Tommy Gun

[PreserveFreedom]

Maybe it has something to do with my growing up in the Chicago area but I have been itching to get a Tommy Gun lately. I want a 45ACP carbine anyway, but the nostalgic value is enough to push me over the edge. When I have held them at gun shows, I am brought back to Elliot Ness battling Al Capone (who's final resting place is accross from the high school I attended). I would be looking for a semi-auto version, as I can't afford a Class 3 license at this point in my life. So, here comes my question. As I understand it, Thompson currently makes two models. One is made to accept shot-sticks (basically a double stack magazine). I know I can easily get 20 and 30 rounders for that. The other model, which is even more nostalgic, is built to accept drums. From what I have been told, they only manufacture 5 round drums, which seems like a waste for all that weight and space. I know they made 50 and 100 round drums originally. How easy is it to get the full capacity drums in good working condition? Or, would I be better off sticking with the model that accepts the shot-sticks? It will be a while before I can afford either, but one can't dream, can't they?

 

[tankertom]

It really depends on your preference. The Thompson that takes drums will take stick mags. The current drums hold 10 rounds so it is for appearance only. Unfortunately a 50 round drum will cost you $500 and a 100 rd. drum will cost you $1000.


TT

 

[Monkeyleg]

$500 for a 50 round drum? Is that Auto Ordinance? Please say no.
About three years ago I sold a mint AO Thompson 1927A1, full auto and with an original Bridgeport drum, for $2100.

PreserveFreedom, I had the same feeling about getting aThompson. Having grown up watching "The Untouchables," it was something I always wanted. In the end, though, it wound up being just a novelty. Not very accurate and expensive to shoot (in full auto). If I had oodles of cash and nothing else to worry about, would I have kept it? You bet.

Full or semi, they take some tweaking to get them to work right. Lots of jams. If you can find one used that's been shot a fair amount but still looks good you'll save yourself a lot of frustration.

Just my .02.

Dick
Want to send a message to Bush? Sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/monk/petition.html and forward the link to every gun owner you know.

 

[James K]

The old Auto-Ordnance 40 round drums for their semi-auto will not fit the old full auto Thompsons, nor will the original 50 round drums fit the new guns. (Yes, I have tried.) A few people have ruined old 50 round drums trying to make them fit the new guns!

I understand the new 10 round stick mags are also not interchangeable with the old magazines, so that the old 20/30 round stick mags cannot be used with the new guns, but have not had a new magazine to try this.

Jim

 

[Johnny Guest]

Thompson Guns and their magazines

Jim---
Not to argue, but to contribute my rather limited observations - - -

I have a 1928 TSMG, a "West Hurley" gun, made in the 1970s. It was sold with the 40-round drum magazine (really 39 rounds) with which it works fine. I also have an original Bridgeport Type L, 50 round drum, which also works great. My gun takes all the type XX, 20 round box mags, both military and commercial, that I have tried in it. Ditto the 30 round military magazines.

I understand tht Auto Ordnance (whoever owns the company currently) now sells the ten-round drums, as you stated, merely for cosmetic purposes, in compliance with the "high capacity" magazine ban. I don't know if they have distributed the box magazines limited to ten rounds, or if there are just so many of the pre-ban mags in stock that they sell guns with those.

It wouldn't surprise me to learn that the NEWEST guns are delivered with modifications so tht they will not accept the pre-ban magazines.

Easiest way or the factory to keep you from using standard capacity mags in a new gun would be to fit mag latch too large to catch in old mags. This is strictly conjecture on my part.

Before I risked modifying an original 50 round drum (or any size box mag), trying to get it to fit a new gun, I would obtain an old magazine catch and try THAT on my new gun. (There are lots of old parts available on the open market, and this would not be anything like trying to modify a semi gun to machine gun configuration.)

Preserve Freedom---If one contemplates obtaining a Thompson (of any model) it would be a nice thing to pick up the occasional pre-ban standard capacity magazine when one gets a chance, at current prices. I recall when 20 rounders were five dollars each, and I bought five 30-round mags in a military web pouch for $15, in those days of yore. Recently, a lot of refinished 20-rounders hit the market for $20 each, and this is currently a GOOD price.

Best of luck.
Johnny

 

[Johnny Guest]

More on TSMGs

Just a few additional observations about the Tommy Guns. (I dunno how this hasn't yet been shifted to the FULL AUTO forum, except, of course, we aren't talking about real machine guns here - - -)

PF--

You're right about the two types of semi auto Thompsons being sold without NFA paperwork--

The one is modeled after the original "Chicago Typewriter," and is probably the one which would most please a shooter or collector interested in the depression-era outlaws and lawmen. This model is called the 1927A1 de luxe. It comes with the finned barrel with compensator, and has the actuator knob on top of the receiver, and forward vertical pistol grip. It takes the drum magazines.

The other model is the M1 type, after the WW-II military gun. This is the type used by the Tom Hanks character in the movie "Saving Private Ryan." It is a simplified gun, with smooth barrel, no compensator, and the cocking handle is on the right side of the receiver. It is not cut for the drum magazine, and accepts only the 20 and 30 round stick magazines. I guess these will be ten round, now, unless you get the pre-ban mags. This gun is a little less expensive than the other one. Note that the latter is proper only for post-1942 displays, photos and re-enactments. The earlier gun was also used in WW-II, usually with a horizontal foregrip, when in issue to US troops. The British used a lot with vertical foregrip. The foreends are readily interchangeable.

Also note--the recent semi-auto guns all come with sixteen-inch barrels, which looks awkward to someone used to the ten-inch barrel. This can be cured, for a price. With proper BATF approval, IN ADVANCE you can have the barrel cut to where it appears to be a vintage gun. Still doesn't shoot full auto, but looks really good in photography, re-enactments, etc., pertaining to either 1920s and later crime stuff, or to any (later era) military scenario. There were still TSMGs in general issue in Korean War, and a lot were swapped back and forth in Vietnam. I know at least two former US GIs who were photographed in VN with Tommies in hand--they supposedly did an "allied forces materiel exchange" with ARVN personnel. (Can you say "Swap?")

Best,
Johnny