American organized crime syndicates, such as the. 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. 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. Corrections? [33], 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. The semi-automatic versions are less regulated by federal law. 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 calibre .22LR. The Machinist's Guide to the Thompson Submachine Gun .45 Caliber 1928A1 Paperback – January 1, 2012 by Peter Linton (Author) 4.7 out of 5 stars 5 ratings It was partially built, but never completely finished. An empty box was easily reloaded with loose rounds. There were two military types of Thompson SMG. [33], Some of the first batches of Thompsons were bought in America by agents of the Irish Republic, notably Harry Boland. Prohibition era (1920–33) for its use by gangsters in bloody incidents such as the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. The Thompson had to be cocked, bolt retracted ready to fire, to attach the drum. General John T. Thompson developed the Thompson Submachine Gun. Popularly called the “tommy gun,” the M1928 was effective, but its blowback operation was modified by a complex retarding mechanism that was deleted from later versions, when its large…. Ver 10 prototypes were similar in appearance to the later models, but without the rear sight and butt stock mounts. 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 M1 bolt had a floating firing pin and hammer, the bolt of the M1A1 had the firing pin machined to the face of the bolt, eliminating unnecessary parts. The original fully automatic Thompsons are no longer produced, but numerous semi-automatic civilian versions are still being manufactured by Auto-Ordnance. Rate of fire was reduced to approximately 600–700 rpm. According to historian Peter Hart, "The Thompson remained a key part of both the Official IRA and Provisional IRA arsenals until well into the 1970s when it was superseded by the Armalite and the AK-47. 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. 562,511 were made. The following story from World War II illustrates this conclusion. 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. [63], The Model 1921 (M1921) was the first major production model. Consequently, they cannot be legally imported or owned except under very limited circumstances. The Model 1927A1 is the semi-automatic replica of the Thompson Models of 1921 and 1927. It attached and detached by sliding sideways, which made magazine changes slow and also created difficulty in clearing a cartridge malfunction ("jam"). The Thompson Submachine Gun had another noteworthy advantage: it was chambered for the.45 ACP cartridge. 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." Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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. [69] The original Model 1927 is classified as a machine gun under the National Firearms Act of 1934 (a) by being "readily convertible" by swapping parts and (b) by a 1982 BATF ruling making all open bolt semi-automatic firearms manufactured after the date of this ruling classified as machine guns. 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. Updates? "The Colt Thompson Submachine Gun". It was based on the M1921/27 variants. Under federal regulations, these changes make the Model 1927A1 legally a rifle and remove it from the federal registry requirements of the National Firearms Act. [52] Captured examples were later used by Indonesian forces against Dutch forces[citation needed] and during by Indonesian infiltrators during the 1965 Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation.[53]. Thompson submachine gun, byname Tommy gun, submachine gun patented in 1920 by its American designer, John T. Thompson. 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. Military Police were fond of it, as were paratroopers, who "borrowed" Thompsons from members of mortar squads for use on patrols behind enemy lines. On these guns, the model number "1921" on the receiver was updated by stamping an "8" over the last "1". Adjustable rear sight and pinned in front blade sight. 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