If you need a good cry...

[mike415stone]

That butt pad is a deal breaker.

[pitfighter]

I would like to think it was damaged when spoerterized, why remove an inch of barrel and why remove that fore-wood? - Makes little sense, certainly doesn't make it easier to hunt with - and nothing for the aesthetic.
That's my optimistic take -

I actually spent a while looking at the pics to see if it was retrievable, but that heavy sanding and refinishing to the metal is a one-way ticket.

[fal_762x51]

If it was 1k, I'd buy it to restore it.

All of my projects lately have been restoring sporterized milsurps. No collector value, but they need to be saved.

[sbo80]

I came across this tidbit in another listing about the sporter Johnsons, some that were rebuilds with imported parts. "The Sporterized rifles featured new barrels made by the Apex Rifle Company of Sun Valley, CA." so perhaps it wasn't cut down, and this was one of those rifles that wasn't a whole rifle to begin with. Makes me feel less sad about it anyway.
Also I notice there are 4 of these rifles listed on gunbroker right now, and 2 are sporters, both with shorter barrels so apparently that's not uncommon. I'm surprised the shorter barrel doesn't affect cycling; this isn't a gas operated rifle, it needs the mass of the barrel to move to unlock the bolt.

[Python6357]

This makes my johnson skrinky dinky! Maybe there's a kind soul out there that will buy it and try to put it back to it's original style. Seems outrageously priced considering what's been done.

[beerman]

Probably done, "back in the day", as was the 1933 WZ-29 Mauser that belonged to my Grandpa. His was done in the 1940's.

[The Gleam]

Actually, the Sporterized Johnsons from "The Winfield Arms Co. of Los Angeles" are quite collectible and often fetch as much or more in purchase price than a common, average-worn Johnson. They can be found converted to .30-06 (if originally 7mm Mauser) .270 Winchester, and 7mm Remington.

These are the guns above that sobo80 cited, that were fitted with new barrels made by the Apex Rifle Company of Sun Valley, CA.

Even Maynard Johnson himself found those to be well-done conversions of his original design.

(The above is taken from pages 219 and 220 of "The Story of Melvin M. Johnson , Jr. and His Guns" - by Bruce N. Canfield. )

[The Gleam]

HOWEVER.... O/P's example is nothing, and I mean NOTHING compared to this oft-cited abomination of a Johnson, possibly the most extreme bubba of bubba'ed rifles that a bubba-ing can bubb - though i will say that the technical/mechanical talent, patience, and expertise that went into this to make it work, IF it works, is at least admirable:
















https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/...sible-parents/

[SonofWWIIDI]

I...I’m...speechless.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Whoever beat up that Johnson should have just beat up their own Johnson instead.

[RNE228]

I have my granddads G43. Sometime in the 1950's it had a recoil pad put on, and was sleeved and converted to 30-06.

My Dad talks about the 30's Fords that they chopped up for parts for the hard top race cars that ran the local 1/4 mile dirt track in the 1950's...

Probably done, "back in the day", as was the 1933 WZ-29 Mauser that belonged to my Grandpa. His was done in the 1940's.

[plumbum]

Omg, we need to hook these Bubbas up with the young lady that squeezes balls until they bleed...