Johnson M1941 - Sporterized by the Winfield Arms Corp.

While the Johnson was a fine rifle...the fact is it had no real advantage over the Garand. The Garand was already in production even with some early kinks to work out...the Johnson had the advantage of being able to top off the magazine with single rounds but the magazine body was more subject to damage, the rifle was longer...the removable barrel was of little real advantage except possibly to airborne troops...and the required bayonet was all but useless.

To the shooter...the Johnson with its recoil operation transmitted more felt recoil while the Garand's gas system softened it some.

Again...the Johnson was and is a fine rifle...but the Garand has since been well proven as the better combat rifle. The Army did make a mistake in not adopting the Johnson LMG which was a superior weapon in the role it was designed for.
 
When I was around 15 in the early 70s my dad and I were at his friend’s house and he pulled out this big weird “Army rifle”. Years later my dad bought it for $175. It was an unmodified 1941 Big Johnson with a refinished stock. When my dad died I kept all the guns with sentimental value disregarding momentary value. The Johnson didn”t make the cut and I sold it. I gave my wife $1,000 out of it and didn’t even miss it. I won’t say what I got for it but I’d get more now, of course. We never shot it.
 
I am glad to see the interest in this thread and appreciate all the posts and thoughts/opinions on the Johnson.

I did a thorough take down and function fire of this "sporter" and it functioned as it should and was very comfortable to shoot, just as I remember the original condition USGI version did when I owned it.

Heads up.....if anyone here is truly interested in owning one of these fine pieces of firearm history drop me a PM or email, this one will be put up for sale in the near future.
 
Ivan the Butcher said:
The nation of Isreal, bought the right to make Johnson Light Machine guns around 1949. They made them in 8mm Mauser (to use surplus ammo they had mountains of) and called it the "TOR" (sp). I believe they made 800 of them.

Johnson and Tor parts were available from Numrich/Gun parts of America.

Ivan
Click to expand...

It was a Dror, not "TOR". Chambered in 303 Brit first and then 8mm Mauser. DROR is Hebrew for sparrow whereas Tor is a strawberry. Not sure which one would be more lethal?
 
bk42261 said:
About 45 years ago, I had a chance to buy one (if I recall, it had USMC stamps on it somewhere) for $125
Could have paid $25 a week for5 weeks, but didn't do it.
Click to expand...

Absolutely amazing how many stories like this we have all heard.....and how many of us kick ourselves for not buying guns at those prices.

That said, $125 45 years ago was a healthy chunk of change!!

A friend told me that at one point the Post Office sold surplus US guns over the counter.....they would bring out a box of 1911's and you had your choice for $25 each!
 
Sam McCord said:
It was a Dror, not "TOR". Chambered in 303 Brit first and then 8mm Mauser. DROR is Hebrew for sparrow whereas Tor is a strawberry. Not sure which one would be more lethal?
Click to expand...

This is a Tor Johnson.

PlanNine_10.jpg
 
The “ trick” of tying a piece of string” on a M-1 clip and “ plinging it after 8 rounds” was a Marine thing. They would shoot 8 rounds and “ pling” the M1 clip then the japs would jump up and the Marine had 2 shots left.
 
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