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According to author Bruce Canfield, during World War II, approximately 750 Johnson rifles were issued to the U.S. Marine Corps.
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Exceptional First Production Block World War II U.S. Johnson Automatics Model 1941 Semi-Automatic Rifle Serial Number 4749 - Serial no. 4749, 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 no letter prefix serial number “4749”, from the first production block, on top of the receiver and the bolt is numbered “7366” (it was standard for numbered components on Johnson rifles to not match). Includes a brown M1907 leather sling and olive drab green U.S. canvas muzzle cap.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 97% plus original parkerized finish with a few areas of very light surface freckling. Wood is very fine with some light handling marks, a minor small circular hairline crack on the left ahead of the rear reinforcing screw, and defined edges. Mechanically excellent. Included sling and muzzle cap are both very fine.
Estimate: 13,000 - 19,000
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