured by the U.S. Marine Corps, with some
seeing extensive combat use in the hands of U.S.M.C. Raider and Parachute Battalions during the early South Pacific campaigns of 1942
to 1943. Features winged blade front and range adjustable rear (marked “M2” and graduated from 100 to 900 meters) sights, five point
Dutch “star” acceptance mark and triangle enclosed “CRANSTON/ARMS/CO.” stamp on the right rear of the receiver, four-line “CAL. 30-’06
SEMI-AUTO./”JOHNSON AUTOMATICS”/MODEL OF 1941/MADE IN PROVIDENCE, R.I., U.S.A.” marked above the serial number on top of the
receiver, and five-line U.S. and foreign patent dates roll marked to the rear. The bolt is marked with a non-matching “B1011” serial number
(it was standard for numbered components on Johnson rifles to not match), and the barrel and extension are marked “5133H” on the
underside. Fitted with a smooth oiled walnut forend and buttstock with checkered steel buttplate. Includes a “1918” dated brass hooked
M1907 leather sling.
CONDITION: Excellent plus, retaining 98% plus original parkerized finish with some limited minor edge wear, some minor cycling wear, dried grease, and some light marking on the bottom buttplate
screw. The stock is also excellent with a few scattered light compression marks, some dried grease staining, along with attractively figured raised grain. Mechanically excellent. Overall an outstanding
example of a World War II U.S. Model 1941 Johnson rifle that is difficult to improve upon!
Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000