I Have This Old Gun - Johnson Spitfire Carbine

Published on February 10, 2016
Duration: 6:56

This video explores the Melvin Johnson Spitfire Carbine, a unique firearm developed by Melvin "Mater" Johnson. It details the design philosophy behind the 5.7x33mm MMJ cartridge, an attempt to create a small-caliber, high-velocity round by necking down the .30 caliber carbine cartridge. The video highlights Johnson's ambition to offer an enhanced M1 Carbine platform to the US Military, which ultimately competed with the development of the AR-15. Despite its innovative nature and impressive ballistics for its time, the Spitfire Carbine did not achieve widespread adoption, remaining a historical curiosity.

Quick Summary

The Johnson Spitfire Carbine, developed by Melvin Johnson, featured the innovative 5.7x33mm MMJ cartridge, created by necking down the .30 caliber carbine round. It offered high velocity and low recoil, but faced competition from the AR-15 and early NFA regulations, limiting its widespread adoption.

Chapters

  1. 00:11Introduction to Melvin Johnson's Designs
  2. 00:30Melvin Mayor Johnson: The Innovator
  3. 00:48The Spitfire Carbine and MMJ Cartridge
  4. 01:05Small Caliber High Velocity Concept
  5. 01:50Necked Down .30 Carbine to .22
  6. 02:07Melvin Johnson: An Interesting Guy
  7. 02:37The Spitfire Wildcat Cartridge Specs
  8. 03:06Marketing the M1 Carbine for Spitfire
  9. 03:29Recognizing M1 Carbine Production
  10. 03:46Objective: US Military Customer
  11. 04:00Proposal to Advanced Research Projects Agency
  12. 04:23Competition with AR-15
  13. 04:51Johnson Spitfire Carbine Pre-Aged Military
  14. 05:07Company Production of Receivers and Barrels
  15. 05:17Marketing to Civilian Shooting Public
  16. 05:20Short Barreled Rifle and NFA Rules
  17. 05:45Developing Full-Length M1 Carbine Version
  18. 06:00Standard and Deluxe Sporter Models
  19. 06:10Spitfire Carbine's Limited Splash
  20. 06:15Obscure Firearm Today
  21. 06:21Companies Selling Spitfire Barrels
  22. 06:30Impressive and Fun to Shoot
  23. 06:36Interesting Footnote to M1 Carbine
  24. 06:45Shoots Flat, Fast, Little Recoil

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the primary goal of Melvin Johnson's Spitfire Carbine?

Melvin Johnson's primary goal with the Spitfire Carbine was to create a firearm that utilized a small-caliber, high-velocity cartridge, specifically the 5.7x33mm MMJ. He aimed to enhance the performance of the M1 Carbine platform and secure a contract with the American Military.

How was the 5.7x33mm MMJ cartridge developed?

The 5.7x33mm MMJ cartridge, developed by Melvin Mayor Johnson, was created by taking the existing .30 caliber carbine cartridge and necking it down to a .22 caliber. This allowed for a smaller, faster projectile.

Why did the Johnson Spitfire Carbine not achieve widespread adoption?

The Johnson Spitfire Carbine faced several challenges, including its proposal coinciding with the development of the AR-15, which ultimately gained military favor. Additionally, early models were classified as NFA weapons, limiting their market, leading to a full-length version for civilian sales which still didn't gain significant traction.

What are the performance characteristics of the Johnson Spitfire Carbine?

The Spitfire Carbine is noted for its impressive performance for its time, featuring a 40-grain bullet with a muzzle velocity near 3,000 feet per second. It is described as shooting flat and fast with very little recoil, and it can utilize standard M1 Carbine magazines.

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