Well worth the money. It became so prized that soldiers routinely picked up Thompson guns dropped by killed or wounded comrades. Changes included a horizontal forend, in place of the distinctive vertical foregrip ("pistol grip"), and a provision for a military sling. These submachine guns were used to a limited extent by the Red Army. Most of the ones you're going to see in the U.S. are modified clones designed to fire on a closed bolt to meet U.S. law, such as the Polish-made. When opened up, the Thompson features a small number of parts that need to be removed including the spring, bolt, Blish Lock, and actuator bolt. Our M1 Thompson model is a .45 caliber semi-automatic replica of the most famous American submachine gun of World War II. Rate of fire of the Tommy Gun is 1,500 . Plus, Thompsons were extremely expensive for the time. On these guns, the model number "1921" on the receiver was updated by stamping an "8" over the last "1". We offer the same attention to craftsmanship today that made the original so highly regarded. Most Model 1927s owned by police have been converted back to full-auto. 0. Rate of fire was reduced to approximately 600700rpm. cyclic rate of fire and handling qualities. It should come as no small comfort for any patriotic American to know that the countrys firearm industry is vibrant and productive, still faithfully serving the needs of armed citizens, law-enforcement officers and military personneljust as it has for more than two centuries. (In 1923, the Army had rejected the .45 RemingtonThompson, which had twice the energy of the .45 ACP). Starting with the Serial no. They used the Thompson extensively in jungle patrols and ambushes, where it was prized for its firepower, though it was criticized for its hefty weight and poor reliability. [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 wood looks cheap and the metal looks fake. Still, it was nowhere near as common as the media portrays. In the field, some soldiers would tape two "XX" magazines together, in what would be known as "jungle style", to quicken magazine changes. 2. [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. The M1 reinforcing bolt and washer were carried over to the M1A1 and retrofitted to many of the M1928A1s in U.S. and British service. | New Zealand commando forces in the South Pacific campaign initially used Thompsons but switched them for the more reliable, lighter, and more accurate Owen during the Solomon Islands and Guadalcanal campaigns. The Annihilator prototypes first were fed from a 20-round box magazine, but later, the 50- and 100-round drum magazine models were developed. [32] The concept had already been developed by German troops using their own Bergmann MP 18 (the world's first submachine gun) in concert with their Sturmtruppen tactics.[33]. Bannan, James F. and Hill, Tracie L. (1989). Fraudulent, fake, or unauthorized websites may feature suspicious content or make unusual requests, such as requests to pay by non . "The Colt Thompson Submachine Gun". . This Commercial Model features a 50 round removable drum and pistol fore grip, just like Capones soldiers would have used. A new magazine catch with the provision for retaining drum magazines removed, was produced, but most M1s and later M1A1s retained the original. 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. The "Tommy's" Thompson. They began producing copies of the Thompson in small quantities for use by their armies and militias. Home Defense III $4K Guns & Gear Giveaway Click here to enter now. It has been produced since 1999 by Kahr Arms of Worcester, Massachusetts. It is now effectively impossible for a firearm of this type to be legally possessed by a member of the general public, except in certified deactivated condition or where specifically manufactured as a semi-automatic in caliber .22LR. Brigadier General John Taliaferro Thompsons legendary Tommy Gun arrived too late for World War I, but it served our country admirably throughout World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Cold Shower Face And Body Wipes | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, Review: Taurus G3 Tactical | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, Video Review: Browning Citori Hunter Grade II Over/Under Shotgun | NRA Family, Video Review: Savage 93 Minimalist Rifle | NRA Family, Video Review: Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 4.5 OSP in 10mm Auto | NRA Family, Make Mine Metal: The Alloy-Frame KelTec P15 | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Preview: Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 M2.0 Competitor | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, NRA Women | New for 2022: 20-Gauge Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus, Preview: Springfield Armory 1911 DS Double-Stack 9 mm Pistol Lineup | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, Find More Great NRA Publications Perfect For Every Interest, Discover Everything That The NRA Has To Offer. Company News. By the time of the Korean War in 1950, the Thompson had seen much use by the U.S. and South Korean military, even though the Thompson had been replaced as standard-issue by the M3/M3A1. Only one prototype was made in .351 WSL using a standard 20" barrel which had a ROF of 1000rpm. "The Thompson Sub-Machine Gun (in Police Science)", "Sturmgewehr!" The Persuader was a belt-fed version developed in 1917/18. It is officially known as the "Thompson Semi-Automatic Carbine, Model of 1927A1." The rear sight almost doubles the 10/22s sight radius, increasing accuracy potential; I was bouncing tin cans at 100 yards. Will this be the Army's new submachine gun? 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. While other weapons had been developed shortly prior with similar objectives in mind, the Thompson was the first weapon to be labeled and marketed as a "submachine gun". There were two military types of Thompson submachine gun: The M1928A1, which had provisions for both box and drum magazines, utilized the Cutts muzzle brake, had cooling fins on the barrel, and employed a delayed blowback action with the charging handle on the top of the receiver. While this country may have moved past the periods of frontier expansion, Prohibition, as well as wars in Europe and the Pacific, these three new offerings from Standard Manufacturing still deserves a place in the heart of America's shooting public - and in your gun safe. 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. Tommy Guns are prohibited in CT, MD, NY. By the end of the war, the M1A1 was replaced with the even lower-cost M3 (commonly called the "Grease Gun"). The drum magazine also attached and detached by sliding sideways, which made magazine changes slow and cumbersome. Sometimes seen with the forward pistol grip and large drum magazine, and also later versions with stick magazines only and a straight timber foregrip. Blish's design (then known as the Blish Lock) was based on the supposed adhesion of inclined metal surfaces under pressure. With the start of World War II, major contracts from several countries saved the manufacturer from bankruptcy. [57], The Thompson also found service with the KNIL and the Netherlands Marine Corps during their attempt to retake their former colony of Indonesia. 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). Only the fully automatic version is a prohibited weapon. 11, the Model 1919 takes the final appearance of the later Thompsons with the rear sights and butt stock. The Thompson's . 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. Build your custom Tommy Gun. The Thompson submachine gun is one of the most iconic American guns ever produced. Eventually, all prohibited guns will be out of circulation. In the 1930s, Taiyuan Arsenal (a Chinese weapons manufacturer) produced copies of the Thompson for Yan Xishan, then warlord of Shanxi province. 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. [35] It was also sold to the United States Marine Corps, who used their Thompsons in the Banana Wars. But it can be enhanced with the addition of a Timney 10/22 trigger or a Volquartsen TG2000 competition trigger assembly, along with a Power Custom extended bolt handle. The magazine was either a circular drum that held 50 or 100 rounds or a box that held 20 or 30 rounds. [71], The Model 1923 was a heavy submachine gun introduced to potentially expand the Auto-Ordnance product line and was demonstrated for the U.S. Army. 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. In May 1921, Gen. John Taliaferro Thompson went on a sales tour of Europe, visiting Belgium, Britain, France and Spain to promote his innovative "submachine gun," a . Shop Products From Our Experts. Not too crazy about the orange plug on the barrel tip. The famous Thompson Submachine Gun was designed by John Thompson in 1918 making its mark in popular imagination in use with both Gangsters and Law Enforcers during the Prohibition era. A notable variant of the Model 1928 with an aluminum receiver and tenite grip, buttstock, and forend, was made by Savage.[73]. This one's serial number is very low - 8,000 range, and it does not have the 1972 patent date, so we estimate it was manufactured in 1971. [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. As a long gun, it can be bought by hunters (even if it cannot be used to actually hunt for legal reasons). Use tab to navigate through the menu items. It helps to have the front, grooved vertical pistol grip that compliments the rear. An extended thirty-round box magazine and a forty-round magazine, which were made by welding two 20-round magazines face to face, jungle style, were tested. "Tommy Gun" redirects here. The M1923 was intended to rival the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), with which the Army was already satisfied. The 1928 Thompson would be the last small arm adopted by the U.S. Army that used a year designation in the official nomenclature. They soon discovered that the weapon was prone to jamming due to sand. Predictably, Standard's 1922 worked with standard and high-velocity loads. The Rugers front sight is retained, and the rear sight is a .040-inch peep held by two screws that allow for slight windage adjustments; elevation is set for 25 yards. Brochures, Custom Product Flyers and Manuals, 11.5 lbs. Add to Cart. [44] The new cost was listed as $225 per weapon (equivalent to $3,551 in 2021), with $5 per 50-round drum and $3 per 20-round magazine.[44]. It fired the more powerful .45 RemingtonThompson cartridge which fired a heavier 250gr (0.57oz; 16g) bullet at muzzle velocities of about 1,450ft/s (440m/s) and energy about 1,170ftlb (1,590J), with greater range than the .45 ACP. From $44.95. from United States 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. During WW2 at least 1.5 million Thompson SMGs were made and used widely by Allied Forces. The Squad Leaders buttstock, pistol grip and fore-end are American walnut. Later M1 and M1A1 Thompsons averaged also 600rpm. 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. The bolt handle is positioned at the top of the receiver and the knurled knob has a cutout so it doesn't obscure the sights. A metal sling mount was fitted to the left side of the wooden buttstock. The Cutts compensator, barrel cooling fins, and Blish lock were omitted while the buttstock was permanently affixed. More reliable than most submachine guns in field conditions of dirt and rain, etc, it was . The SCAR 15P is chambered for 5.56 NATO and, with its 7.5-inch barrel, is the most compact SCAR to date. Order one for your collection, and own a piece of American history! Everything else comes with the kit, including simple 10-step instructions and socket wrenches for tightening the replacement screws. Many variations have been noted within this model. The New York City Police Department was the largest purchaser of the M1919. It tended not to rattle, and could be inserted with the bolt safely closed. Give a Gift The new 9mm suppressor can mount easily to any pistol barrel threaded x28 inches and doesn't compromise on sound suppression, gas blowback or recoil. In our hands, this .22 Tommy ate everything it was fed from both the 10-round stick magazine or optional 50-round drum magazine. 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. It conjures up powerful images of the 1920s and 30s prohibition era. 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. Meet the all-new Taurus Judge Executive Grade, a revolver featuring a hand-polished satin finish, presentation-grade wood grips, a brass rod front sight and an exceptional hand-tuned trigger. However, users complained that it was limited in capacity. 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. I was disappointed in this replica. Consequently, they cannot be legally imported or owned except under very limited circumstances. by R. Blake Stevens Collector Grade Publications (2004). 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. Best 9mm AR Build Ever: New Frontier Armory's C-5 AR Uses MP5 Magazines. A magazine lock lever is located on the left side of the receiver just ahead of the triggerguard, and when the lever is rotated completely downward to the vertical position, the magazine is locked in place. Built to modern engineering standards, the Thompson M1 is a reliable and highly accurate representation of its legendary WWII ancestors. For example, to own one the person must be "grandfathered" and have owned one before the bill was passed against it. Thompson Magazine Thompson 45 ACP 10-Round Steel Blue. Ammunition was scarce as it was either in small lots of Lend-Lease commercial ammo or obtained from adjacent American troops. Admin@SabreHQ.com Tel:1300 731 381 / 61 7 5530 5522. Ammunition was manufactured in Australia or obtained from adjacent American troops. VIEW ALL. While it has a few flaws to a trained eye, it accurately represents the gun for display purposes in a museum setting that's primary focus is not the weaponry itself, but rather the era in which they were primarily used. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Indeed, the Thompson became so widely known in that era that it is commonly (but erroneously) believed to be the first submachine gun. The Thompson submachine gun needs no introduction to most firearm enthusiasts. $299.99. 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. Ive owned all of the Ruger 10/22 variations, said Scott, who has more than 30 years of experience in the automotive and motorcycle industries. 21AC, at the original price of $200. 0. The Thompson's design is actually comfortable and stable to shoot. [68] However, it was turned down without testing due to logistical problems. 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. There were two main experimental models of the Thompson. Made from premium-grade, vegetable-tanned leather, the Burdette Custom Holsters Detective SA-35 holster is a custom outside-the-waistband (OWB) model for the Springfield Armory SA-35 semi-automatic pistol. Many Chinese Thompsons were captured and placed into service with American soldiers and marines for the remaining period of the war. A Swedish variant of the M1928A1, the Kulsprutepistol m/40 (submachine gun, model 40), served in the Swedish Army between 1940 and 1951. [30] Its principal designers were Theodore H. Eickhoff, Oscar V. Payne, and George E. Goll. ", An M1928A1 with an unusual inline stock, modified with elevated sights to increase accuracy, also was produced. Subscriber Services. It weighed almost 10 pounds (4.5 kg) empty and fired .45-calibre ammunition. 562,511 were made. The flip-up adjustable Lyman rear sight was replaced with a fixed L sight. The 1928A1 LTD is a civilian semi-automatic conversion by Luxembourg Defense Technology (LuxDefTec) in Luxembourg. The original Model 1928s were Model 1921s with weight added to the actuator, which slowed down the cyclic rate of fire, a United States Navy requirement. The Best of both worlds: After nearly 4 years of waiting, Dan Wesson's DWX is here. [42][43], In 1926, the Cutts Compensator (a muzzle brake) was offered as an attachment option for the Thompson. [46], Two alternatives to the "L" 50-round drum and "XX" 20-round box magazines were tested December 6, 1941, at Fort Knox, Kentucky. C $6.70. Because of their quality and craftsmanship, as well as their gangster-era and WWII connections, Thompsons are sought as collector's items. Replica Thompson Tommy Gun Submachine Gun by Denix, (We stock both the Stick and Drum mag models). The Thompson was primarily developed in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. $49.99. It featured an aluminum receiver to reduce weight. The .38 Smith & Wesson Special, designed in 1898, rocked the handgun realm with its ballistic performance making it a cartridge for the history books. Caleb Giddings, Marketing Manager at Taurus, introduces the all-new TaurusTX 22 Compact. Certain M1s had issues with high rate of fire climbing up to ~800 RPM. The semi-automatic versions are less regulated by federal law. The bolt cocks and releases with a pull of the trigger. So Craig Scott of La Crescenta, Calif., created a low-cost alternative in the form of The Squad Leader: a 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum and steel drop-in kit that transforms the ubiquitous Ruger 10/22 rifle into a semi-automatic .22 rimfire Thompson look-alike. The box magazine was quickly attached and detached, and was removed downward, making clearing jams easier. There are disciplines in government approved sport shooting rulebooks that allow this type to be used, therefore the gun can be bought by sport shooters, too. The Thompson had to be cocked, bolt retracted, ready to fire, in order to attach the drum magazine. 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. (TM1) / 8 lbs. Some experimental calibers aside from the standard .45 ACP (11.4x23mm) were the .22LR, .32 ACP, .38 ACP, and 9mm.[35]. His youth was much like that of a military brat, living from post to post, yet by the age of 16 he had . Assembly is so simple, even I was able to transform my 10/22 into a Thompson M1 in less than an hour. Instead, the weapon, popularly dubbed the Tommy gun, became infamous during the U.S. .45, M1, with horizontal fore-end, L-shaped rear peep sight, side-mounted charging handle and stick magazine that causes many of us to hyperventilate whenever we see it in movies such as The Longest Day, Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers. Indeed, after a brief full-automatic familiarization course with it many years ago during Officer Candidate School, I remember being impressed with its 650-r.p.m. The weapon was also sold to the general public. [36], The Thompson was first used in combat in June 13 1921, when West Virginia state troopers fired on the mountainside near Lick Creek, where striking miners were firing at passing cars. More than 1.5 million Thompson submachine guns were produced during World War II. "The FBI and the Thompson Submachine Gun". [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. The main difference between the M1 and M1A1 was the bolt. 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. Plans were made to begin tapering off production of the weapon. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill with Thompson Sub-Machine Gun 4x6 #1014. A gun dealer says the weapons may have been discarded by the military sometime in the 1960s. Late production M1 stocks were fitted with reinforcing bolts and washers to prevent splitting of the stock where it attached to the receiver. [4], During the failed 1924 coup Estonian communists used Thompsons in an attempt to storm the Tallin barracks; meanwhile the MP 18 was used by the defenders. The Thompson Submachine Gun entered production as the M1921 version, but the American military showed little interest. The slots adjoining the magazine well allowing the use of a drum magazine were removed. [65][66] In 1927, the U.S. Navy ordered 500 Thompsons but requested a lower rate of fire. There are several U.S. made automatic and semi-automatic variants, copies, or replicas. The Model 1927A1 is the semi-automatic replica of the Thompson Models of 1921 and 1927. It was available to civilians, but, because of the weapon's high price, initially saw poor sales. The Thompson (with one Type XX 20 round "stick" magazine) had been priced at $200 in 1921 (roughly equivalent to $3,038 in 2021). 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. By late 1917, the limits of the Blish Lock were discovered (which is essentially an extreme manifestation of static friction), and, rather than the firearm working as a locked breech, the weapon was instead designed to function as a friction-delayed blowback action. 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). 21A at a reduced price of $175. 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. The new big bore pistols feature industry-first capacity, with a standard 15-round capacity and 22+1 rounds of 10mm or 18+1 rounds of .45 ACP from the extended magazines. Everything screws together, lines up, and fits exactly like its supposed to.. 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. 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. PRODUCT REVIEWS. The Thompson sub-machine gun (the classic "Tommy Gun" associated with 1920s gangsters and 1940s grunts) is perhaps the most famous example, but the Uzi, MP5, and PPSh-41 also fall into this category. M1921 Thompsons were sold in small numbers to the United States Postal Inspection Service[34] so they could protect the mail from a spate of robberies. Three days later I emerged from my shop with the prototype. Magazines are held in place by an extension that fits into a cutout in the rifle so that there's no chance they'll loosen. These models retain a similar appearance to the original models, but have various modifications in order to comply with US firearm laws.