SIGNED "JOHNSON RIFLES & MACHINE GUNS" USMC US WW2 PARAMARINE REFERENCE BOOK

Description

The US military saw the success of German paratroopers in 1940, and quickly set about creating its own elite airborne units. The US Marine Corps, already an elite force, scoured its ranks for the fittest men to organize into parachute battalions. The "Paramarines" fought on Guadalcanal, and wrested the island of Vella Lavella from the Japanese. For the Solomons campaign, the Paramarines were issued the M-1941 Johnson rifle, and made wide use of its related arm, the Johnson LMG. At the time, the new M-1 Garands coming off the production line were earmarked for issue to the US Army, whose demands took priority over the Corps. The Marines made do with the venerable M-1903 Springfield, but the elite Paramarines were issued the Johnson rifle to fill the need for a semi-automatic arm. The Johnson LMG weighed about the same as a standard service rifle, but packed the firepower of a BAR, making it ideal for the fast moving, hard hitting force. Johnson rifles and LMGs have been of great interest to collectors for decades, leading Bruce Canfield to write an authoritative reference book on the subject in 2002, reprinted in a second edition in 2006. This SIGNED "JOHNSON RIFLES & MACHINE GUNS" USMC US WW2 PARAMARINE REFERENCE BOOK is in near mint, unread condition, with only some light scattered storage wear evident (most pictured). Otherwise, the book is in near mint shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it's signed by the author via stick label on the copyright page, boasts elegantly illustrated hardcovers, and sports 257 pages full of descriptive text, period pictures, and black and white photographs of the M-1941 Johnson rifle, as well as its sling and bayonet, the M-1941 and M-1944 Johnson LMGs, tons of development, production, and service history, post-war Johnson designed arms, important serial number tables, and a plethora of other invaluable information. A beautiful example of a SIGNED "JOHNSON RIFLES & MACHINE GUNS" USMC US WW2 PARAMARINE REFERENCE BOOK. Now celebrating over 20 years on eBay. Bid with confidence and please view our other great military, aviation, and sporting classics, including a German WW2 MWC LUFTWAFFE PILOT B-UHR AUTOMATIC WRIST WATCH in MINT, unworn, new in the box condition, sporting a crisp 60 minute/12 hour (outer/inner) white numbers black dial, and featuring the classic big "onion" crown and sweeping seconds hand with hacking function.
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