(Incidentally, the guns in the RIA display all had their firing pins still in them, unlike the guns out for coonfingering in the manufacturer's booths. Hence the zip ties.) .
Looks like 3rd from the bottom is a Johnson (Melvin Johnson designed a short recoil operated rifle/LMG pair that was sold to Netherlands. The LMG version was used by 1st Special Service Force in preference to the BAR.)
Tying this in with our hostess's next post, an ordinary Johnson is an attainable gun, more so than some more common US military weapons (1903A4 for instance, or the M1C sniper rifle). Figure $2500-4000 or so.
Not many Johnsons were made, and a few were combat losses, but almost all survivors made it into the civilian market in the USA. The riot gun below it is more of a rarity, honest!
There may be something special about the Johnson RIA has on display here, but maybe not.
Sometimes you can get one of the ones that was bubba'd a little for hunters at a steep discount. OTOH some of those were an early example of teflon coating, and the teflon are, shall we say, for the advanced collector.
They're also a blast to shoot. Allow extra time if other folks are going to be at the range. Because they'll all want to oogle and touch.
My boss has one of those in his "office collection" (the office is the back room of a gun shop). I get a serious case of gun envy every time I walk in there. If its a rare mil-surp, he probably has got one or two of them on the wall.
Third from the bottom is pretty sweet too...
ReplyDeletedavek
Is that a Krag with a metal handguard? Is that a rare thing? I've never seen one like that out in the wild.
ReplyDeleteI finally got it blown up big enough to see that it was a Johnson. Damn these old eyes.
ReplyDeleteI admired the paratrooper carbine below it. Always wanted one of those; maybe, someday.
ReplyDeleteMatt
St Paul
Looks like 3rd from the bottom is a Johnson (Melvin Johnson designed a short recoil operated rifle/LMG pair that was sold to Netherlands. The LMG version was used by 1st Special Service Force in preference to the BAR.)
ReplyDeleteHmmm ... nice wiki-wander.
ReplyDeleteThe Japanese made 12 Pederson rifles, and 12 carbines ... and one was taken by a GI in Mindanao:
http://www.carbinesforcollectors.com/pedersen.html
One of them is a WWII shotgun made by Savage. Alas, my copy of same is missing a smallish screw.
ReplyDeleteAnd a paratrooper carbine on the bottom, and a scoped Garand... Oh wow, if those guns could talk!
ReplyDeleteOne of these days I want to go to the Fun Show with you and Roberta. I'd at least know what the heck I was looking at.
ReplyDeleteIf it's not in a box with a label or something obvious like a M1 or a Swiss K, I have no idea what it is.
Tying this in with our hostess's next post, an ordinary Johnson is an attainable gun, more so than some more common US military weapons (1903A4 for instance, or the M1C sniper rifle). Figure $2500-4000 or so.
ReplyDeleteNot many Johnsons were made, and a few were combat losses, but almost all survivors made it into the civilian market in the USA. The riot gun below it is more of a rarity, honest!
There may be something special about the Johnson RIA has on display here, but maybe not.
Sometimes you can get one of the ones that was bubba'd a little for hunters at a steep discount. OTOH some of those were an early example of teflon coating, and the teflon are, shall we say, for the advanced collector.
They're also a blast to shoot. Allow extra time if other folks are going to be at the range. Because they'll all want to oogle and touch.
I haven't been to the NRAAM in years. I think you just lit a fire under my ass.
ReplyDeleteAt first glance, those guns look really big compared to the people.
ReplyDelete"Can I handle the Johnson?"
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the Johnson . Want .
ReplyDeleteThat's a fun thing about going to high end gun auctions- you're expected to pick them up.
ReplyDeleteMy boss has one of those in his "office collection" (the office is the back room of a gun shop). I get a serious case of gun envy every time I walk in there. If its a rare mil-surp, he probably has got one or two of them on the wall.
ReplyDelete