Jap Captured 1941 Johnson for sale

[Robert H]

Gentlemen, I have a question of value and best auction site to use.

Due to current circumstances, sadly, I will be selling my 1941 Johnson Rifle and most of my WW2 collection.

To view my collection, follow this link to Robert’s Collection and use “collector” as the password. Once there, select an album on the left hand side and then the sub album. I am not selling any of my class 3 items. Thank you, Bob

The Johnson is serial #15** no letter prefix and according to Bruce Canfield it would have been in the first shipment of 5,000 shipped to the Dutch East Indies which are the ones that were captured by the Japanese and later recaptured by the Allis during WW2.

My rifle looks exactly like the rifle on the front of the Johnson book. The finish, stock and condition are nearly indistinguishable from the rifle on the book cover. They literally look like twins.

It has the original barrel (dark inside) but I have a new Joseph Scott barrel that will be included.

Years ago I purchased several NOS complete rotary magazines (100% perfect original finish) from John Darling and installed one onto this rifle but will include the original complete magazine which is in 50% finish condition (sweaty palms affected finish).

The rifle has a John Darling stock on it and is absolutely beautiful but I will also include the original stock (not a Winfield) that is broken.

I also purchased a new old stock butt plate from John to really make the rifle look perfect.

My question are; what’s it worth and where is the best site (i.e. Gunbroker, Auction Arms etc.) to sell it? Have any of you tried Gunrunner Auctions?

I also have what maybe the last NOS (100% perfect original condition) magazine assembly and 2 VGC bayonets and sheaths that I will be selling separately. Any suggestions on values would also be much appreciated.

Thank you and I appreciate any information or advice. Bob

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Bob K]

Between gunbroker and auction arms; I'd go with gunbroker. I'm not familiar with gunrunner auctions. As to value, I don't know. I don't follow Johnsons.
I can give you info on the para knives though.
Are you selling everything but the class 3 weapons?

[Robert H]

Between gunbroker and auction arms; I'd go with gunbroker. I'm not familiar with gunrunner auctions. As to value, I don't know. I don't follow Johnsons.
I can give you info on the para knives though.
Are you selling everything but the class 3 weapons?

I won't be selling everything just most of everything. I will be keeping the SS Lugar & holster, Radom & holster, the Colts, my unfired US&S 1911A1, M1 Garand and a couple of boxes of the shotgun ammo. Most everything else is for sale. I’ll go ahead and delete the photos of the stuff I’m going to keep. Everything including the accessories shown in photos will be for sale.

I am a member of the Ohio Gun Collectors Association and have always gone to larger gun shows like Louisville but I haven't been able to go in the past 2 years. That's why I'm asking about current values.

Since I’m out of touch with current values, I do intend to sell everything at auction. However, if anyone is interested in any particular piece of my collection, let me know and I will inform you when & where I place it up for auction.
Thanks very much for the help guys, Bob

[emmagee1917]

...I'd be interested in the 38spl tracer and the navy ammo pouch.
Chris

[Robert H]

...I'd be interested in the 38spl tracer and the navy ammo pouch.
Chris

Thanks Chris, I will PM you the info when & where they will auction. Kindly, Bob

[Bob K]

Robert,
I sent you a PM

[Robert H]

Robert,
I sent you a PM

Hi Bob, thanks for the info. I changed the title of the photo to reflect the German para is a repro. The other, I'm looking for the original photo I took to replace the one with the incorporated text.

Looks like I may have been had. For my education, what should I look at to verify the German para knife is or isn't a repro? It has the stampings on the awe blade.

What did the US para knives from WW2 look like? Weren’t the orange plastic handles used at all in WW2? Thanks again, Bob

[Bob K]

Bob,
The dead give-away on the German para is the copper rivets.Also, on real takedowns, the individual parts are numbered.
The orange switchblade is a MC-1 and was made by 3 different makers. In WWII, they used the M2 switchblade which was made by Schrade and did not have a shroud cutter.They had either black or brown handles that were made of plastic(maybe bakelite) or steel.

[Brian Alpert]

What you have is a nicely restored JSAR with lesser condition original components (stock, magazine, bbl.) included. This puts the rifle in the $4000 range. There are currently 9 JSARs of varying values on Gunbroker with very little interest judging from the lack of bids. Gunrunner Auctions has generally done well with JSARs. Indeed, a few years ago they had the record of $7700. Since that time, it has been surpassed so the current record is somewhere around $8800. As one who kinda deals in JSARs, I can tell you they are not selling now and it is a good time to buy.

[Robert H]

Bob,
The dead give-away on the German para is the copper rivets.Also, on real takedowns, the individual parts are numbered.
The orange switchblade is a MC-1 and was made by 3 different makers. In WWII, they used the M2 switchblade which was made by Schrade and did not have a shroud cutter.They had either black or brown handles that were made of plastic(maybe bakelite) or steel.

Bob, very nice collection indeed. Thank you for the information on my knives. The only good thing about my knives is that I bought them years ago so I don’t have a lot of money in them. Thanks so much. Bob