Just went the to local (Ventura, California) gun show this weekend, and ran into two Johnsons for sale. Thought I'd pass on the price info, just for shock value. There is a gun show regular who always has a display of several dozen really nice US military rifles, laid out in order from Krags up through M1As (no real M14s allowed here in the PRK). He's had a nice looking Johnson 1941 for the last couple times I went. I asked the price last year, and it was $9200. I asked again this weekend, and it is now $11,000. His other stuff is also pretty overpriced, but they are all very nice condition. I looked at this one more closely this time, and it looks to me like it has been re-parked, but I can't be sure. While I was at the table, a guy walked by with a sign on his back of the guns he had for sale, and one of them was also a Johnson. We chatted for a bit, and then went out to his truck to take a look at it. He was a really nice guy in his seventies, and was reducing his lifetime accumulation a bit. The Johnson was all there and in reasonable condition, but had obviously been used hard now and then. The wood had a lot of dings in it, and the finish was wearing off, maybe still 75% there. It didn't have any other obvious flaws. He said it worked fine, and was reasonably accurate, but had clearly had a lot of rounds through it. He was asking $6,000 for it. He was honest about it, and said he knew that was a bit high, but he wasn't sure he wanted to let it go. He figured if someone was actually willing to pay that for it, he'd have to let it go. I'm planning to put mine up for sale this Spring, and am trying to sort out what is a fair price to ask. It's in much better condition than his, but I can't imagine anyone wanting to pay more than $6,000 for it. I might give it a try for that on gunbroker.com just to see what the market thinks it's worth.

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NRA Life Member
CRPA Life Member

A local dealer with high prices here in NY has two for $4000 ish, and they've been there as long as I can remember.

Market value seems to be about $3,000- 3,500, but they sell so infrequently and publicly everyone makes wild-ass guesses off what the last one went for, and more often than not they don't move, people see the advertised price of the guy trying to cash in, mark theirs up higher than he had his, and suddenly the market's completely out of touch and nothing's selling.

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Thou shalt not covet my floorboards or mess with my signature.

Over the years I've followed a couple of auctions on `41 Johnsons and have seen a few that went above $6000 -- they were exceptionally nice and thus brought a premium price. I think Rock Island had one go for $9000-ish last year. The trouble with such prices is that few collectors can- or will -part with that kind of money so you're talking a very limited number of players.
It's difficult to get used to some of the asking prices on many WWII weapons these days. Kind of takes the fun out of it... Bring back the `70's !!!
JohnB/

I had an excellent B series M 41 about 5 years ago. A friend of mine wanted it and he paid 3000.00 including an original bayonet, scabbard, sling and set of blue prints. I feel we both did well, as we are still friends. 9000.00 seems ridiculous. The ultimate deciding factor in the price will be you. the owner. RETREAD

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The only rights you really have are those you are willing to defend.

RETREAD, Where did you find blueprints for the M1941? I would love to have one of these rifles but would settle for a non-firing dummy built from scratch.

I originally bought the rifle about 1986 from a dealer who indicated to me that the gun had previously been obtained in the 1960's from another dealer in California. What was very unusual about this M41 was the fact that the bolt, receiver and barrel all bore the same serial number. Collectors much more knowledgable than have said it is very very unlikely to get a M 41 with matching numbers. The gun may have been rebuilt "TO ORDER" as parts were much more available 40 years ago/ The blue prints came with the rifle.
I am sure there must be copies available for collectors and machinists who would appreciate these things. I personally feel that the common estimate of 70,000 completed units is too high by about 30,000. Just one guy's opinion RETREAD

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The only rights you really have are those you are willing to defend.

'Tread
I think you are right on the money for production numbers. The ones you occasionally see for sale seem to go as high as the "B" serial range, which would validate 30,000 rifles. Where they all went to post-war, who knows? Sure doesn't seem to be anywhere near that many available these days and thus demand drives the price.
I know I've read in one well-written article by Bruce Canfield and also another Forum, that the 3 serial-numbered parts were never intended to be assembled as matching units. Made me feel good when I saw that years ago as up until then I assumed mine was a 'mis-match'. They are certainly unique rifles, both in their style and history.
JohnB/

Had Johnson and his rifle at camp Curtis in Reading Mass.before WW2.out shot the then current Garand.[had different muzzle gland].after WW2 Boston Music Store had them for $50.weeks pay at that time was $40. --