Pacific Theater USMC-Modified Johnson M1941 Rifle

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Johnson M1941 rifles were used in limited numbers by the US Marine Corps in the Pacific theater of World War Two, but they were used - and generally well liked. Interestingly, there was a fairly common field modification done by the Marines, and that was to cut off the front sight wings, and sometimes cut the rear aperture into a deep V-notch or a flat U-notch style. This particular ex-Marine rifle shows both of these modifications.
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Forgotten Weapons
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[@GenaTrius]

Imagine the JOKES though, if they had adopted the Johnson! You'd have whole rows of soldiers all standing at attention, proudly holding their Johnsons for inspection.

[@GenaTrius]

Additional propaganda films about how to care for your Johnson

[@kevspss]

I was cleaning it and it went off.

[@JamesThomas-gg6il]

This is my rifle This is my gun This is for for fighting This is for...?

[@charlestaylor253]

Always make sure your Johnson's properly lubricated...

[@djackmanson]

I can't believe they'd let the armourers use sharp instruments on the front of their Johnsons

[@itsconnorstime]

Robert Dunlap was a captain in the Paramarines and took his Johnson with him to Iwo Jima, where he credited the rifle with saving his life. He would be awarded a medal of honour.

[@CodytheHun123]

His story is so great!

[@notahotshot]

I take my Johnson with me everywhere I go. It's never saved my life though.

[@Lockbar]

I think that might be the exact same Johnson rifle that the late Maj. Dick Culver, USMC Sniper School owned. I remember Culver said he got the rifle from the officer that did carry it on Iwo Jima. Not sure where it went after Maj. Culver's passing.

[@TheLazyFinn]

@@Lockbar Looked him up, according to wikipedia: Dunlap kept the M1941 Johnson rifle he used on Iwo Jima and displayed it in his home; it has become a valued piece of local history. The rifle, serial number A0009, now resides on permanent public display at Simpson Ltd, Firearms for Collectors, in Galesburg, Illinois. In 1949, John Wayne contacted Dunlap on behalf of Paramount Pictures to ask him to consider selling the film rights to his story. Fearing the film would present an idealized portrait of the war, Dunlap declined the offer. Good to hear it's in a museum now!

[@mikehipperson]

I've got a modified Johnson. I was circumcised at 3 months old!

[@schiltronmunitions3820]

Man...I had one in my collection and had to sell it years ago without ever getting the chance to shoot it. One of my biggest regrets.

[@markusmottus1686]

Damn.. I feel you, had something like that happen to me but with a car, I ran out of funds before I could fix her up completely, 3 months after I'd sold her I find out the douche I sold it to had proceeded to sell it in parts... It was heartbreaking..

[@cbroz7492]

...sane here...had a stroke in '02 and hadda sell my large collection of mostly C&R

[@paulbervid1610]

@@cbroz7492 sad you had to do that

[@-Zevin-]

Not nearly as bad, but I even regret selling my Mosins.. Ah they are just cheap rifles I picked up for $80, now my LGS is selling similar condition rifles for $600-700... Not making that mistake again. No sell, only buy.

[@georgedheeraj]

Just curious how come you weren't able to fire it?

[@jimbob1103]

Trust the Marines to have a unique Johnson.

[@thefuzzysheep3859]

They’re a truly unique breed

[@OvertravelX]

This is my rifle, this is my gun...

[@phlodel]

They're Johnson connoisseurs.

[@k_enn]

That's a big Johnson.

[@RobFieldFlorida]

I have only been watching the channel for a few years, but I've noticed that Ian seems to be the only big firearms KZbinr that sticks to the firearms and history and leaves off the culture war noise. Thanks for that.

[@akaJughead]

This is the reason that Ian is the only gun KZbinr I will watch.

[@natwolf687]

Yeah, he's the best around these parts.

[@razorback6111]

C&Rsenal sticks to the history too

[@connormclernon26]

He’s also articulate and calmly discusses the history and mechanism of the weapon and weapon accessories. I can’t stand the more blowhard stuff

[@R_Forde]

He has made some bad take comments about current events before but tends to stay with firearms history and usage. I appreciate him staying out of political commentary.

[@brandonobaza8610]

1:40 "We adopted the Reising with the folding wire stock" Chosen One: _"I implore you to reconsider"_

[@fredsasse9973]

In August of 1942 my father carried an M1903 while with the First Marines (yes, he was a Marine Paratrooper) starting with the first landing at Guadalcanal. Sometime after his participation in Bouganville (or possibly during, shame I can't ask him now) he was issued a Johnson M1941 which he carried through his remaining time in the Pacific until his return to the states in early 1944. He loved the Johnson, bit didn't care much for the Reising.

[@carlinglin7289]

From what I've read, the other big user of the Johnson rifle was the OSS, which acquired something like 4,000 from the Dutch order and used them to equip agents and guerrillas in Burma. From there some may have made their way to China. A fair bit of combat for a Forgotten Weapon.

[@aussiviking604]

Seen pictures of the Johnson with thumb hole stocks being used by USMC raiders in the Solomons around 1942.

[@timareskog2418]

I remember looking at one of these in about 1980. They weren’t as common as the M1 Carbine or Garand but they were still relatively commonly seen on gunshop shelves in Australia.

[@aussiviking604]

Popular pig gun, in Queensland. Shot mine till the barrel wore out. They gave me $1200 for it in the 1997 buy back.😢

[@clongshanks5206]

@@aussiviking604 not to be a jerk, but why did you comply?

[@aristedes9449]

@@aussiviking604 This is why you don't fucking comply

[@stephenbinion6348]

@@clongshanks5206. He had the rifle on his firearms license. Registration leads to confiscation.

[@MrHappy351]

@@clongshanks5206my Dad handed back two rifles at the time. They were bolt action sporterised small caliber (.22) rifles. The law had changed due to a shocking mass shooting, my Dad had no use for them (he wasn’t a farmer or hunter, he lived in the suburbs with his young family) and to comply with the law, he needed a gun safe. For him, it was easier to cash out than to buy a gun safe.

[@herknorth8691]

I've seen two Johnson M1941 rifles outside of museums and I got to shoot both of them. One was in Canada and, tragically, the bore was badly corroded. The other was in Wyoming and was either in almost mint condition or it had been tastefully and properly restored. I can't recall if either one had sight modifications.

[@HarryPrimate]

Leave it to Ian to make an entire video about his modified Johnson.

[@Matt-md5yt]

Sweet a WWII marine rifle being covered, and it's a modified one

[@ssoos7701]

The Beretta ARX 100's Barrel take down feature is so reminiscent on the Johnson's. Also the Bolt and stock buffer tube of Stoner's AR series were heavily inspired by this and the Johnson Light Machine.

[@Viper2132]

The reason they're basically the same is because Johnson worked for Armalite and alongside Stoner.

[@stevenhall2408]

Remember that the 1st Special Service Force traded the Marines high explosives for Johnson LMGs but no rifles. They had Garands, 1919s and Thompsons but few BARs which they did not like. They came in handy and went directly against the FG 42 and the Falshemajagers in Italy!

[@Whitpusmc]

This rifle should have been issued to the 101st and the 82nd for Normandy instead of the M1 Carbine. Why send combat troops into a situation where they are surrounded and everyone is a front line combat rifleman with a PDW? Why send them with 45 ACP, 30 Carbine and 30 06 ammunition when you could send everyone with 30 06 semi automatic rifles that don’t require magazines like the M1 Carbine, en bloc clips like the M1 Garand and magazines like the Thompson. Since the Johnson uses stripper clips a much larger % of the ammunition weight carried is actually ammunition. It’s much easier to top off as well. Made fully automatic it could have been a light machine gun to a lesser extent. This is a much smarter use of your logistics than the mess the 101st and the 82nd jumped with.

[@Franky46Boy]

The Johnson M1941 Rifle was used by the Dutch Marine Corps (Korps Mariniers) until the 1950s beside the Garand M1 rifle. I can find a movie about that on KZbin somewhere. If they received these rifles during their training by the US Marines in 1945 in the USA or received them via the KNIL (KNIL in the Caribbean - Suriname) is not known.

[@shaunw9092]

There's photos of them in use on Dutch ships and with ground troops in Suriname. It seems some of the order was fullfilled. It's often said the first 2,000 guns were sent to the NEI but I question if that was true.

[@Franky46Boy]

Among other moments Johnson rifles are visible at: 2:30 ( Dutch Marines training in the Netherlands ) kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHjJhnp-dtllbaM

[@Franky46Boy]

@@shaunw9092 I doubt that number too, but some did reach the Dutch East Indies before the surrender. Some were captured by the Japanese. In theory it was possible that the Johnson rifle was used by both sides on Guadalcanal!

[@storytimedavidcollins2897]

Hello If you could please keep in mind that the KZbin video that you saw is possibly incorrect as to at least the years that they were issued and in service because I have seen interviews with US Marines that used them in combat in 1941. And I have never heard of them being used after WWII. I’ve been heavy into guns since 1973 and in the gun world there are people who are known to as one article experts where someone thinks that they know all there is to know about one gun, vehicle, helicopter 🚁 🇺🇸, tank and so and KZbin content is notorious for people posting videos to get views who know little to nothing about what they are talking about. So I would say please broaden your horizons and find out as much information as you can about different things, because you learn new things every day. Take care and have a good one.

[@Franky46Boy]

@@storytimedavidcollins2897 Don't be foolish! These are Dutch marines in the Netherlands after 1950. I am sure about that and have spoken with Marines that were in service then and they have confirmed that small numbers of Johsons were still used besids the Garands M1. Did you watch all of the movie I posted?

[@user-je5do6jn2f]

I like the fact that it doesn't noisily 5h@t out a bandolier after 8 rounds, giving your position away to Tojo, Tony, or Jerry. Plus the fact that you can reload it with 5 round M1903 stripper clips in situ was a great feature.

[@prattomatic]

I am not at all ashamed to say that it is my dream to someday possess a Johnson, ideally an impressive or pristine example.

[@jllucci]

Ian is playing with his Johnson again. 😂

[@phileas007]

What, Ian can get sick like a puny human? Impossible!

[@soldat7126]

I have my grandfathers, its fun to shoot still, with the scarcity of “Garand” ammo these days I have to produce my own “downloaded” 30-06 ammo for it (modern ammo is too hot). Its a hoot to rapidly let 11 rounds of ‘06 go down range!

[@puzzleheaddesign3789]

This is what that cat was talking about. "Ooh long johnson"

[@tsmgguy]

Another common Marine Corps M1941 modification was to remove the bolt hold open. It served no real purpose as the bolt has to be forward to easily load the rifle anyway. It's probably heresy, but in some ways, I prefer the M1941 JSAR to the Garand, especially at cleaning time. The gun is recoil rather than gas operated, so the only things requiring cleaning are the bore and chamber. The rest is a wipe down, requiring no disassembly other than the removal of the barrel.

[@ironhead2008]

I imagine there were Marines with the same opinion TBH. You could clean the thing very fast using only a cartridge tip for the barrel takedown. A quick pullthrough and wipe on the bolt face and you're good to go.

[@spondulixtanstaafl7887]

A unique and interesting side note to WWII small arms history, Thanks.

[@hoffmiermp]

Love to have one for my WWII collection.

[@luisantolafrancis519]

Years later 1961 theese apeared in hands of the Cuban expats of the 2506 brigade during the invation of Bahia de Cochinos .some of this rifles were fitted with scopes.

[@bghiggy]

I hope one day I could hold my very own johnson

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

One day you may have the opportunity to choke your Johnson...

[@ush1968]

The Johnson- many a potential doublé entendre.

[@redjoshman]

There was only ever one Marine Parachute Regiment, the 1st Marine Parachute Regiment. It was composed of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Marine Parachute Battalions when the three independent battalions were amalgamated in October 1943 into a single regiment. The combined regiment would be disbanded February 29, 1944.

[@clevlandblock]

At an Evanston Illinois gun turn-in a few years ago, someone turned in a 1941 Johnson rifle. Saw it on WGN tv news. Hope somebody saved it from the shredder. I called the cop shop in question and told them what they had laying on the table in that newsclip and what the potential value could be. The policeman I spoke to sounded interested, so who knows. Maybe it made it to a museum.

[@clevlandblock]

I told him it could be a $10k item.@@tomhenry897

[@renatocoloradaco4673]

The interesting thing about this weapon was its ammunition system, which was a type of drum...

[@theritchie2173]

Specifics of the rifle aside, I love that I was already aware of a bunch of the backstory here from watching your previous videos. You truly are an educator as well as an entertainer.

[@user-je5do6jn2f]

I'm still glad Iver Johnson is still kicking as a manufacturer.

[@roderernst9990]

Australian RAAF Airfield Defence Guard units used these atTarakan,Brunei and Balikpapan,received from retreating Dutch units and Squadrons from the Indies.

[@a.freeland179]

One of my all time favorite designs from ww2

[@gregsg2351]

how did you get my handle? if your real you could answer this question

[@geodkyt]

My favorite Johnson variant was the Marine officer who mixed and matched LMG and rifle parts, so he had a rifle barrel, pistol grip, fun switch, and the side mounted long magazine. Ran across a reenactor who rebuilt a sporterized Johnson into a Frankenrifle semi version of that.

[@ironhead2008]

If only Johnson had been a few years earlier. Parts interchangeability like that might have gotten some attention.

[@pseudopretentions1722]

Thats a nice looking johnson.

[@grumpyoldwizard]

That is one mean looking rifle. I would enjoy shooting and handling it. Thanks!

[@J0J0Reference]

I love this gun so much, the look of it is so unique compared to basically everything else at the time. I feel like it would not look out of place in Fallout’s retro-future alternate reality at all.

[@KillrMillr7]

Me too, always thought it looked cool.

[@_ArsNova]

It looks uniquely hideous. Like an overweight, pregnant M1 carbine. Gun handles terribly to boot as well, very thankful it was never adopted on a wider scale. Many better automatic rifles out there.

[@diooverheaven6561]

I agree it looks cool but my friend calls it pregnant rifle

[@Gameprojordan]

It looks like your support hand naturally wants to cup the magazine. The actual front handguard is so far out front that it would be awkward to hold, especially back in the day when the average person was smaller in stature aswell

[@RyTrapp0]

@@_ArsNova It has a heat shield with holes drilled in it - that means it's de facto cool

[@JHusisian]

Dude, you’re slipping. You didn’t even mention the rotary magazine! 😳

[@tomahawk1911]

Sounds like a ten round capacity semi automatic, iron sighted rifle chambered for 30-06 Springfield cartridges. Loaded by two five round stripper clips, same strippers used to load the 1903 Springfield bolt action?

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

What do you mean sounds like? That's exactly what it is.

[@theblindsniper9130]

I would love to get the chance to show one of these off on my channel Talk about a unique experience!

[@donwyoming1936]

Wish I had bought one of the refurbished Johnson's back in the 90s. Seem dirt cheap by today's prices.

[@akaJughead]

I've only used this rifle in virtual reality, but I could imagine that those improvements to the sights helped alot.

[@BatCaveOz]

@@GMdrivingMOPARguy 100%

[@goodolkurt4864]

Great video, Ian

[@daveykristjanson3052]

Saw one a gun shop years ago, could have bought it for $8,000. Way to rich for my blood. 😢

[@acheeseburger7367]

As is tradition… Nice Johnson

[@jasonsantos3037]

You know everyone thinks about the M1 grand is the only type of rifle the US Marine Corps back in World War 2 use but the Johnson rifle needs a love too.

[@erniedesantis597]

I've handled both a Johnson rifle and an LMG (never shot either) and I think they both would have been better if they used a more conventional magazine/magazine set up. If the rifle was a top loader or had a loading port to feed stripper clips from the top into a box magazine it would have been a simpler gun to make and handle better in my view. The rifle would have a been thinner with more traditional proportions. The LMG needed a double stack magazine (something like a Bren mag or 30 round BAR type) to make it a more compact package. Cool guns with they had been developed more.

[@jarink1]

The reciprocating barrel and the problems that made for attaching a bayonet would likely still have doomed it at the time.

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Ian . 🐺 Loupis Canis .

[@WizardKing-Official]

I enjoy how informative you always are with facts and trivia. Been a fan now for many years. My younger brother Patrick is also a fan of your content. Thank you man!

[@longboardcamify]

Iian. Thank you so much for all of the high quality content.

[@charlesscottkelly]

Glad to see your still alive

[@melgillham462]

Trust forgotten weapons to show me a rifle id never seen, much less knew it was a service weapon. Interesting rifle to be sure. Thank you sir!

[@gooondie]

All this content on the Johnson and the Reising is really making me want to watch The Pacific again

[@CalvinMorris-cf8jk]

the Johnson kicks butt. it is a piece of fine art and history thanks for sharing.

[@davidbere000]

Really wish these older designs would be reproduced again... I think most people who shoot would love to own a example!

[@AnimeFanatic5602]

H&R is looking to put the M1 Garand back into production, so at least there's that.

[@george2113]

Better technology, materials and quality control on new firearms put the kibosh on a lot of these antiquated guns

[@AdamantLightLP]

Until they see the price of a low-volume production run on an old and complicated design. Ian did a video on this.

[@BleedingUranium]

@@george2113 You can just as easily turn that around the other direction: Historical guns with modern materials and quality control would be incredibly cool. Ditto for replicas-with-improvements of classic cars, planes, etc.

[@chadwhitman1811]

Due military sales to the Dutch , some of them showed up in Guyana which was featured in a photo that was used in a U- tube video about Guyana a Dutch colony in WWII, a really off the track subject .

[@kilcar]

The mods to the sights was just as likely done by the CB ( Seabee ) units that were attached early on to Marine units, as they brought their machine shops with them.

[@ADRay1999]

Just a suggestion but if you ever have the time you should do a full in depth video on the Savage 99 rifle I know you’ve already done a small review dealing with a collector’s book on the rifle but I feel that a Full length video on the savage is in order

[@Godthepredator]

I had the pleasure of repairing one of these rifles, customer said it would fire 1 rd then freeze. It was a wonderful challenge and i was happy to fix it and shoot it.

[@kantenklaus9753]

Super cool Rifle!!! I'm sure there is another vid available about the M1941.

[@Brandon-ou4wc]

That's a nice Johnson 👌

[@smackarel7]

Never thought I'd see Ian talk about a marine's Johnson.

[@AsbestosMuffins]

it sounds impressive till you bring up how few they actually used in total

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

So where did the other 4300 "sitting on the US docks" go????

[@86AW11]

I really like machines and tools of all kinds. It amazes me the extent of technology through the years has gone into devices intended for killing or wounding others.

[@DANO-4899]

Awesome piece.

[@paulbervid1610]

Great video and awesome subject. I was trying to buy one about 40 years ago. But the gun shop that had it closed down.

[@deccabw]

I think just under 2000 Johnson rifles made it to the Dutch East Indies before the Japanese invaded , wonder if the KNIL got to use them ?

[@Tracks85]

Saw one for sale at Williams 10:54 Gunsite years ago for $7000 dollars ,wish i had the money. 10:54

[@bravo0105]

What’s truly impressive is how quickly and cheaply Melvin Maynard Johnson went from proof-of-concept to production M1941 rifles compared to the M1 Garand.

[@Stellar001100]

To think that the Johnson rifle is a bridge to the M16 series of rifles. I wonder if they had some crazy short carbines made through battlefield modifications.

[@berrie-badopinions]

The Johnson is such a cool looking rifle, I'm glad it got used and appreciated in at least some capacity

[@PureScotch6688]

I always enjoy seeing Ian on the casting couch. Every episode of this new set has been great.

[@GunGnome_]

Thank you for showing us your Johnson Gun Jesus 🤠🇺🇸🦅🗽🔔

[@shawnr771]

Nice rifle. Thank you for the history lesson.

[@mwb3984]

I cannot imagine Not enjoying a FW episode. Thank you, sir.

[@davidcarr7436]

Weren't some Johnson's used by the First Special Service Force, as well?

[@Bluescout612]

Always good to see a nice Johnson

[@danielbeck9191]

I have seen a few M1942 Johnson rifles fired in the Games at Camp Perry during the national Matches. They are exciting to watch!!! Lots of energy in case ejection!! They chuck the spent brass---HOT!!----15 feet down the firing line. One owner joked that he could take out the enemy AND his squad mates at the same time.

[@blackhawk7r221]

Anyone else remember these being sold through Shotgun News back in the mid 90’s?

[@jasonwooden]

That's a BIG Johnson.

[@bad74maverick1]

Took me almost 30 years to be able to afford an 1941' Johnson. I wanted one since I saw a commercial for them in 1992 at age 7 or 8 from Miltech. Although I later found out that miltech and mitchells mausers were completely ruining guns making them worthless today for collectors I still always wanted one. I stumbled on one I could afford and low and behold it was a first production 4 digit no letter prefix no bold hold open first model 1941. I wouldn't take love nor money for it!!

[@ekscalybur]

Full Metal Jacket might have been a bit different if the Marines had fully adopted this gun. "This is my Johnson, this is my gun This is for fighting, this is for fun" :P

[@guillermowilliams6758]

Model of 1841? imagine that!

[@David_Crayford]

"They didn't need the Johnson because... all their men had already got one." The term para-marine does sound pretty tough.

[@jonathantatler]

Always enjoyed Ian

[@storytimedavidcollins2897]

Thanks again Ian for bringing us information on more cool guns that we all want in our piles 🇺🇸

[@Bojangles6]

Just started re-watching the Pacific series on HBO. I did notice Reisings, havent picked out any johnsons yet. I think short recoil is a great mechanism for a medium to large caliber machine gun.

[@seangannon6081]

I’m sure the Marines weren’t too excited about sticking their Johnsons in the dirt.

[@solo_boy_music]

Greetings Ian. I hope you're doing fine even with that congestion on you. Is it possible to talk about a rare portuguese sub-machine gun from Fabrica Braço de Prata called FBP made by Gonçalves Cardoso, there's 3 model versions, you can search it up, an interesting, fast fire rate SMG that my father used it in his military service (2 years trainning) from the late 80's if I'm correct, he normally used the G3A3, and firstly trained with an PSG-1 for long range. We also have another SMG, Lusa A1/A2 made by INDEP (Industrias Nacionais de Defesa, E.P). You already talked and shown the MG we had as the old contract that we made with the germans back in (around/close to) the WW2. I would be so happy for you to talk about our super rare weapons, sadly we don't have much information to give but I would be happy to help you if needed since i'm from there. Thanks

[@stevenlowe3245]

My Dad was a Paramarine and loved his Johnson.

[@JonathanRossRogers]

The rifle looks like a python that has recently eaten.

[@oldesertguy9616]

Thank you for this video. I've always had a soft spot for that rifle, plus it's always nice to learn a little more Marine Corps history. Semper Fi, sir.

[@adamtennant4936]

I didn't know the USMC even had paratroopers... 🤔

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

The best of the best of the best....Sir! and that was the problem. Read the series of fiction adventure books by W E B Griffin to illustrate why paratroops were found to be sacrificial troops unless they met only slight opposition. German parachutists were shot out of the sky by Kiwi riflemen as they were sitting ducks dangling from their parachutes, helpless over Crete....in 1941. So highly trained troops were sacrificed for the glory and medals of commanding generals...... A rethink figured out that troops landed on islands by sea, with artillery support, tanks, flamethrowers, heavy MGs and as much ammo as they could fire... killed more enemy and sacrificed fewer men over a much longer period of time...making use of the leadership skills instilled in these "super troopers".

[@draconian6692]

I like it better than the garand

[@robertdalhart7827]

This is my rifle, this is my gun. This is for fighting, this is for fun! They're both named Johnson?

[@user-xc6wd3hb4s]

I wonder how many of the Johnson rifles have survived. They are indeed scarce. Nice video.

[@gavinhammond1778]

Just imagine combat dropping onto a Pacific island. Thanks for the content.