Early Johnson Rifle with Handguard & Bayonet Lug
One of the M1941 Johnson's most recognisable features is its exposed barrel. This rifle, an early military R-type gun, is unusual in that it has a traditional wooden forend and bayonet mount. This appears to have been an attempt to address one of the US Military's main concerns about the Johnson Rifle - its poor bayonet fighting characteristics.
This early Johnson Rifle is a part of the Cody Firearms Museum's collection and is fitted with handguard which was offered as an optional extra. Few of these survive today so we're very lucky to get a look at the rifle.
Check out the video below:
Considering the Johnson uses a short recoil action it remains unclear just how well a rifle fitted with the optional handguard and bayonet lug would have fared, especially considering the later Johnson M1941 was equipped with a lightweight spike-dagger bayonet to ensure reliable cycling.
Check out my accompanying blog for some more info and photos over on the TAB site, here.
