FWIW, the CC Johnson rebarrel and reblue (by whoever) dictate that the rifle is already in the status of non-original.  If the rifle is sufficiently desirable as an example of the work of CC Johnson, then it would be worth preserving as is, otherwise it is a likely candidate for rebuild, upgrade, etc.  Keep in mind that "original" is generally a term reserved for a rifle that has not been altered at all since leaving the factory. 

The foregoing gets the usual disclaimers of "YMMV" and that it is all "JMHO" but I think it pretty much represents the general tendency of the market at this time.  HTH

Regards,
Froggie

Have said this several times before. 

While Johnson re-built single shots are interesting and shoot very well, that's about all they are good for. As collectors not many people want one.  I know because I bought one on a Ballard action that had been for sale 3 years and had it for sale myself 2 more before dumping it on a friend who shoots it bench rest as is.  It's a real ugly gun that shoots great.

If you are into it cheap enough it's a good place to start a nice rifle. Had mine been a Low Wall that's what I would have done. As it was rebuilding a fairly rough Ballard action cost more than it was worth.  The cash I got out of it went a long way toward something more suitable.

You ought to look at prices of a Ballard, Winchester or Stevens reproduction before putting a lot of cash into a re-build.  Selling off the Johnson and adding cash is going to be more satisfactory in the long run.

If it was a collector gun it would be different but not many collectors of 1930's converted single shots unless they are very well done. And have never seen a Johnson that was pretty.


Boats

I agree with Boats. I'd sell it if you want a better one, and use the funds towards that, or towards building up a wrecked one.

Flat,

To me, C.C. Johnson is (or will be) a collectable 'smith.

Chances are, he was the one who re-blued the action when he re-barreled the rifle.

If it shoots decently and hasn't been really butchered, I'd leave it alone. It is a piece of our single shot history...for better or for worse.

Don't listen to Joe...he just wants a flashy rifle so he can pick up chicks.

Just my opinion.

Steve

Flatlander,  Without seeing a photo I assumed your Johnson was one he stocked or had someone re-stock. If your stock is original Stevens and the only Johnson modification was re-barreling I would not alter the rifle.  Question in my mind was what percent of the rifle is original and what has been altered.  The Johnson Ballard I once owned was Original frame only, everything else had been altered or changed.

As SPG says Johnson's may become collectible in there own right.  Wonder what the better investment would be ? Johnson single shots or the stock market.  And which one would do best under the new administration.  You might want to hold on to that rifle.

Boats

Joe,

I'll bring the .35-44 reamer, the Stevens, and the cards. You bring your poker playin' hat...and some money. We have you checked into the Del Monico...your bedroll goes in the southwest corner.

Flat,

Your rifle sounds too good to mess with to me...and if you have some history on it, even more so. Maybe an article dissecting the particulars would be good in the Journal and start a mad rush to collect C.C. Johnson rifles?

Any good 'smith eventually becomes collectible and the Johnson's I have owned all shot very well and exhibited very competent gunsmithing. One could, without really affecting the value of the gun, re-case the action and age it back, but I still say that it's part of the package and shows what C.C. typically did on a re-barrel.

I've seen some work by Peterson and Pope that left a little to be desired in the way of cosmetics but just try to tell the owners that they ought to refinish!

Gute Ziele,

Steve

cards,, who said cards??? when and where??  i'm getting too long in the tooth to win money shooting.. but can still pull a card from the bottom now and then..

..ttfn..grampa..

"And then there is Chuck Blenders Miller"

That reminded me of the first time I saw Blenders rifle on the line.

It was between relays, sitting on the bench in the rests, action opened and cleared.

I saw a pipe nipple hanging off the end of the barrel, and what looked like scrap wood stuck on the butt end of the action, all chopped up and bondo, no finish, Just a pitiful thing.
I thought it was a joke or somebody was going for a prize I wasn't aware of, Ugliest rifle at the match.

I didn't even think it was for shooting, just show, but I watched when the relay started and he started shooting it. OK must be part of the joke.

I looked at his backer thru the scope and ALL his targets were match targets, for score....... 

And they were damned good targets.

So I asked guys I knew well that were at the shoot, they told me  Yes that is his real rifle.

Talking to chuck later that evening he said he would fit the stock to his cheek, shoulder etc using a hatchet and when he got the stock to where it was just right he'd use it as a pattern to make a nice butt.

Years later it was the same stock.....guess it is still a work in progress.

I think he shot like a 2200 or 2300 or somewhere in that area with it that weekend.

Marty Stenback has a butt that has like 24 different pieces of wood glued to his rifle for the same reason, he shoots real well too. No plumbing though.

Gentlemen,

One of the hardest things I've ever done was boxing up a nice Ballard to ship to Chuck Blender. I felt like I was leading a lamb to slaughter. When the rifle saw the name on the box it kept trying to crawl out.

Chuck's targets more than make up for his rifle's "fit and finish"...

Steve

Ten-X,  from conversations with CC Johnson's grandson, Jerry, and from other contemporary accounts (and Johnson's own shop records) it seems safe to say that Charley did very little stock work for his customers.  It was not that he couldn't do it, it was just that he seems to have preferred to do the metal work for which he was justifiably famous and leave the wood work to those who specialized in that aspect of gun building.  Unfortunately, some of the CC Johnson high quality metalwork was offset or even overcome by the low quality, poorly thought out stock work that was done on his rifles by others (after they left his shop.)  Finding a rifle with Johnson's fine metal work that has a good, well thought out stock or one with the original wood conserved as part of the job is a real plus.  JMHO, of course, but I have owned one or two examples and have spent time talking with Jerry and reviewing the literature for various articles and projects.

Regards,
Froggie

Boats, SPG, etc.,

The only guns I've seen that actually came apart were 44 Stevens actions. One time a bunch of us were out shooting at Brea Range in California, Ray Day was shooting a very nice 44 Stevens in 32-40, and suddenly the gun exploded, luckily everything went downward, I think Ray only got a few nicks on his arm, as I recall the breech block had cracked. A friend of mine has double charged his favorite Ballard several times (a Marlin action) and although it needs some attention each time, he's still shooting it.

Bob

Interesting, Blown up was too strong a phrase.  I suspect any of the modern reproductions will stand charges far higher than we use.   
Good to know if you do double charge one it's not going to cost you any fingers,

On Chuck, I watch his scores in ISSA.  If he shot bench rest at all no doubt would have won overall at that match at least once.  Asked him about it one time. He said offhand was the only thing he wants to shoot and suffers when the match has a bench leg


Boats

I once had a Hi Wall in .22 Hornet, with both CC Johnson and Buhmiller's names on the barrel. It had some beautiful custom stocks, done in the typical 1950's varmint style, and wonderfully checkered.
I believe I would still have that gun had it not been for one glaring issue I just couldn't get past. Somebody cut the right side of the receiver down to aid in chambering and removing spent rounds! I often thought about having a piece welded in and restoring the action, but in the end I just traded it away, and let somebody else worry about it.

Another of the complete rifle. The scope blocks and tang base were added by me for milling parts when purchaced.

Flatlander is the wood Winchester as from the Factory ? I don't know them well enough to tell from the photo. That could be the signifigant factor.  Figure the gun is 1/3 action 1/3 barrel and 1/3 stock then consider originality and condition for each part.   

To my eye your rifle has potential, lots of it, and the Johnson Barrel adds large to the appeal. But personaly would not pick it up off a sellers table in it's current conditon.  Of course everybodys eye is different. If it was mine it would go for a complete re-stock and finish preserving the barrel and markings.  It would be a real nice Schuetzen remodled, well worth investing the money.  It would also sell easy if you wanted too.   

Boats

Flatlander, 
allright , put your billfold back in yer pocket. Put the mother of pearl away. Thats too nice a little lowall to tear apart.  Dont do a thing to it.  Shoot it ,and if you must build a fancy lowall get a an old crapper junker. Geeez !!!    

Steve,  are you saying I shouldnt shoot my 25/20SS super rat rifle? Its cast iron.   

Ive got another 25/20SS project going using a Smith barrel and one of your machined frames.  I wont be loading it any hotter than I do the cast action. Which makes me wonder why nobody ever used a larger lever screw on the Ballards ?

Heres the buttsock for the new .25 project.  Fancy wood!  Oooooh!!!!
This piece came out of a tree I cut down in 1976. I had to slap Chucks hand several times over this piece. 

                                        Joe

Flat,

I sold the rifle to a guy at the Raton matches two years ago...it sure looks like the same rifle. If it is...it was a good shooter. I used it as a small game rifle for about four years. Bought it from a feller from Indiana who was at the Denver gunshow. When I sold it it had a Lyman tang sight and a Beech front site.

Nice little rifle...I won a bench match with it at one of our Cody monthly matches and shot a bunch of prairie dogs with it.

Too nice to tear apart, I'm thinking...

Steve

Flat,

I plan on being at Denver this year at the SPG/Wyoming Armory table. Stop by...and I'm glad you're going to leave the old Low-Wall alone.

Steve