History behind my Eric Johnson Barreled Remington 37

O

oarizpe

Guest
Eric Johnson Barreled Remington 37

Good afternoon everyone, and thank you in advance for your replies and knowledge.

I was able to pick-up an Eric Johnson barreled Remington 37 a couple of years ago, and am trying to find any additional information I can about the rifle and/or the original owner.

I was able to get a copy of Eric Johnson's shop records from the ASSRA, and it turns out that this rifle was put together in 1948 for a man named John F. Sullivan from Saugus, Massachusetts. Does anyone have any information about this gentleman?

This rifle is the most accurate rifle I have ever shot, and have throughly enjoyed it ever since I was lucky enough to come across it.

One side note I though was awesome is that Eric Johnson worked my rifle right after he did the same job (They both had a 1 1/8" x 1", 29" barrel installed.) to a Ballard Action owned by Al Freeland.

Thanks again!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You might want to post for information on TargetTalk or pronematch sites for information on your rifle.
 
oarizpe said:
Good afternoon everyone, and thank you in advance for your replies and knowledge.

I was able to pick-up an Eric Johnson barreled Remington 37 a couple of years ago, and am trying to find any additional information I can about the rifle and/or the original owner.

I was able to get a copy of Eric Johnson's shop records from the ASSRA, and it turns out that this rifle was put together in 1948 for a man named John F. Sullivan from Saugus, Massachusetts. Does anyone have any information about this gentleman?

This rifle is the most accurate rifle I have ever shot, and have throughly enjoyed it ever since I was lucky enough to come across it.

One side note I though was awesome is that Eric Johnson worked my rifle right after he did the same job (They both had a 1 1/8" x 1", 29" barrel installed.) to a Ballard Action owned by Al Freeland.

Thanks again!
Click to expand...


Howdy,
Go to pronematch.com and get in touch with Hap Rocketto. Hap had a GREAT story about Sullivan that he posted somewhere, I think I copied and posted it here. I am short on time or I would find it for you. If you look through my old posts within the last year or two, it may be here. A faster way would be to search Eric Johnson on this site. There are different threads with info on him. He was pretty remarkable. Long story short, John Sullivan and Hap Rocketto used to shoot together, and Hap has good info on him. If you cannot get in touch with him, post back here and I will see if I still have his email address. Hap has been very helpful with his Eric Johnson knowledge.

I have an Eric Johnson built Remington 37. It is my most accurate rifle. And it has some history, which adds to the enjoyment. May you enjoy yours!

Take care,

Greg
 
Thanks!

404tbang said:
Howdy,
Go to pronematch.com and get in touch with Hap Rocketto. Hap had a GREAT story about Sullivan that he posted somewhere, I think I copied and posted it here. I am short on time or I would find it for you. If you look through my old posts within the last year or two, it may be here. A faster way would be to search Eric Johnson on this site. There are different threads with info on him. He was pretty remarkable. Long story short, John Sullivan and Hap Rocketto used to shoot together, and Hap has good info on him. If you cannot get in touch with him, post back here and I will see if I still have his email address. Hap has been very helpful with his Eric Johnson knowledge.

I have an Eric Johnson built Remington 37. It is my most accurate rifle. And it has some history, which adds to the enjoyment. May you enjoy yours!

Take care,

Greg
Click to expand...

Thanks for the direction guys! I will see if I have any luck getting in touch with Hap.
 
Finally, I think this is what you're looking for. I too have an Eric Johnson rifle made for John Sullivan in 1946. It is a Win 52B in All Freeland. Most accurate rifle I've ever owned, a true one-holer

His Heart Was In The Right Place...

One of the pleasures of going to Camp Perry is meeting new people. After twenty Perrys I know a lot of shooters but as a young pup everyone I met was new. One August morning I was wandering to my target for the start of the Wimbledon Match eagerly looking forward to making more new friends. Nearing my target I saw a Marine opening the ammo can of supplies while a tall hulk of a man punched holes in the target with his pocketknife to hold the value panel.

My high spirits took a nosedive! Had I just traveled 700 miles to shoot with Big John Sullivan? I hoped to add to my collection of new friends. John and I were teammates back home in Connecticut and a week did not go by that I didn't see him. I liked him a lot but he wasn't "new".

Big John was an Irishman in the mold of Victor McLaughlin. He stood three inches over six feet and weighed 230 pounds. He was a sequoia of a man who grew to his imposing size by being composted for decades with corned beef, cabbage, and various root vegetables. He was watered with just enough beer to give a ruddy toper's glow to his craggy visage. The red face nicely set off his shock of white hair. Imagine, if you will, a pro-gun Tip O'Neil. It took a sharp eye to notice an alarming purple tinge to his lips. I didn't have that sharp an eye but I did know that he was recovering from a severe heart attack. The earplug container chained to his shirt pocket held, not Sonic ear valves, but nitroglycerin pills.

Concerned for his safety I wanted to know was what was he doing in the pits? Any shooter with such a medical problem is excused if they reveal the disability. John was too proud to admit to not being up to the task. He stubbornly, and foolishly, came to the pits to do his duty.

I told the Marine about John's condition and we entered into a conspiracy working out a scheme that required only two of us be at the target at any one time. When John was scheduled to work we simply blocked the frame with our bodies and did the pulling. John was handed the spotter, pesters, and value panel and made to take care of that task.

This was the year that each shooter got unlimited sighters and 30 shots for record. For two days, while John very carefully, very deliberately, and very slowly pasted and marked each of over 500 shots, we labored at this most Sisyphean of tasks. His pride caused us, we thought, a great deal of unnecessary work. John's heart didn't give out but we thought our backs might.

As I look back on those two days I am a little ashamed of my intolerance and impatience with the man's pride. I have to admire John for not surrendering to illness and teaching me a lesson in determination. While John's heart might have been physically damaged there certainly wasn't anything wrong with his spirit.
 
One advantage

Of getting older is the heightened ability to look at life thru the golden glass of the past. Nice story!!
 
Eric Johnson Re. m-37

wonderful stories.....did eric johnson make his own barrels....????....curious to know how his guns stack up against anshutz`s and shuls with modern ammo......????
 
Eric Johnson barrel

I shoot against a Ballard rebarreled by Eric Johnson ...............it shoots very well against full blown customs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top