Probably was relined, Brent. I've owned several Johnsons and all had absolutely impeccable metalwork but some of the stocks were not up to the same level of workmanship. I found out later that he didn't do stockwork to any degree if at all, and all the rifles I had seen had been stocked by others. He did however make quite a reputation for his barrel work, both new barrels and relines as I understand it. I think FITZ knows more than I do and I'm sure Jerry could tell you even more, especially if he could see the rifle.
Regards, Joe

Thanks guys the rifle is a .32-40.  I'll see if I can find out this code.  Do you have an email for Jerry?

Brent

Brent;
Jerry J can be a little tough to get via email. I will be talking to him this PM and can mention this thread to him.

Normally the name stamp on th barrel would indicate that he worked on (re-barreled, re-lined or ccjambered) the barrel or possibly the action. Given the configuration and caliber, Best bet is to do as Froggie said and look under the forearm for the job number stamped there and contact Jerry. He has the shop records if it has a job number.

If all else fails in terms of contsact, PM me and I can get you contact info. 

The rifles with the Johnson stamp and real ugly wood are almost certainly DIY projects.  He had a couple of stockers nearby which he used or referred work to and their work was pretty good though the trend at the time was often toward a modern look.

Guys,
I have decided to pass on that particular rifle.  It is listed on (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) and on (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links); The seller is known to me - I bought a very nice and very early Lang percussion double rifle from him a few years ago.  But now I can't get his attention to answer my questions and to be honest, I am less interested in it as a .32-40 and as a mid20th century rifle.   

So, I don't know if the barrel has been lined or what the code might be - though I have asked.  The pictures are not great but they do not suggest a super stocking job if one looks carefully.  I rather like good wood, so that also figures into my coolness towards that rifle. 

Finally, my Borchardt is getting very close to being shootable if not exactly finished.  Engraving and checkering will be farmed out next winter, but this year, it will shoot.  This MONTH it will shoot.

Brent

Heck I can't figure it out.  It might be a very nice rifle or one that someone made from a CC Johnson barrel.  But I guess it must be relined if it is really a .32-40 (same as original).  Either that or he recut it to something bigger and the seller hasn't really checked close enough to realize this.   

Overall, it's an interesting gun but once I thought about it, I decided I just don't know enough to really go after it and my interest has cooled.   

Brent

I concur with "cooling off" on this rifle. First off I questiion the "circa 1918" for a flat spring high wall especially with the Johnson name on it. Looking at the pics and comparing to the two Johnson smithed rifles in the safe, the name is stamped as Johnson did it but the caliber stamp is not nearly as neatly done as the two here. Also, both rifles at hand have  "Thackery, O" stamped below his name as have the others I have seen personally. The Mann-Niedner firing pin was something he did esp. when fixing a sloppy firing pin/hole.
    The only way to know for sure about this rifle would be if a job number could be found on th ebarrel and checked against shop records. I will say from what I know that if Johnson indeed did barrel or chamber work on this this rifle it will be as stamped, unless altered from what he did by someone later. He did no rifling or reboring so the idea of him having done something oddball in terms of caliber or chambering and not marking it as such is something I would bet against. At any rate, if it is a relined barrel, it is an altered rifle, albeit a restored-to-use one.

I don't think I would call him dishonest at all.  I have dropped a lot of money on a double rifle from this guy.  I found him to be honest and reasonable.  That he hasn't answered my questions on this rifle is not a big deal.  The answers to my questions would not have revealed him to be a liar or a cheat regardless of what the answers might have been.   

I don't know how reliable the messaging system on (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) really is anyway.  They certainly have some other bugs in their system.  If I really wanted an answer, I'd chase him down on (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) where he also has this rifle listed.  From time to time, he has some very nice singles and doubles for sale.  I think his prices are a bit high but one is certainly free to set any price one wants - just as one is free not to buy it.  

Anyway, it is an interesting rifle, but one that I decided I didn't really want to buy.  I think it might be a rifle worth checking out if one was a particular fan of CCJohnson or wanted a .32-40.  

Brent