The actuator was offset to the right-hand side of the gun and also served as the guns firing-pin mechanism. The cartridge case flew out the back and was deflected to the right by the pistol frame. A Model 1921A believed to have been owned by Bonnie and Clyde, but without historical documentation to substantiate this provenance, sold at auction on January 21, 2012, in Kansas City for $130,000. The Thompson saw popularity as a point-defense weapon for countering ambushes by Nicaraguan guerrillas (in the Banana Wars) and led to the creation of four-man fire teams which had as much firepower as a nine-man rifle squad. Early model Thompson drum magazines were heavy and made a rattling sound when soldiers moved around with the weapon. [35] It was also sold to the United States Marine Corps, who used their Thompsons in the Banana Wars. The original selective-fire Thompson variants are no longer produced, although numerous semi-automatic civilian versions are still being produced by the manufacturer Auto-Ordnance. The Annihilator, serial no. The Thompson submachine gun was created by retired General John T. Thompson, who founded the Auto Ordnance Corporation to develop the design. "Tommy Chopper." "Chicago Typewriter." "Tommy Gun.". That finned barrel topped off with a Cutts compensator, the square receiver, either a drum or box magazine the famous "Thompson Submachine Gun." Although "submachine gun" is an familiar part of today's gun owner lexicon, the word was created by the man who was responsible for bringing us this great gun. The box magazine tripped the bolt open lock when empty, facilitating magazine changes. The Thompson submachine gun is a blowback-operated, air-cooled, magazine-fed selective-fire submachine gun that was invented by the United States Army Brigadier general John T. Thompson in 1918. A version with a threaded barrel for suppressors, side folding stock, and modified sights. These models retain a similar appearance to the original models, but have various modifications in order to comply with US firearm laws. These guns were used during the Yugoslav Wars in the 1990s. However, due to unforeseen production delays and requests for modifications, the M3/M3A1 never replaced the Thompson, and purchases continued until February 1944. The Thompson submachine gun is one of the most iconic American guns ever produced. Many of the Colt models had French-language manuals packed with them as they had been abruptly diverted to England after the fall of France. All Rights Reserved, Incredible Thompson Submachine Gun Collection. Still, not only did some U.S. soldiers have use of them in Vietnam, they encountered them as well. 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. (TM1) / 8 lbs. Prohibition era (192033) for its use by gangsters in bloody incidents such as the St. Valentines Day Massacre. Iannamico, Frank. The Thompson Submachine Gun entered production as the M1921 version, but the American military showed little interest. [47] (The concept of welding two box magazines face-to-face was also carried over to the M42 submachine gun. On these guns, the model number "1921" on the receiver was updated by stamping an "8" over the last "1". New mnfr. [31], In 1928, Federal Laboratories took over distribution of the weapon from Thompson's Auto Ordnance Corporation. In contrast, the "XX" twenty-round box magazine was light and compact. 67552 - Original WW2 Parts, Original U.S. WWII Thompson M1A1 SMG Bolt Assembly: Fixed Firing Pin. Of those, only 11 are known to exist today, with only five known to be in private hands. The frame and receiver are milled from solid steel or aluminum, the wood is genuine American walnut, and the overall finish is a blued steel or black anodized aluminum. The M1928A1 variant entered mass production before the attack on Pearl Harbor, as on-hand stocks ran out. The pistol used a .30 (7.65 mm) Luger barrel attached to the frame. The semi-automatic versions are less regulated by federal law. The 1928A1 LTD is a civilian semi-automatic conversion by Luxembourg Defense Technology (LuxDefTec) in Luxembourg. This Thompson retains about 80 percent of its original bluing. Models with the compensator were cataloged as No. $59.95 M1 Thompson Buffer Pilot TMP098 $8.00 Thompson Foregrip Screw Horizontal TMP100 $4.50 Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Thompson Submachine Gun (Small Arms Profile 4) at the best online prices at eBay! Thompson submachine gun, byname Tommy gun, submachine gun patented in 1920 by its American designer, John T. Thompson. But this was soon discarded in favor of a newly designed 20-round box, as well as 50- and 100-round spiral-feed drum magazines. I haven't seen one for sale in 10 years.". Indeed, the Thompson became so widely known in that era that it is commonly (but erroneously) believed to be the first submachine gun. "It's one of the rarest accessories for the Colt Thompson," said Ike. The Thompson was primarily developed in Cleveland, Ohio. The look and feel are authentic, right down to the side bolt action. These Model of 1919s were advertised very heavily by Auto-Ordnance, but were never developed beyond the prototype stage. Buy tommy gun online from us is 100% secure and guaranteed. Rear sight adjustable for windage and elevation. Ver 10 prototypes were similar in appearance to the later models, but without the rear sight and butt stock mounts. It was a common sight of the time, being used by both law enforcement officers and criminals. It is officially known as the "Thompson Semi-Automatic Carbine, Model of 1927A1." The internal design of this Thompson is exactly the same as the later Colts production guns. (2003). The company was the creation of retired U.S. Army Gen. John T. Thompson, one of Americas leading firearm experts of the day, and he was backed by Thomas Fortune Ryan, a powerful Wall Street financier. The layout and ergonomics of the Thompson submachine gun were also considered for the role of a Light Rifle before the adoption of the M1 Carbine. By the time of the Battle of Blair Mountain, 37 had been acquired by the West Virginia state police and 56 were in the hands of coal companies and local law enforcement. However, another Army showed interest - the Irish Republican Army, which. The project was titled "Annihilator I". This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/technology/Thompson-submachine-gun, Auto-Ordnance - The Thompson Submachine Gun, GlobalSecurity.org - Thompson submachine gun, Warfare History Network - The Thompson Gun's Curious History, from World War I to World War II. Army Ordnance approved adoption (as the M1) in April 1942. The principle, simply stated, is that two different metals will adhere to one another under high pressure, but will move against each other (i.e., slide) when the high pressure is removed. The Model of 1919, serial No. 15,000 Colt Thompson M1921ACs were produced startingin 1926. The Thompson had to be cocked, bolt retracted, ready to fire, in order to attach the drum magazine. This article, "The First Thompsons," appeared originally in the February 2006 issue of American Rifleman. Thompsons(!) It weighed almost 10 pounds (4.5 kg) empty and fired .45-calibre ammunition. The Thompson guns used in the massacre are still being held by the Berrien County Sheriff's Department. "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. The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) announces the election results from its Board of Directors Meeting held in Indianapolis, IN. 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. In wartime, it helped carry soldiers and Marines to victory inEurope and the Pacific in World War II. Public Enemy Number One, favored the Thompson submachine gun. [42][43], In 1926, the Cutts Compensator (a muzzle brake) was offered as an attachment option for the Thompson. Fifteen thousand were produced by Colt for Auto-Ordnance. "The FBI and the Thompson Submachine Gun". One of its provisions was that owners of fully automatic firearms were required to register them with the predecessor agency of the modern Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). [65][66] In 1927, the U.S. Navy ordered 500 Thompsons but requested a lower rate of fire. [70], The Model 1921 (M1921) was the first major production model. In New Guinea, the Thompson was the only submachine gun available to the Australian Army for most of the vital Kokoda Track campaign in 1942. The company was the creation of retired U.S. Army Gen. John T. Thompson, one of America's leading firearm experts of the day, and he was backed by Thomas Fortune Ryan, a powerful Wall Street. [60], During the Vietnam War, some South Vietnamese army units and defense militia were armed with Thompson submachine guns, and a few of these weapons were used by reconnaissance units, advisors, and other American troops. Shortly afterwards the US Army also ordered a large quantity. On firing, the bronze lock was held in place by the chamber pressure from the cartridge until the bullet left the barrel. [38] They purchased a total of 653 units, though US customs authorities in New York seized 495 of the units in June 1921. The box magazine was quickly attached and detached, and was removed downward, making clearing jams easier. The Thompson submachine gun is a weapon so iconic that it's known most often by the many nicknames it gathered, rather than its official military designation. This Thompson was designed to fire the .45 ACP cartridges from a cloth ammunition belt. This 1919 appears to be complete, but has no factory-stamped serial number. 11 was retained in the Auto-Ordnance Engineering Department and used as a test bed to demonstrate various designs. They shipped their remaining stocks to arm the forces of Lon Nol's Khmer Republic in 1975. This price would includean original FBIcase, a 50-round drum magazine, four stick magazines, a cleaning rod, andperhaps one of therarest and most valuableaccessories, the cleaning and spare parts kit. The submachine gun can only be sold to other grandfathered individuals; this keeps prices extremely low as the number of permitted licensed individuals is very small and dwindling with time. All variants and modified versions of Thompson submachine guns (even semiautomatic-only versions) are prohibited by name in Canada, as part of Prohibited Weapons Order No. Deactivated Thompson SMG, early WW2 1928a1 US army marked: Here`s a stunner of an early war US Thompson 1928a1 complete, early type with and coutts compensator and US army markings, condition is very good throughout. With a design date prior to 1942 it is not considered a "weapon of war." It has since been replaced with the Kahr Arms TA5 Pistol, which features a 10.5" barrel and steel receiver, unlike the 1927A5's 13" barrel and aluminum receiver. An original Colt Model 1921 A or AC, Model 1927 A or AC, Model 1928 Navy A or AC, properly registered in working condition with original components can easily fetch from US$25,000 to $45,000+ depending on condition and accessories. None of the Model of 1919s were issued a serial number until they were completely assembled. The Thompson short barreled rifle (SBR) is our gun that is closest in dimensions and weight to the original submachine gun made famous during the 1920's in the hands of gangsters and G-men. 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. Starting with the Serial no. Stay in the know. By signing up you agree to Guns.com's They began producing copies of the Thompson in small quantities for use by their armies and militias. It was found that the only cartridge currently in service suitable for use with the new lock was the .45 ACP. The exact cause remains unknown, but was resolved with the transition to the M1A1.[76]. This patent demonstration model of the Blish pistol, chambered in .30 Luger, worked under the Blish Principle of Metallic Adhesion.. The remainder found their way to the Irish Republican Army by way of Liverpool, England, and were used in the last month of the Irish War of Independence (191921). The bluing was not a hard-finish bluing like that on the Colts of this era, so it is even more remarkable that any remains. The first Model of 1919 was called the Persuader, and it was built in November 1917. 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Notably, they didn't need a new line of ammunition supply. As a long gun, it can be bought by hunters (even if it cannot be used to actually hunt for legal reasons). But like the M1911A1, the Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless was drafted from peacetime to wartime service. This model was designed to "sweep" trenches with bullets. The drum magazine also attached and detached by sliding sideways, which made magazine changes slow and cumbersome. [57], The Thompson also found service with the KNIL and the Netherlands Marine Corps during their attempt to retake their former colony of Indonesia. For example, to own one the person must be "grandfathered" and have owned one before the bill was passed against it. 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. You will not find a more informative website on the subject. This submachine gun is capable of full or semi-automatic operation. Eversince then, he's beenin love with them, and he can't stop collecting. [27], Thompson submachine guns were used by both sides during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Serial No. Tommy Guns are prohibited in CT, MD, NY. The Colt Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company in Hartford, Connecticut was contracted by the Auto-Ordnance Corporation to manufacture the initial mass production of 15,000 Thompson Submachine Guns in 1920.

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