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LOT 1472
Outstanding First Production Block
World War II U.S. Johnson Automatics
Model 1941 Semi-Automatic Rifle,
Serial Number “9972”, with Bayonet
and Manual - Serial no. 9972, 30-06 Springfield
cal., 22 inch round bbl., parkerized/blue finish, walnut stock. This Johnson M1941 semi-automatic rifle is serial number “9972” of the
very first production serial block 0001-9999, prior to the A and B letter prefix rifles. 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 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 “9972” is on top of the receiver, and the bolt is numbered “2138” (it was standard for numbered components on Johnson rifles to not match). The blue barrel is numbered “626A” underneath the chamber and rear locking lug, and a small circled sword proof is also marked underneath the chamber. It has a two-piece walnut stock and forend. Includes bayonet marked with number “645”, brown leather bayonet scabbard, M1907 brown leather sling, and a Johnson rifle manual bearing a Winchester Repeating Arms Company library stamp.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 98% plus original parkerized and blue finishes with some light handling marks. Wood is also excellent with defined edges and a few light handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Included bayonet, scabbard and manual are all very fine. A high condition example of a desirable Johnson Model 1941 semi-automatic rifle that would make an excellent addition to any U.S. Military arms collection!
Estimate: 12,000 - 17,000