The 1928 variant can be disassembled easily by first detaching the stock, then sliding off the lower receiver and then simply removing the internal parts, cleaning them, and then putting it back together. [47] (The concept of welding two box magazines face-to-face was also carried over to the M42 submachine gun. (2003). Ammunition was scarce as it was either in small lots of Lend-Lease commercial ammo or obtained from adjacent American troops. There were two military types of Thompson submachine gun: Over 1.5 million military Thompson submachine guns were produced during World War II.[27]. In 1916, the Auto-Ordnance Corporation was established to create a new automatic rifle for the armed forces. For questions or accessibility help - please call (908) 903-1200. The Thompson submachine gun is one of the most iconicAmerican gunsever produced. While serial No. Lightweight aluminum receiver (TM1C), One 30 round stick magazine / One 10 round stick magazine (TM110S), Walnut fixed stock and horizontal foregrip. 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 Thompson was primarily developed in Cleveland, Ohio. The M1921 was quite expensive to manufacture, with the original retail price around $200, because of its high-quality wood furniture and finely machined parts. It was this version of the Model of 1919 that was used extensively in early sales demonstrations. The Models of 1919 were not a single-production design, but rather a series of experimental prototypes. Rear section of bolt moves under spring pressure, trigger moves, partially strips and the mag ejects. They were Theodore Eickhoff, a graduate of Purdue University who had worked for the U.S. In the 1930s, Taiyuan Arsenal (a Chinese weapons manufacturer) produced copies of the Thompson for Yan Xishan, then warlord of Shanxi province. By the time Thompsons prototype was completed, however, World War I had ended. 26, was a combination of parts from several sub-model series and shows the many changes incorporated into the Thompsons design evolution right up to, and during, production. The Thompson was one of the earliest submachine guns to incorporate a double-column, staggered-feed box magazine design, which undoubtedly contributed to the gun's reputation for reliability. This is yet another example of the truly fine American workmanship routinely exercised in firearm production during the early part of the 20th century. The Annihilator, serial no. Since 2005, Tommy Gun For Sale has delivered the most grounded, most reliable full auto tommy gun at any point conceived Recently, today and for people in the future, We are pleased to make the best tommy gun for . The Annihilator II family consisted of two finished firearms, serial Nos. You will not find a more informative website on the subject. 26 and its accompanying magazine, and within tolerances to be mutually agreed upon which will be shown on blue prints to be supplied by the Corporation [Auto-Ordnance].. Both the latter and the Brigade 2506 also used some during the Bay of Pigs Invasion. Thompson had been in charge of small-arms production for the Army before going to work in the private sector for the Remington Arms Co. The first test of the Thompson in Ireland was performed by Irish Republican Army unit commander Tom Barry, of the West Cork Brigade, in the presence of IRA leader Michael Collins. [68] However, it was turned down without testing due to logistical problems. Robert "Bo" Ramsour II. 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). 17 visible on the frame through the attachment hardware. 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. Most of the design issues had been resolved by 1918; however, the war ended two days before prototypes could be shipped to Europe. It was also depicted in Hollywood films during this era, most notably regarding the St Valentine's Day Massacre. Buy tommy gun online from us is 100% secure and guaranteed. Serial No. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns manufactured prior to 1899. However, the Annihilator III, Model G, with serial No. Following the modifications, it was later used to equip a salesman with the latest Thompson and equipment kit. It was partially built, but never completely finished. The magazine was either a circular drum that held 50 or 100 rounds or a box that held 20 or 30 rounds. Thompson M1 will not accept drum magazines. By the spring of 1942, cost-reduction design changes had brought this down to $70. Serial No. Later M1 and M1A1 Thompsons averaged also 600rpm. Bannan, James F. and Hill, Tracie L. (1989). The Persuader was a belt-fed version developed in 1917/18. 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. [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. Our M1 Thompson model is a .45 caliber semi-automatic replica of the most famous American submachine gun of World War II. 2 was demonstrated in New York in March 1919, and it fired 18,000 rounds without a malfunction. Reloading an empty drum with cartridges was a difficult and involved process in which the 50 rounds would be inserted and then the magazine wound up until a minimum of 9 to 11 loud "clicks" were heard before seating the magazine into the weapon. He also has a Savage M1 Thompson that was made for the war. The 1928A1 LTD is a civilian semi-automatic conversion by Luxembourg Defense Technology (LuxDefTec) in Luxembourg. The Thompson was an American submachine gun, invented by John T. Thompson in 1919, that became infamous during the Prohibition era. At this point, the pressure dropped, and with the residual gas pressure, the bronze wedge was forced back and down the rails. $59.95 M1 Thompson Buffer Pilot TMP098 $8.00 Thompson Foregrip Screw Horizontal TMP100 $4.50 This Model of 1919 Thompson, an Annihilator III, Model G, never had a factory-stamped serial number applied. The 20-round box required an adapter to be mounted in the receiver, which had to be removed to mount a drum. They were also more complex to manufacture. The project was titled "Annihilator I". 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. Serial No. Late M1s had triangular guard wings added to the rear L sight, which were standardized on the M1A1. 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. [70], The Model 1921 (M1921) was the first major production model. These models retain a similar appearance to the original models, but have various modifications in order to comply with US firearm laws. 11, an Annihilator III, Model E, was retained by Auto-Ordnances engineering department and used to test various designs. Starting with the Serial no. It was produced in great quantityfor World War II. It was originally designed to break the stalemate of trench warfare of World War I, but was not finished until after the war ended. They also created difficulty when clearing a cartridge malfunction ("jam"). However, another Army showed interest - the Irish Republican Army, which. In May 1919, Oscar Payne was given permission to build the Model F (Freak) designs of the 1919s. Blish's design (then known as the Blish Lock) was based on the supposed adhesion of inclined metal surfaces under pressure. Military users of the M1928A1 units had complaints of the "L" 50-round drum magazine. Section leaders carried them instead of pistols or rifles. They began producing copies of the Thompson in small quantities for use by their armies and militias. Need Help?service@guns.comCall (866)582-4867, PO Box 1131 13800 Nicollet Blvd Burnsville, MN 55337 2023Guns.com. Maxim Silencer, which worked superbly, not only muffling the sound, but also reducing muzzle flash considerably. Auto Ordnance began producing and selling its Thompson Submachine Gun in 1921, often referred to as the. The Thompson guns used in the massacre are still being held by the Berrien County Sheriff's Department. The plain Thompson (without the attachment) was designated No. It was a common sight in the media at the time, and was used by both law enforcement officers and criminals. ELAS was the strongest of the resistance forces during the period of Greek Resistance against the Germans and Italians and were supplied with arms from both the British and the United States. To subscribe to the magazine, visit the NRA membership page and select American Rifleman as your member magazine. The exact cause remains unknown, but was resolved with the transition to the M1A1.[76]. 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. They are divided into two different series of designs, with the second series divided into four families, each subsequently divided into several sub-model designs. An engineering department was established in Cleveland to work with the Warner & Swasey Co. Thompson was very familiar with the company from its work with optics and artillery-laying sights, and he put two very young engineers in charge of design and development. [35] It was also sold to the United States Marine Corps, who used their Thompsons in the Banana Wars. [25] Thompsons had also been widely used throughout China, where several Chinese warlords and their military factions running various parts of the fragmented country made purchases of the weapon, and subsequently produced many local copies. Nationalist China acquired a substantial number of Thompson guns for use against Japanese land forces. [54], The Army introduced the U.S. M3 and M3A1 submachine guns in 1943 with plans to produce the latter in numbers sufficient to cancel future orders for the Thompson, while gradually withdrawing it from the first-line service. All NFA Rules Apply! At best, engineers were able to fire only seven rounds before malfunctions in the feed system stopped the action. The box magazine was quickly attached and detached, and was removed downward, making clearing jams easier. IMA considers all antique guns offered on our website as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. [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. "The Thompson Sub-Machine Gun (in Police Science)", "Sturmgewehr!" The FBI had also acquired Thompsons in 1933 following the Kansas City Massacre. In wartime, it helped carry soldiers and Marines to victory inEurope and the Pacific in World War II. The BSA 1926 was manufactured in 9mmP and 7.63mm Mauser and were tested by various governments, including France, in the mid-1920s. The less expensive and more-easily manufactured "stick" magazines were used exclusively in the M1, with a new 30-round version joining the familiar 20-round type. Please check with your local law enforcement agencies. It is officially known as the "Thompson Semi-Automatic Carbine, Model of 1927A1." The pistol used a .30 (7.65 mm) Luger barrel attached to the frame. 10 was subjected to a test firing of 20,000 rounds, and the gun functioned flawlessly. The main difference between the M1 and M1A1 was the bolt. Corrections? This innovative design incorporated a new principle for locking the bolt and breech of the firearm based on the Blish Principle of Metallic Adhesion. Brochures, Custom Product Flyers and Manuals, 11.5 lbs. This eliminates the risk of "cook-off", which can sometimes occur in closed-bolt automatic weapons. Thompson came across a patent issued to the American inventor John Bell Blish in 1915, while searching for a way to allow his weapon to operate safely without the complexity of a recoil or gas-operated reloading mechanism. Some Thompsons were built with a folding stock, similar to M1A1 Carbines used by Allied tank crews, drivers and paratroopers and submarine raiders.[75]. [52] The U.S. Marines also used the Thompson as a limited-issue weapon, especially during their later island assaults. Thanks to Royal Range in Bellevue for bringing them out! To fix this, the armorers removed the Blish Lock and replaced it with a hex bolt to keep the cocking handle and bolt together. 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 final sub-model group of 1919s were the Model G Annihilator IIIs. "And they go between $7,000 to $10,000,if you can find one for sale. It tended not to rattle, and could be inserted with the bolt safely closed. These were the first Thompsons demonstrated to the public. Early model Thompson drum magazines were heavy and made a rattling sound when soldiers moved around with the weapon. Ike's Savage Thompson belonged to a Texas police department many years ago, and he doesn't think it's ever been fired. A Swedish variant of the M1928A1, the Kulsprutepistol m/40 (submachine gun, model 40), served in the Swedish Army between 1940 and 1951. Followers 31. Federal sales were then followed by sales to police departments in the US, as well as to various international armies and constabulary forces; chiefly in Central and South America. Original U.S. WWII USMC 1944 Dated Thompson .45 Submachine Gun Magazine Pouch by Russell Mfg. It is a magazine-fed carbine type rifle that uses the same .45 caliber cartridge as the Colt M1911 pistol. The bandits violently opposed any attempts to build roads near their territory.[45]. Sort By. It became so prized that soldiers routinely picked up Thompson guns dropped by killed or wounded comrades. Serial No. A metal sling mount was fitted to the left side of the wooden buttstock. 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. It featured an aluminum receiver to reduce weight. Ordnance Department since graduation, and Oscar Payne, a self-taught practical tinkerer and draftsman. Military Police were fond of it, as were paratroopers, who "borrowed" Thompsons from members of mortar squads for use on patrols behind enemy lines. The internal design is completely different to operate from the closed bolt and the carbine has a barrel length of 16.5in (420mm) (versus open bolt operation and barrel length of 10.5in (270mm) for the fully automatic versions). Sharpe, Philip B. IMA works diligently to be aware of these ever changing laws and obeys them accordingly. [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. Everything for sale on ima-usa.com is completely legal to own, trade, transport and sell within the United States of America. By signing up you agree to Guns.com's He currently has three Colt Thompsonsalong with many accessories. Original U.S. WWII Thompson M1928A1 Display Submachine Gun Serial NO.S-436980 - Original WW2 Parts, Original U.S. WWII Thompson M1928A1 Display Submachine Gun Serial No. First issued in 1943, the M1 uses a simple blowback operation, with the charging handle moved to the side. The Thompson's . The Australian government destroyed most of their Thompson machine carbines in the 1960s. Rate of fire was reduced to approximately 600700rpm. Models used in the Pacific by Australian troops had their sling swivels remounted on the left side to allow it to be fired more easily while prone. After Auto-Ordnance personnel were satisfied with its appearance and function, a production run of Thompsons was bid out to two different firms: Colts and Savage. Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. The cartridge case flew out the back and was deflected to the right by the pistol frame. "Tommy Chopper." "Chicago Typewriter." "Tommy Gun.". In Burma and India, British forces largely replaced the Thompson with the Sten gun. On July 1, residents with a clean criminal history of legal age in Florida will be able to carry concealed without a permit. Gun magazine laws, concealed weapons laws, laws governing new made display guns, airsoft guns, blank fire guns, and other items vary greatly by nation, state and locality. 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. With huge numbers of guns available in army ordnance arsenals, the Thompson remained classed as Limited Standard or Substitute Standard long after the standardization of the M3/M3A1. Free shipping for many products! The first of these groups was the Annihilator III, Model C. There were originally 10 sets of components built, but not all were finished into complete Model Cs. Consequently, they cannot be legally imported or owned except under very limited circumstances. 67552 - Original WW2 Parts, Original U.S. WWII Thompson M1A1 SMG Bolt Assembly: Fixed Firing Pin. It was later replaced by the Owen Machine Carbine. Sometime before Colts production, serial No. The stated goal of Auto-Ordnance was to develop a new automatic rifle for the U.S. military. The Navy Model 1928 has several names among collectors: the "Colt Overstamp", "1921 Overstamp", "28 Navy", or just "28N". The engineers were directed to begin work on a new design incorporating the .45 ACP in September 1917. It conjures up powerful images of the 1920s and 30s prohibition era. With the full backing of Thompson, who had been instrumental in the original development of the .45 ACP and had overseen the development of the U.S. Model of 1911 pistol, the design team developed a series of submachine guns known as the Thompson Submachine Guns, Models of 1919. It was later replaced by the 9mm Sten gun and Lanchester SMG. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The Thompson was used in the FBI until the early 1970s. This model was designed to "sweep" trenches with bullets. 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. 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. Only two Model C 1919s are known to exist today: Serial No. "Tommy Gun" redirects here. In the Malayan Campaign, the Burma Campaign and the Pacific Theater, Lend-Lease-issue Thompsons were used by the British Army, Indian Army, Australian Army infantry and other Commonwealth forces. 11 was sent to Hercules Powder Co. and used for ammunition tests. 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]). Ike's Colt Thompson M1921AC is one of the nicest guns that he owns. 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 opposing Communist fighters of the Democratic Army of Greece were also using Thompson submachine guns, either captured from government forces or inherited from ELAS. The gun's ability to deliver large quantities of short-range automatic assault fire proved very useful in both defense and assault during the early part of the war when it was constantly mobile and shifting back and forth. Of all the weapons identified with the FBI, the Thompson submachine gun tops the list. The UD M42 was promoted as a replacement for the Thompson submachine gun, which the U.S. military considered both expensive and complicated to produce.