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Rare Johnson Model 1948 Semi-Automatic Rifle with Mexican Crest and Short Barrel

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,800.00 USD Estimated At:4,500.00 - 10,000.00 USD
Rare Johnson Model 1948 Semi-Automatic Rifle with Mexican Crest and Short Barrel
Model 1948 Rifle manufactured by Johnson Automatics Company following WWII. This rifle is chambered for the 7x57 MM cartridge and has a 19-inch barrel; the barrel has the same bayonet lug and front sight as the standard 22 inch barrel. The top of the heat shield is roll-stamped with the Mexican Crest. The top of the rifle receiver is roll stamped with the Johnson five-line patent markings followed by: "CAL. 7x57 SEMI-AUTO/"JOHNSON AUTOMATICS"/MODEL OF 1948/MADE IN PROVIDENCE, R.I.,U.S.A./M 0500". The bright-finished bolt is stamped with the rifle serial number "M500". The right rear of the receiver is stamped with the "Cranston Arms Co." triangle logo. The front of the barrel housing is stamped "7x57" above the barrel and "48" below it. The windage adjustable tangent rear sight is graduated in meters. The rifle has the standard 10-round rotary magazine and two-piece, oil finished walnut stock and forearm. The Johnson Automatics company manufactured Model 1941 Rifles with 22 inch barrels chambered for the .30-06 cartridge for the Dutch government and sold 7x57MM Model 1941 Rifles to Chile prior to WWII. The Model 1948 Rifle was apparently an attempt to market a new rifle using surplus components to Mexico that was chambered for the 7 x57 MM cartridge popular in Latin America. This is the first example of a Johnson Model 1948 Rifle the Rock Island Auction Co., has offered for sale.
BBL: 19 inch
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 7 x 57 mm
Finish: parkerized
Grips:
Serial Number: M0500
Condition: Excellent. The rifle retains 99% plus of the gray parkerized finish and the walnut stock and forearm show minimal handling wear. The barrel and receiver markings are crisp. This is a nearly new example of a rarely encountered Johnson Model 1948 Semi-Automatic Rifle with Mexican Crest.