Johnson Forum

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I just traded for this 1941 Johnson. It's not the typical rotary magazine variety. This one has a vertical magazine which makes it a "V" type Johnson as opposed to a "R" (rotary magazine). The conversion was done so well that I don't believe it is a "Bubba-done-it" rifle. Bubba in not that caliber of gunsmith. I know that Marlin made Johnsons for the commercial market and Taft-Peirce did too. But I can't seem to find out if they actually sold any. Somewhere I read that only 20 rifles were made in the vertical magazine configuration. There was a lot of research and development going on at the Cranston Arms factory, Marlin, and Taft-Peirce. This rifle may be one of the prototypes that was made, or a "proof-of-concept" model. I'd like to think that it's rare and not a Bubba made rifle. Every thing about the construction of this rifle seems to be "factory" quality, but not meant for the commercial market yet. The stock is made of three pieces of wood that are joined with a "dovetail/lap joint" type of woodworking that would have only been done by a professional woodworker or factory. Here are some pictures.