Johnson M1941 Rifle
Johnson Automatics, Inc. · Rifle · Discontinued · 1941
Also known as: M1941 Johnson rifle, Johnson Automatic Rifle, Johnson Semi-Automatic Rifle
Overview
The Johnson M1941 is a short-recoil-operated, rotating-bolt semi-automatic rifle chambered in .30-06 Springfield, designed by Melvin M. Johnson Jr. in the late 1930s. It fed from a fixed ten-round rotary magazine that could be topped off with stripper clips even while partially loaded, and its barrel could be quickly removed for compact transport, which made it popular with US Marine parachute and special units during World War II. Although it competed closely with the M1 Garand, it was never adopted as the standard US service rifle.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4310 g (152.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1156 mm (45.51") |
| Barrel Length | 558 mm (21.97") |
| Action Type | Short Recoil |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Rotary |
| Muzzle Velocity | 853 m/s (2799 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 4515 J (3330 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 254 mm (10.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .30-06 Springfield · primary — also known as 30-06, .30-06 Sprg, 7.62x63mm
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Rotary Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Short Recoil Operation, Rotating Bolt, Rotary Magazine, Stripper Clip Loading, Quick Takedown Barrel
Service history
Operators
- United States Marine Corps · adopted 1941 · as M1941
- Netherlands Purchasing Commission · adopted 1940
Conflicts
- World War II (1939-1945)
Production
Estimated total produced: 30,000 · Production years: 1941-1945
Estimates range from roughly 22,000 to 30,000 rifles produced by Johnson Automatics and Cranston Arms during the war.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Melvin M. Johnson Jr.
Discontinued: 1945
Notes
Originally ordered in large numbers by the Dutch government for its East Indies colonies; after the Japanese occupation many were diverted to the US Marine Corps. Its many small parts made field stripping prone to lost components.
Background
Melvin Johnson, a Boston lawyer and Marine Corps reserve officer, developed the rifle and its companion light machine gun as a private rival to the US Army's M1 Garand. Rejected by the Army as too long and heavy, it found a niche with Marine paratroopers thanks to its quick-detach barrel and remains a sought-after WWII collector's piece.