This is an outstanding original Model 1941 Johnson semi-automatic rifle manufactured by the Cranston Arms Co. This beautiful rifle is accompanied by a signed document from William Garfield, Chief of Police, Woodbridge CT (evidently where it was stored) explaining the original owner, Sheldon A. Jones, worked for the Johnson Arms Company, purchased this rifle from the company and retained it until he died. The document also states that he commissioned the "Red Head" company to manufacture a leather carrying case for the rifle which accompanies the rifle. There is a second affidavit from Richard Jones that states his father (Sheldon A. Jones) met Melvin Johnson while in law school in Boston, who eventually went on to work for the Johnson Rifle Company. The affidavit also goes on to describe the relationship between the Johnson family and the Jones family and recalls that as a 10 year old boy he saw this rifle at his home where he learned to "field strip" the rifle. Sheldon A. Jones was a Johnson Automatics board of directors member, as noted on an included copy of the 1941 dated Johnson Automatics Incorporated letterhead. As the story goes, Johnson personally took this rifle off the production line and handed it to Jones as a gift. This lot includes five books authored by Melvin Johnson, Jr. and personally inscribed to Sheldon Jones by Johnson. These books are the following: "Practical Marksmanship," "Ammunition," "Automatic Arms," "Rifles and Machine Guns" and "Automatic Weapons of the World." The receiver has all the standard Johnson Automatic Rifle Company address and model markings and is serial numbered "8780". The patent markings are also stamped in five lines between the factory legend and the rear sight. The right rear side of the receiver is stamped "CRANSTON/ARMS/CO", inside an inverted triangle. The rifle has the distinctive detachable 22 inch barrel, ventilated barrel shroud and ten-round rotary magazine. The face of the barrel collar is stamped with the caliber ".30 06" above the barrel and "41" below it. The bright polished bolt is numbered "C3577". The receiver has a tangent style rear sight graduated in meters. The two-piece walnut stock is oil finished and has a checkered steel buttplate. Although a private purchase, it does have the small five-pointed star on the right rear end of the receiver indicating it was inspected by the Dutch inspectors circa August 1940, indicating it was accepted by the Netherlands Purchasing Commission, intending to be shipped to the Dutch East Indies. Obviously this didn't happen as the Japanese invaded/captured the Dutch colonies in December 1941. The barrel, receiver, magazine, trigger guard and buttplate all have a gray-green parkerized finish and it has a blue rear sight. As noted it is accompanied by the affidavits, an original Johnson Automatic bayonet and leather scabbard. Provenance: Bruce Canfield collection.

Excellent plus with 99% of the gray green parkerized finish with no apparent finish wear. The two-piece walnut stock and forend are excellent with only some minor marks (light sanding marks) on the right side of the buttstock when it was manufactured. Mechanically excellent. The bayonet and scabbard are also excellent and the leather case is good. A very unique and rare private purchase Johnson Arms M1941 rifle.