SOLD - Rare Johnson Model 1941

Description

11/4/22 - This is a rare Johnson M1941 Rifle from World War II! The finish is very good on the rifle in general, with most of the wear on the magazine housing but we believe the barrel was re-parkerized.  The wood is in good shape on most of the rifle but there is a chip where it meets the buttplate, and a lightly repaired surface crack along the top of the wrist. Strong bore with just a hint of frost. Only 20,000 of this model were manufactured! Comes with a rare, original bayonet but no scabbard.

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The Johnson Semi-Automatic rifle was invented by Captain Melvin M. Johnson, Jr. of the US Marine Corps Reserve, also the inventor of the Johnson Light Machine Gun, in 1936. After development completed, manufacture was commenced in 1941 by Johnson Automatics, Incorporated, and its subsidiary, The Johnson Automatics Manufactured Company, at Cranston, Rhode Island. The M1941 was ordered by the Netherlands for issue to the KNIL in the Dutch East Indies, but the Japanese invaded the islands before the rifles could be shipped from California. At this time, the U.S. Marine Corps found itself in need of a modern fast-firing infantry rifle, and acquired some rifles from the Dutch East Indies shipment for issue to its Paramarine battalions then preparing to deploy for action in the Pacific theatre. By all accounts, the M1941 performed acceptably in combat with the Marines in the early days of the Pacific fighting.