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LOT 1392
First Production Block World War II U.S. Johnson Automatics Model 1941 Semi-Automatic Rifle - Serial no. 4849, 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 “4849”, from the first production block, on top of the receiver and the bolt is numbered “6538” (it was standard for numbered components on Johnson rifles to not match). CONDITION: Fine with the desirable slightly “salty” look, retaining 70% original parkerized finish with a few scattered patches of light pitting and some areas turned to a smooth brown patina. Wood is also fine as lightly sanded and re-oiled, with a few chips visible on the left rear of the forend and some light handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 9,000 - 13,000
LOT 1393
Desirable World War II U.S. Purchased Winchester Model 70
Rifle with RIA Marked Stock, Case, U.S.M.C. Marked Lyman Scope,
and U.S.M.C. Unertl Scope Case - Serial no. 42306, 30-06 Springfield cal., 24 inch
round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This Winchester Model 70 rifle was manufactured circa late 1941
to early 1942 and is in its standard configuration, however, it has scope mounting blocks in place of the rear sight on the
barrel and on the top front of the receiver, is fitted with a Lyman 438 Field “U.S.M.C.” marked scope with a crosshair reticle, and is stamped
with a boxed “RIA/FK 3” cartouche on the left wrist of the stock. Identical Rock Island Arsenal inventory markings on World War II era Model 70 Sporting
Rifles are illustrated on page 145 of “THE Model 70 Winchester” by Dean H. Whitaker and page 298 of “The Rifleman’s Rifle” by Roger Rule. The Army and Marine Corps purchased a limited number of Model 70 Standard rifles during World War II, with most utilized as target rifles. Some of these rifles were evaluated
as potential sniper rifles. The rifle has a type 1 receiver with the early clover-leaf rear tang, and has two filled in holes on the left rear of the receiver for mounting a target sight. It is fitted with a sporter weight Winchester barrel that has the two-line Winchester factory address followed by “30GOV’T’06”
caliber marking. The bolt is correctly electro-stencil matching serial numbered on the underside, and it has a solid bolt handle knob with early type 1 bolt sleeve/safety, marked on top with an arrow and “FIRE”. The barrel and receiver are both stamped with circled “WP” proofmarks,
and a flaming Ordnance bomb is stamped on the barrel. It has a low comb stock with the checkered panels on the sides of the forend and pistol grip area with the checkered steel buttplate. Includes a brown leather sling, desirable U.S.M.C. pattern olive drab green micarta scope case for an Unertl scope, brown leather Winchester Model 70 rifle case, pouch and cleaning rod.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 75% original blue finish with some light muzzle wear, areas of light thinning, and some light handling marks.
Stock is also very fine with defined edges, some scattered scratches and dings, crisp checkering and a crisp cartouche. Mechanically
excellent. Scope is fine, retains 75% original blue finish on the tube with smooth brown patina on the balance, some scratches, and mostly
clear optics although its current mounting point on the rifle is slightly forward in relation to the correct eye relief. Rifle and scope case are both fine.
SIMILAR EXAMPLE PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK THE MODEL 70 WINCHESTER BY WHITAKER
348 Estimate: 5,000 - 7,000