Serial No. The Thompson guns used in the massacre are still being held by the Berrien County Sheriff's Department. Despite new U.S. contracts for Lend-Lease shipments abroad to China, France, and the United Kingdom, as well as the needs of American armed forces, only two factories supplied M1928A1 Thompsons during the early years of World War II. The perceived popularity of submachine guns such as the Thompson with violent gangsters in the 1920s and 1930s was one of the main reasons given for passage of the National Firearms Act by the United States Congress in 1934. The British Army criticized "the [magazine's] excessive weight, [and] the rattling sound they made" and shipped thousands back to the U.S. in exchange for 20-round box magazines. 2 and 3, Auto-Ordnance engineers discovered that the one-piece actuator/firing pin design was weak. Eversince then, he's beenin love with them, and he can't stop collecting. In an attempt to expand interest and sales overseas, Auto-Ordnance entered into a partnership with and licensed the Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited (BSA) in England to produce a European model. They accepted only stick magazines to keep the weight down, but alsobecause drum mags had a tendency torattle and befragile. Ordnance Department since graduation, and Oscar Payne, a self-taught practical tinkerer and draftsman. Though it could use both the 50-round drum and the 20- or 30-round box magazines, active service favored the box magazines as the drums were more prone to jamming, rattled when moving, and were too heavy and bulky on long patrols. That system, however, proved to be an unreliable means of feeding the rapid-fire Persuader. This model gained fame from its use by criminals during Prohibition, and was nicknamed "tommy gun" by the media. 562,511 were made. Upon learning of the friction-delayed blowback firing action patented by John Bell Blish in 1915, Thompson, a U.S. Army ordnance officer, sought to incorporate that design into an effective trench sweeper weapon. The Thompson, however, is the first to use the term "submachine gun" in its name. Today, the firearm itself is in remarkable condition considering its age and travels. While not a new model in the usual sense of incorporating major changes, in 1926 the Cutts Compensator (a muzzle brake) was offered as an option for the M1921; Thompsons with the compensator were cataloged as No. Late production M1 stocks were fitted with reinforcing bolts and washers to prevent splitting of the stock where it attached to the receiver. 7, an Annihilator III, Model C, was not designed with a buttstock or sights. The Auto-Ordnance replica of the Thompson M1 and M1A1 is known as the TM1, and may be found marked "Thompson Semi-Automatic Carbine, Caliber .45M1". These modern versions should not be confused with the original semi-automatic M1927, which was a slightly modified M1921 produced by Colt for Auto-Ordnance. Ammunition was manufactured in Australia or obtained from adjacent American troops. It was this version of the Model of 1919 that was used extensively in early sales demonstrations. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns manufactured prior to 1899. The engineering department worked for two years with limited success to develop an automatic rifle using the Blish Locking System. The Thompson M1 was used victoriously in battles throughout the world, ensuring its place for eternity as a legend among military firearms. Thompson SMG Home / Thompson SMG SORT BY: Relevancy 24 Items SHOP THOMPSON SMG Filter By: The Model 1927 was the open bolt semi-automatic version of the M1921. The Navy Model 1928 has several names among collectors: the "Colt Overstamp", "1921 Overstamp", "28 Navy", or just "28N". It tended not to rattle, and could be inserted with the bolt safely closed. It was found that the only cartridge currently in service suitable for use with the new lock was the .45 ACP. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. . Military Police were fond of it, as were paratroopers, who "borrowed" Thompsons from members of mortar squads for use on patrols behind enemy lines. [27], Thompson submachine guns were used by both sides during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Of those, only 11 are known to exist today, with only five known to be in private hands. Our M1 Thompson model is a .45 caliber semi-automatic replica of the most famous American submachine gun of World War II. Popular models range from the Mac 10 and 11, M15 and M16, Walther MPK and the AC 566. The semi-automatic versions are less regulated by federal law. Serial No. Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives. It was partially replaced by the MAC-10, albeit during Vietnam, the fully automatic fire provided by the M16 made the Thompson less effective than it previously had been. During experiments with rifle calibers, this system failed to workunless the cartridges were oiledas there was too much contact resistance with the chamber walls for extraction. By signing up you agree to Guns.com's When loaded, the bronze lock closed on the chambered round. [41] The Thompson has been referred to by one researcher as the "gun that made the twenties roar". The first Model of 1919 was called the Persuader, and it was built in November 1917. The Thompson submachine gun is one of the most iconicAmerican gunsever produced. [49] The gun was prized by those lucky enough to get one and proved itself in the close street fighting that was encountered frequently during the invasion of France. Thompson would incorporate the Blish lock system into his Thompson SMG, along with the . Serial No. Certain M1s had issues with high rate of fire climbing up to ~800 RPM. Order one for your collection, and own a piece of American history! [53] In the U.S. Army, many Pacific War jungle patrols were originally equipped with Thompsons in the early phases of the New Guinea and Guadalcanal campaigns, but soon began employing the Browning Automatic Rifle in its place as a point defense weapon. The internal design of this Thompson is exactly the same as the later Colts production guns. Some experimental calibers aside from the standard .45 ACP (11.4x23mm) were the .22LR, .32 ACP, .38 ACP, and 9mm.[35]. 11, an Annihilator III, Model E, was retained by Auto-Ordnances engineering department and used to test various designs. This 1919 appears to be complete, but has no factory-stamped serial number. "[15], The Thompson was also used by U.S. and overseas law enforcement and police forces, most prominently by the FBI. Parts used in this gun originated in the full-automatic-only designs. Changes included a horizontal forend, in place of the distinctive vertical foregrip ("pistol grip"), and a provision for a military sling. Ike's Colt Thompson M1921AC is one of the nicest guns that he owns. [65] Compared to more modern submachine guns, the Thompson is quite heavy, weighing roughly the same as the contemporary M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle, and requires a lot of cleaning. Ver 10 prototypes were similar in appearance to the later models, but without the rear sight and butt stock mounts. New mnfr. War Thompsons, as Ike refers to them, are more common and worthless, but they arestill awesome guns. Interestingly, serial No. Followers 31. These were produced in small quantities and have a different appearance than the classic style. By the time Thompsons prototype was completed, however, World War I had ended. It introduced a horizontal forearm, improved inline stock for accuracy, 14in (36cm) barrel, bipod, and bayonet lug. The Model 1928 was the first type widely used by military forces, with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps as major buyers through the 1930s. For WWII, approximately 1,700,000 Thompson Submachine Guns were produced by Auto-Ordnance and Savage Arms, with 1,387,134 being the simplified World War II M1 and M1A1 variants (without the Blish lock and oiling system[63]). The Model 1927A1 is the semi-automatic replica of the Thompson Models of 1921 and 1927. 1, Model of 1919. The M1A1, standardized in October 1942 as the United States Submachine Gun, Cal. The possession of any fully automatic firearm is prohibited in the UK by the Firearms Act 1968; prohibited firearms can be possessed on a section 5 certificate, but these are not issued for sporting purposes. This categorization also legally allows it to have 1921 or 1928 style foregrip equipped, unlike other "pistol style" Thompson variants, without an AOW (Any Other Weapon) Tax Stamp. 10 was subjected to a test firing of 20,000 rounds, and the gun functioned flawlessly. The Model 1927A1 is a semi-automatic replica version of the Thompson, originally produced by Auto-Ordnance of West Hurley, New York for the civilian collector's market from 1974 to 1999. )or 25 rounds per second. The pistol used a .30 (7.65 mm) Luger barrel attached to the frame. "It's one of the rarest accessories for the Colt Thompson," said Ike. It has capacity for 10 to 100 rounds, depending on the magazine used. The submachine gun is not grandfathered like in the U.S., only the owner. The Thompson Submachine Gun is an iconic American firearm brought to life in 1919 and patented in 1920. In addition to the .45 RemingtonThompson, the M1923 Thompsons were to be made available to prospective buyers in several calibers, including .45 ACP, 9mm Parabellum, 9mm Mauser, and .351 Winchester Self-loading.[72]. The 30-round magazine became more common. Thecondition is immaculate, and all of the parts arecorrect. The Thompson was soon found to have limited effect in heavy jungle cover, where the low-velocity .45 bullet would not penetrate most small-diameter trees or protective armor vests. Only two Model C 1919s are known to exist today: Serial No. [40], The Thompson achieved early notoriety in the hands of Prohibition and Great Depression-era gangsters and the lawmen who pursued them. [35], The major initial complaints concerning the Thompson were its cumbersome weight, its inaccuracy at ranges over 50 yards (46m), and its lack of penetrating power using the .45 ACP cartridge. Adopted by the German army in 1898 to replace the 1888 Commission rifle, the Mauser Gewehr 98 and derivatives became among the most widely produced and distributed rifles of all time. "And they go between $7,000 to $10,000,if you can find one for sale. They are made from original 1928A1 guns of various appearance (with or without Cutt's compensator, ribbed or smooth barrels, adjustable or fixed sights), that were imported Lend-Lease guns from Russia. However, another Army showed interest - the Irish Republican Army, which. [55] Following the war, Thompsons were issued to members of Israel's elite Unit 101, upon the formation of that unit in 1953. 17, sub-model E, was originally created as a full-automatic Thompson. They were Theodore Eickhoff, a graduate of Purdue University who had worked for the U.S. "It's a very important thing for Thompson collectors to know when you buy a Thompson, to know if it's re-finished, or if the parts have been changed," saidIke. [42][43], In 1926, the Cutts Compensator (a muzzle brake) was offered as an attachment option for the Thompson. This military model differs from the original commercial model in its 20 round magazine and its horizontal foregrip. In wartime, it helped carry soldiers and Marines to victory inEurope and the Pacific in World War II. This rate of fire, combined with a rather heavy trigger pull and a stock with an excessive drop, increases the tendency for the barrel to climb off target in automatic fire. New Made Item: This is perhaps the most recognizable firearm of World War II, made famous by the Airborne Troops of the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions. The salesman hoped to sell some to both the Poles and Ukrainians. In May 1919, Oscar Payne was given permission to build the Model F (Freak) designs of the 1919s. with heavy professionally tanned & stitched leather. Only one prototype was made in .351 WSL using a standard 20" barrel which had a ROF of 1000rpm. Colt 1928 Navy Thompson Submachine Gun | Transferable $ 75,000.00 Add to cart Machine Guns Colt AR15A2 Converted to Full Auto #SP326814 $ 31,995.00 Add to cart Machine Guns Heckler & Koch G3SG1 7.62x51mm Machine Gun - Pre86 Dealer Sample $ 8,995.00 Add to cart Machine Guns Heckler & Koch HK33K 5.56mm Machine Gun - Pre86 Dealer Sample The New York City Police Department was the largest purchaser of the M1919. The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) announces the election results from its Board of Directors Meeting held in Indianapolis, IN. For a time, the silencer was a heavily advertised feature of the Thompson. 21AC, at the original price of $200. 9 used 18 parts. .45, M1. 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