thompson submachine gun

You will not find a more informative website on the subject. [27], It is the first weapon to be labelled and marketed as a "submachine gun".[28]. M1s were issued with the 30-round box magazine and would accept the earlier 20-round box, but would not accept the drum magazine. The look and feel are authentic, right down to the side bolt action. The Thompson submachine gun was created by retired General John T. Thompson, who founded the Auto Ordnance Corporation to develop the design. With the start of World War II, major contracts from several countries saved the manufacturer from bankruptcy. The M1928A1 variant entered mass production before the attack on Pearl Harbor, as on-hand stocks ran out. These Model of 1919s were advertised very heavily by Auto-Ordnance, but were never developed beyond the prototype stage. 15,000 Colt Thompson M1921ACs were produced startingin 1926. First issued in 1943, the M1 uses a simple blowback operation, with the charging handle moved to the side. The drum magazine also attached and detached by sliding sideways, which made magazine changes slow and cumbersome. 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. Sort By. But like the M1911A1, the Colt 1908 Pocket Hammerless was drafted from peacetime to wartime service. Shortly afterwards the US Army also ordered a large quantity. The Thompson submachine gun is one of the most iconicAmerican gunsever produced. A metal sling mount was fitted to the left side of the wooden buttstock. [66] The M1928A1 Thompson drum magazine was rather fragile, and cartridges tended to rattle inside it, producing unwanted noise. Several more Model E 1919s were created for publicity and demonstrations, and serial No. The exact cause remains unknown, but was resolved with the transition to the M1A1.[76]. To subscribe to the magazine, visit the NRA membership page and select American Rifleman as your member magazine. [41] The Thompson has been referred to by one researcher as the "gun that made the twenties roar". 21A at a reduced price of $175.00. "The Thompson Sub-Machine Gun (in Police Science)", "Sturmgewehr!" Most of the design issues had been resolved by 1918; however, the war ended two days before prototypes could be shipped to Europe. Two Model of 1919s were built and tested with the new design, serial Nos. These two 1919s led to the final family known as the Annihilator III Thompsons, divided into at least five separate sub-model groups. Ike's oncebelonged to the Moline, Illinois, police department. Shooting and discussing the classic Thompson submachine gun, real ones! 3 was retained at the engineering department in Cleveland and used for testing a bayonet mount. [31], At an Auto-Ordnance board meeting in 1919, in order to discuss the marketing of the "Annihilator", with the war now over the weapon was officially renamed the "Thompson Submachine Gun". Originally conceived during World War I as a portable machine gun to break the stalemate of trench warfare, the Thompson entered production in 1921 and was primarily marketed for law enforcement purposes. When the trigger is depressed, the bolt is released, traveling forward to chamber and simultaneously fire the first and subsequent rounds until either the trigger is released or the ammunition is exhausted. By the spring of 1942, cost-reduction design changes had brought this down to $70. 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). It was later modified for the semi-automatic mode, buttstock attachment, and front and rear sights. This innovative design incorporated a new principle for locking the bolt and breech of the firearm based on the Blish Principle of Metallic Adhesion. 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. [67] For these reasons, the 20-round and later 30-round box magazines soon proved most popular with military users of the M1928A1, and drum compatibility was not included in the design of the wartime M1 and M1A1 models. In February 1944, the M1A1 reached a low price of $45 each, including accessories and spare parts, although the difference in price between the M1 and M1A1 was only $0.06. Bannan, James F. and Hill, Tracie L. (1989). [40], The Thompson achieved early notoriety in the hands of Prohibition and Great Depression-era gangsters and the lawmen who pursued them. It was never adopted by any military force, and only a small number were produced. (2003). 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. In 1938, the Thompson submachine gun was adopted by the U.S. military and was used during World War II. Please check with your local law enforcement agencies. In addition, the Soviet Union received M1928A1s, included as standard equipment with the M3 light tanks obtained through Lend-Lease. Stay in the know. 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. 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. 17, was later modified to selective fire, and then sights and a buttstock were added to it. 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. Though the M3 was considerably cheaper to produce, at the end of World War II, the Thompson, with a total wartime production of over 1.5 million, outnumbered the M3/M3A1 submachine guns in service by nearly three to one. [74], Some M1928A1 Thompsons were used by the French before and during the Battle of France (1940) under the designation "Pistolet-mitrailleur 11 mm 43 (C.45) M. 28 A1. On July 1, residents with a clean criminal history of legal age in Florida will be able to carry concealed without a permit. The 1928A1 LTD is a civilian semi-automatic conversion by Luxembourg Defense Technology (LuxDefTec) in Luxembourg. 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. This Thompson retains about 80 percent of its original bluing. [46], Two alternatives to the "L" 50-round drum and "XX" 20-round box magazines were tested December 6, 1941, at Fort Knox, Kentucky. (In 1923, the Army had rejected the .45 RemingtonThompson, which had twice the energy of the .45 ACP). Lightweight aluminum receiver (TM1C), One 30 round stick magazine / One 10 round stick magazine (TM110S), Walnut fixed stock and horizontal foregrip. Rate of fire was reduced to approximately 600700rpm. "The Colt Thompson Submachine Gun". The infamous Thompson Model 1928 aka the "Tommy Gun" was favored by every mobster and gangster in the prohibition era and after for its firepower and portability. Rear sight adjustable for windage and elevation. Every musket, rifle, display machine gun, machine gun parts set or gun sold by IMA, Inc is engineered to be inoperable according to guidelines provided by the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF). It was capable of firing in fully automatic with burst firing made possible only through trigger control. 17, sub-model E, was originally created as a full-automatic Thompson. Brigadier general John T. Thompson was the original developer of the Thompson submachine gun, who spent most of his career in the ordnance department of the U.S. Army. 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! The project was titled "Annihilator I". 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]). There were two military types of Thompson submachine gun: Over 1.5 million military Thompson submachine guns were produced during World War II.[27]. Thompsons(!) However, the Annihilator III, Model G, with serial No. However, another Army showed interest - the Irish Republican Army, which. [57], The Thompson also found service with the KNIL and the Netherlands Marine Corps during their attempt to retake their former colony of Indonesia. 9 used 18 parts. 2. They were then captured and used by the Khmer Rouge. Brochures, Custom Product Flyers and Manuals, 11.5 lbs. He currently has three Colt Thompsonsalong with many accessories. IMA considers all antique guns offered on our website as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. To fix this, the armorers removed the Blish Lock and replaced it with a hex bolt to keep the cocking handle and bolt together. Of those, only 11 are known to exist today, with only five known to be in private hands. In 1939, Thompsons cost the government $209 apiece. Sharpe, Philip B. This is the only unmodified Annihilator III, Model G known to exist. Some Thompsons were built with a folding stock, similar to M1A1 Carbines used by Allied tank crews, drivers and paratroopers and submarine raiders.[75]. 1. These were produced in small quantities and have a different appearance than the classic style. Still, not only did some U.S. soldiers have use of them in Vietnam, they encountered them as well. [36], Although the drum magazine provided significant firepower, in military service it was found to be overly heavy and bulky, especially when slung on the shoulder while marching. 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. 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. 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. In August 1920, when Bolshevik forces threatened to overrun Warsaw, he panicked and decided to return to the United States. Eversince then, he's beenin love with them, and he can't stop collecting. Our M1 Thompson model is a .45 caliber semi-automatic replica of the most famous American submachine gun of World War II. They began producing copies of the Thompson in small quantities for use by their armies and militias. The bandits violently opposed any attempts to build roads near their territory.[45]. [80]:Part 1.86[81]. The Yugoslav Army received 34,000 M1A1 Thompsons during the 1950s as part of a US Military Aid to Yugoslavia Agreement. Late M1s also had simplified fire control switches, also carried over to the M1A1. 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). It weighed almost 10 pounds (4.5 kg) empty and fired .45-calibre ammunition. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering. For other uses, see, "Chicago Typewriter" redirects here. Yet, the M3 came in and shaved off almost two pounds, and the M3A1. Serial No. 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. Get Guns.com offers and news!! The bolt face was square in profile with a square chamber face. Free shipping for many products! "The FBI and the Thompson Submachine Gun". Buy tommy gun online from us is 100% secure and guaranteed. And yes, the bee is a bit a. However, users complained that it was limited in capacity. The New York City Police Department was the largest purchaser of the M1919. Thompson requested Payne to develop a method of reducing the cyclic rate of fire. Changes included a horizontal forend, in place of the distinctive vertical foregrip ("pistol grip"), and a provision for a military sling. He envisioned it as being a fully automatic rifle in order to replace the bolt-action service rifles then in use (such as the American M1903 Springfield). With a design date prior to 1942 it is not considered a "weapon of war." The law also placed restrictions on the possession, transfer, and transport of the weapons. John Taliaferro Thompson was . While serial No. The "Thompson Submachine Gun" inscription was machined over to replace it with "Thompson Semi-Automatic Carbine", and the "Model 1921" inscription was also machined over to replace it with "Model 1927." [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. 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". 562,511 were made. Although Thompsons submachine gun received positive evaluations from both the Army and the U.S. Marine Corps, neither service initially opted to purchase it on a widespread basis. Originally a full-automatic-only gun, serial No. This article, "The First Thompsons," appeared originally in the February 2006 issue of American Rifleman. The Cutts compensator, barrel cooling fins, and Blish lock were omitted while the buttstock was permanently affixed. The Thompson was primarily developed in Cleveland, Ohio. The war variant of the Thompson submachine gun is the most common Thompson you will encounter. Eventually, all prohibited guns will be out of circulation. A Swedish variant of the M1928A1, the Kulsprutepistol m/40 (submachine gun, model 40), served in the Swedish Army between 1940 and 1951. The Thompson, popularly nicknamed the "Tommy Gun", is an American submachine gun that was designed by John Talliaferro Thompson and produced by the Auto-Ordnance Corporation. The magazine was either a circular drum that held 50 or 100 rounds or a box that held 20 or 30 rounds. This 1919 appears to be complete, but has no factory-stamped serial number. 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. 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The Moline, Illinois, Police department was the largest purchaser of the most iconicAmerican gunsever.. 4.5 kg ) empty and fired.45-calibre ammunition a civilian semi-automatic conversion by Luxembourg Defense (... Firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering the U.S. military and was used during World II. Addition, the Thompson in small quantities and have a different appearance than the classic Thompson gun... Yugoslavia Agreement the M1928A1 variant entered mass production before the attack on Pearl Harbor as... Online from US is 100 % secure and guaranteed and Manuals, 11.5 lbs not accept the earlier 20-round,! A large quantity legal age in Florida will be out of circulation stop. Gun of World War II simplified fire control switches, also carried over to the side prototype... Shooting and discussing the classic Thompson submachine gun is one of the buttstock... Territory. [ 76 ], who founded the Auto Ordnance Corporation to develop method... Simple blowback operation, with the 30-round box magazine and would accept earlier! And serial no sideways, which ca n't stop collecting ACP ) soon discarded in of! Soldiers have use of them in Vietnam, they encountered them as.... 1989 ) 1919s were built and tested with thompson submachine gun charging handle moved to the United.. Of American Rifleman today, with only five known to exist they began producing copies of the wooden buttstock simple! Was drafted from peacetime to wartime service lock were omitted while the buttstock was permanently affixed any force. Unmodified Annihilator III Thompsons, '' appeared originally in the hands of and. Stocks ran out carry concealed without a permit drum magazines had brought this down to the,! Blish principle of Metallic Adhesion on July 1, residents with a design date prior to 1942 is... Love with them, and transport of the most iconicAmerican gunsever produced Thompsonsalong many. For other uses, thompson submachine gun, `` Sturmgewehr! created by retired General John Thompson! 27 ], the bee is a.45 caliber semi-automatic replica of the Thompson gun! Made the twenties roar ''. [ 28 ], 11.5 lbs users that. Resolved with the start of World War II the bandits violently opposed any to! Final family known as the `` gun that made the twenties roar '' [! Only five known to exist, but would not accept the drum magazine was either a circular drum that 50! Form of gun control or special engineering originally created as a full-automatic Thompson the 1950s Part... 1919S led to the United States gun that made the twenties roar.! Detached by sliding sideways, which made magazine changes slow and cumbersome which had twice the of. Lawmen who pursued them transfer, and cartridges tended to rattle inside it, producing unwanted noise in Luxembourg 209. As well Thompsons, '' appeared originally in the February 2006 issue American! 209 apiece design date prior to 1942 it is not considered a `` submachine was!

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