1928 internal parts. Barrel exhibits capital 'P' at the 12 o'clock position where it meets the receiver, as well as a barely discernible marking at the three o'clock index line. 1928 A 1 Thompson was a less expensive transition from the original Colt 1921 Model with most notably a simplified rear sight.
For the Anti-Aircraft gun nicknamed Chicago Piano, see. Thompson Submachine Gun, Caliber.45 Thompson M1928A1 Type Place of origin Service history In service 1938–1971 (officially, U.S. Military) Used by See Wars Production history Designer Designed 1917–1919 Manufacturer Auto-Ordnance Company (originally) Produced 1921–present Number built 1,700,000 approx.
Variants Persuader & Annihilator prototypes, M1921, M1921AC, M1921A, M1927, M1928, M1928A1, M1, M1A1 Specifications Weight 10.8 (4.9 ) empty (M1928A1) 10.6 (4.8 ) empty (M1A1) Length 33.5 (851 ) (M1928A1) 32 (813 ) (M1A1/M1) barrel 10.5 (267 ) barrel with optional Cutts Compensator 12 (305 ) (11.43 × 23 mm) 600-1200 rpm, depending upon model 920 (280 ) Effective range 50 m Feed system 20-round stick/box 30-round stick/box 50-round 100-round (M1 and M1A1 models do not accept drum magazines) The Thompson submachine gun is an, invented by in that became infamous during the era. It was a common sight of the time, being used by both law enforcement officers and criminals. The Thompson was also known informally as: the 'Tommy Gun,' the 'Trench Broom,' the 'Trench Sweeper,' the 'Chicago Piano,' the 'Chicago Typewriter,' and the 'Chopper.' The Thompson was favored by soldiers, criminals and police alike for its ergonomics, compactness, large, and high volume of and among civilian collectors for its historical significance. Advertisements Development The Thompson Submachine Gun was developed by General who originally envisioned an (semi-automatic rifle) to replace the bolt action service rifles then in use.
While searching for a way to allow such a weapon to operate safely without the complexity of a recoil or gas operated mechanism, Thompson came across a patent issued to in 1915 based on adhesion of inclined metal surfaces under pressure. Thompson found a financial backer, and started the Auto-Ordnance Corporation in 1916 for the purpose of developing his auto rifle. The principal designers were Theodore H. Eickhoff, Oscar V. Payne, and George E.
By late 1917, the limits of the were discovered: rather than working as a locked breech, it functioned as a friction-delayed action. It was found that the only cartridge currently in U.S. Service suitable for use with the lock was the round.
Thompson then envisioned a 'one-man, hand-held machine gun' in.45 ACP as a 'trench broom' for use in the on-going of. Payne designed the gun itself and its stick and drum magazines. The project was then titled 'Annihilator I', and by 1918, most of the design issues had been resolved.
However, the war ended before prototypes could be shipped to Europe. A fires on a Japanese position using an M1 Thompson submachine gun during an advance on in 1945. At an Auto-Ordnance board meeting in 1919 to discuss the marketing of the 'Annihilator', with the war over, the weapon was officially renamed the 'Thompson Submachine Gun'. 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'. Thompson intended the weapon as an automatic 'trench-broom' to sweep enemy troops from the trenches, filling a role for which the had been proven ill-suited. Contemporaneously, this concept was developed by troops using their own submachine guns in concert with tactics. Early use The Thompson first entered production as the M1921.
It was available to civilians, though its high price resulted in few sales. (A Thompson M1921 with one Type XX 20 shot 'stick' magazine was priced at $200.00 when a Ford automobile sold for $400.00.) M1921 Thompsons were first sold in small quantities to the (to protect the mail from a spate of robberies ), followed by several police departments in the United States and minor international sales to various armies and forces, chiefly in. Post Office also gave Thompsons to the in 1922 when Marines were assigned to protect against mail robberies, with the Marines putting them to use in the and in China. It was popular with the Marines as a point-defense weapon for countering ambush by and led to the organisation of 4 man with as much firepower as a 9 man rifle. The major complaints against the Thompson were its weight, inaccuracy at ranges over 50 yards, and its lack of penetrating power, despite the powerful round it used. Some of the first batches of Thompsons were bought in America by agents of the illegal, notably. A total of 653 were purchased, but 495 were seized by US customs authorities in New York in June 1921.
The remainder made their way to the by way of and were used in the last month of the (1919-21). After a truce with the British in July 1921, the IRA imported more Thompsons and they were used in the subsequent (1922-23). They were not found to be very effective in Ireland however. In only 32% of actions where it was used did the Thompson cause serious casualites (death or serious injury) to those attacked.
A of the, equipped with a Thompson M1928 submachine gun , 25 November 1940 The Thompson achieved most of its early notoriety in the hands of and -era, motorized bandits and the lawmen who pursued them and in films about their exploits, most notably in the. It was often referred to as the 'gun that made the twenties roar.' In 1926, the Cutts Compensator (a recoil brake) was offered as an option for the M1921; Thompsons with the compensator were catalogued as No. 21AC, with the plain M1921 designated No.
Also acquired a quantity for use against land forces, and eventually began producing copies of the Thompson in small quantities for use by its various armies and militias. World War II In 1938, the Thompson submachine gun was adopted by the, serving during and beyond. There were two military types of Thompson SMG. The M1928A1 had provisions for box magazines and drums (the drums were disliked because of their tendency to rattle and jam). It had a Cutts, cooling fins on the, and its charging handle was on the top of the receiver.
The M1 and M1A1 had a barrel without cooling fins, a simplified rear sight, provisions only for box magazines, and the charging handle was on the side of the receiver. Because the option to use drums was not included in the M1 and M1A1, the 30 round box magazine was designed for use with this model. The Thompson was used in World War II in the hands of Allied troops as a weapon for scouts, non-commissioned officers (corporal, sergeant and higher ranking), and patrol leaders. In the European theater, the gun was widely utilized in British and Canadian units, as well as U.S. And who used it widely because of its high rate of fire, its stopping power and because it was very effective in close combat.
A Swedish variant of the M1928A1, called Kulsprutepistol m/40 (meaning 'submachine gun model 40'), served in the between 1940 and 1951. Through, the also received the Thompson, but due to a shortage of appropriate ammunition in the Soviet Union, usage was not widespread. In the, and other forces initially used the Thompson extensively in and, where it was prized for its firepower, though its hefty weight of over 10 pounds and difficulties in supply eventually led to its replacement by other submachine guns such as the. Marines also used the Thompson as a limited-issue weapon, especially during their later island assaults. The Thompson was soon found to have limited effect in heavy jungle cover, where the low-.45 bullet would not penetrate most small-diameter trees, or protective armor vests (in 1923, the Army had rejected the.45 Remington-Thompson, which had twice the energy of the.45ACP).
Army, many Pacific War jungle patrols were originally equipped with Thompsons in the early phases of the and campaigns, but soon began employing the in its place, especially at front (point) and rear (tail) positions, as a point defense weapon. The Argentine company Hafdasa and the Buenos Aires based firm Halcon manufactured the and submachine guns which have a very similar layout and performance to the Thompson Gun, both weapons chambered in 9x19mm for the Argentine Army and.45 ACP for the Argentine Police forces. These weapons were a serious contender to the Thompson Gun but did not see much service outside Argentina. After World War II By the time of the Korean War, the Thompson had seen much use by the U.S. And South Korean Military, even though Thompson will have been replaced in production by the M3 and M3A1.
Many Thompsons were distributed to Chinese armed forces as military aid before the fall of 's government to 's forces in 1949. During the Korean War, American troops were surprised to encounter Chinese Communist troops heavily armed with Thompsons, especially during surprise night assaults. 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 conflict. Many of these weapons were captured and placed into service with American soldiers and Marines for the balance of the war. Serb paramilitaries during the.
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An M1A1 Thompson submachine gun is being held in the background During the Vietnam War, some units and defense were armed with Thompson submachine guns, and a few of these weapons were used by reconnaissance units, advisors, and other American troops. It was later replaced by the M16. Not only did some U.S.
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Soldiers have use of them in Vietnam, but they encountered it as well. The liked the weapon, and used both captured models as well as manufacturing their own copies in small jungle workshops. In the conflict in, known as 'The Troubles' (1969-1998), the Thompson was again used by the Irish Republican paramilitiaries. According to historian, 'The Thompson remained a key part of both the and arsenals until well into the 1970s when it was superseded by the and the ' The Thompson was also used by U.S. And overseas law enforcement and police forces, most prominently by the.
The FBI used Thompsons until 1976, when it was declared obsolete. All Thompsons in possession were destroyed, except for a few token museum pieces and training models. The Thompson, or copies of the gun, are still seen from time to time in modern day conflicts, such as the. Operating characteristics Early versions of the Thompson had a fairly high rate of fire, approaching 800-850 rounds per minute. Later M1 and M1A1 Thompsons averaged 600 rpm.
This rate of fire, combined with a rather heavy trigger pull and a stock with excessive drop, increases the tendency of the gun to climb off target in automatic fire. Compared to modern submachine guns, the.45 Thompson is quite heavy. This was one of the major complaints against the weapon made by servicemembers of militaries that issued the Thompson. Although the drum magazine provided significant firepower, in military service it was found to be overly heavy and bulky, especially when slung on patrol or on the march. For this reason, the 20-round and later 30-round box magazines soon proved most popular with military users, and drum compatibility was eliminated from the wartime M1 and M1A1 models. The Thompson was one of the earliest submachine guns to incorporate a double-column, double-feed box magazine design, which undoubtedly contributed to the gun's reputation for reliability. In addition, the gun performed better than most after exposure to rain, dirt, and mud.
Because of its gangster-era and World War II connections, Thompsons are highly sought as collector's items. An original Model 1928 in working condition can easily fetch 20,000 or more. Approximately 1,700,000 of these weapons were produced by Auto-Ordnance, and, with 1,387,134 being the simplified World War II M1 and M1A1 variants (without the Blish lock and oiling system ). Versions configured as civilian-legal rifles are currently produced by Auto-Ordnance Company, a division of, for the collector market at prices ($900.00 to $1400.00) considerably lower than the prices for originals.
Model 1919 The Model 1919 was limited to about 40 units, with many variations noted throughout. The weapons had very high cyclic rates around 1,500 rpm. This was the weapon Brigadier General Thompson demonstrated at in 1920.
Almost all Model of 1919s were made without buttstocks and front sights, and the final version closely resembled the later Model of 1921. The was the largest purchaser of the Model of 1919. This model was designed as an automatic to 'sweep' trenches with bullets. Some experimental calibers were.45 ACP (11.4x23mm),. The 'Anti-Bandit Gun': 1920s of the Thompson M1921 for United States forces The Model 1921 was the first major production model.
Fifteen thousand were produced by Colt for Auto-Ordnance. In its original design, it was finished more like a sporting weapon, with a blued, finned barrel and vertical foregrip and the Blish lock. The Model of 1921 was quite expensive to manufacture, with the original retail cost around $225, because of its high quality furniture and finely- parts. The Model of 1921 was famous throughout its career with police and criminals and in motion pictures.
This model was often used by criminals, with the nickname, Tommy Gun. The weapon had a relatively high 1000 rpm citation needed rate of fire. Model 1923 The Model 1923 was introduced to potentially expand the Auto-Ordnance product line and was demonstrated for the. It fired the more powerful.45 Remington-Thompson from a 14-inch (35.5 cm) barrel, with greater range than the.45 ACP. It introduced a horizontal forearm, sling, and lug. The M1923 was intended to fill the same role of the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) which the Army was already satisfied with, and did not give the Model of 1923 much consideration, so it was not adopted.
Model 1927 The Model 1927 was the open bolt semi-automatic-only version of the M1921. It was made by modifying an existing Model 1921, including replacing certain parts.
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.' Although the Model 1927 was semi-automatic only, it was easily converted to fully automatic by installing a full-auto Model 1921 fire control group (internal parts). Most Model 1927s owned by police have been converted back to full-auto. The original Model 1927 is classified as a machine gun under the of 1934 (a) by being 'readily convertible' by swapping parts and (b) by a making all open bolt semi-automatic firearms manufactured after the date of this ruling classified as machineguns. Model 1928 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. The original Model 1928s were Model 1921s with weight added to the actuator, which slowed down the of fire, a U.S. Navy requirement. The Navy Model 1928 has several names by collectors today they are; the 'Colt Overstamp', 'The 1921 Overstamp', '28 Navy', or just '28N'.
The 'overstamp' term refers to the '1' in '1921' being stamped over with an '8'. The 1928 Thompson would be the last small arm adopted by the U.S. Army that used a year designation in the official nomenclature. With the start of World War II, major contracts from several countries saved the manufacturer from.
M1928A1 at, June 1942 The M1928A1 variant entered mass production before the, as on-hand stocks ran out. Changes included a horizontal forend, in place of the distinctive vertical foregrip ('), and a provision for a military.
Despite new U.S. Contracts for Lend-Lease shipments abroad to China, France, and the United Kingdom, as well as the needs of American armed forces, only two factories supplied M1928A1 Thompsons during the early years of World War II. Though it could use both the 50-round drum and the 20- or 30-round box magazines, active service showed the drums were more prone to jamming, rattled when moving, and were too heavy and bulky on long patrols. 562,511 were made. Wartime production variants had a fixed rear sight without the triangular sight guard wings and a non-ribbed barrel both like that found on the M1/M1A1.
In addition, the Soviet Union received M1928A1s, included as standard equipment with the obtained through Lend-Lease. The weapons were never issued to the Red Army, however, because of a lack of.45 ACP ammunition on the Eastern Front, and were simply put in storage. As of September 2006, limited numbers of these weapons have been re-imported from Russia to the United States as disassembled 'spare parts kits', the entire weapon less the receiver (as required by Federal law). Thompson.30 Carbine Main Article A contender for the M1 Light Rifle concept during World War 2 was the Thompson Carbine. Its layout was very much the same as the submachine gun but chambered in the calibre.
The only major differences from the SMG was the barrel shroud, pressed steel components to ease production/reduce weight and the inlined stock reduced barrel climb improving accuracy. The Thompson Carbine was more reliable and accurate than the M1 Carbine that was adopted and also came with the capability of select fire, which made it close to the likes of the StG-44. Fire Controls M1 Thompson Front lever is selector switch set for full auto. Answering the call for further simplification, the M1 was standardized in April 1942 as the United States Submachine Gun, Cal.45, M1. Rate of fire was reduced to approximately 600-700 rpm.
First issued in 1943, the M1 utilized a simple operation, the charging handle was moved to the side, and the flip-up adjustable Lyman rear sight was replaced with a fixed L sight. Late M1 Thompsons had the triangular rear sight guard wings added to the L sight which was standardized on the M1A1 version. The slots adjoining the magazine well allowing use of the drum magazine were removed. 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. The Cutts, barrel cooling fins, and Blish lock were omitted while the was permanently affixed. Both sides of the Thompson M1A1 The M1A1, formally adopted as the United States Submachine Gun, Cal.45, M1A1, could be produced in half the time of the M1928A1, and at a much lower cost.
The multi-piece firing pin of the M1 was supplanted by a simplified firing pin machined into the face of the bolt. The 30-round magazine became more common. In 1939, Thompsons cost the government $209 apiece. By the spring of 1942, cost reduction design changes had brought this down to $70. In February 1944, the M1A1 reached a low price of $45 each, including accessories and spare parts. By the end of the Second World War, the M1A1 was replaced with the even lower-cost (commonly called 'Grease Gun').
Model 1927A1 The Model 1927A1 is a semi-automatic only version of the Thompson, originally produced by Auto-Ordnance of, for the civilian collector's market from 1974 to 1999. It has been produced since 1999 by Kahr Arms of,. It is officially known as the 'Thompson Semi-Automatic Carbine, Model of 1927A1.' The internal design is completely different to operate from the closed bolt and the carbine has barrel length of 16.5 inches (versus open bolt operation and barrel length of 10.5 inches for the full automatic versions). Under federal regulations, these changes make the Model 1927A1 legally a rifle and remove it fron the federal registry requirements of the.
These modern versions should not be confused with the original semi-automatic Model of 1927 which was a slightly modified Model of 1921 produced by Colt for Auto-Ordnance. The Model 1927A1 is the semi-automatic replica of the Thompson Models of 1921 and 1927. The 'Thompson Commando' is a semi-automatic replica of the M1928A1. 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'. Firing the 1921 Thompson Because of the perceived popularity of submachine guns such as the Thompson with gangsters in the 1920s and 1930s, the passed the in 1934. Among its provisions, all owners of any fully-automatic firearm were required to register them with the predecessor agency of the modern (ATF). The law also placed severe restrictions on the possession, transfer and transport of the weapons.
There are several U.S. Made and variants, copies or replicas. The semi-automatic versions are less regulated at the federal level but are still banned in some states because of their resemblance to the fully-automatic version. Canada Thompson submachine guns (including all variants or modified versions) are classified as Prohibited Weapons in.
Consequently, they cannot be legally imported or owned except under very limited circumstances. For example, to own one it must be 'grandfathered' from before the bill was passed against it. Users.: Limited, sometimes unlicensed copies.: The IRA used the 1921 variant, mainly during the early 60s to 70s.: Limited, sometimes unlicensed copies.: Adopted by the in 1938. References. Ray Bearse, 'The Thompson Submachine Gun: Weapon of War and Peace', in Murtz, Gun Digest Treasury (DBI Books, 1994), p.210. Smith, Charles H.
Retrieved 2008-08-06. James, Gary (1996-2006). Urban Dictionary.
Retrieved 2008-08-06. My Al Capone Museum. Retrieved 2008-08-06. National Rifle Association - Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA).
Retrieved 2008-08-06. Hatcher, Hatcher's Notebook, Military Service Publishing Co., 1947, page 44. Frank Iannamico, American Thunder: The Military Thompson Submachine Gun 1928, 1928A1, M1, M1A1, Moose Lake Publishing, 2000.
James, ibid. Fitzsimons, op. Cit., Volume 3, p.272. Gudmundsson, Bruce, Storm trooper Tactics: Innovation in the German Army, 1914-1918, Praeger Press, 1995. Fitzsimons, Bernard. Encyclopedia of Weapons and Warfare (Phoebus, 1977), Volume 23, p.2487. p.14 Rottman, Gordon U.S.
Marine Corps 1941-1945 Ospery 1995. Fitzsimons, ibid. ^.
Peter Hart, The I.R.A. At War, 1916-1923, p184-185. Hart 187-188. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2008-06-12. Frank Iannamico, American Thunder: The Military Thompson Submachine Guns, Moose Lake Publishing, 2000. Bishop, Chris (1998), The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, New York: Orbis Publiishing Ltd, 0-7607-1022-8.
Bearse, op. Cit., p.213.
George, John, Shots Fired In Anger, NRA Press (1981), p. 400. Hart p 191.
^ Dunlap, Roy F., Ordnance Went Up Front, Samworth Press (1948), p. 299. ^ George, John (Lt.Col), Shots Fired In Anger, NRA Press (1981), p. 395. Fitzsimons, op. Cit., Volume 23, p.2488. Bearse, in Amber, p.210.
Fitzsimons, Volume 23, p.2487, 'Thompson'. Frank Iannamico, American Thunder: The Military Thompson Submachine Gun 1928, 1928A1, M1, M1A1, Moose Lake Publishing, 2000, page 21., Canadian Firearms Centre (CFC)., Canadian Firearms Centre (CFC). Retrieved 2009-09-22.
^ Charles H. Retrieved 2009-09-22. Retrieved 2009-09-22. Retrieved 2009-09-22. Maxim Popenker. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
^ Miller, David (2001). The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns. Salamander Books Ltd. ISBN 1-84065-245-4. Retrieved 2009-09-22. Albert, David and Sig, Mike.
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MacMillan, also Gun Room Press. Herigstad, Gordon. Colt Thompson Serial Numbers. Self Published. Hill, Tracie L.
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And Weeks, John. Military Small Arms of the 20th Century. DBI Books Inc. Huon, Jean. Les pistolets-mitrailleurs Thompson. Barnett Editions, also Editions Crepin-LeBlond. Iannamico, Frank.
American Thunder: The Military Thompson Submachine Gun. Moose Lake Publishing. Iannamico, Frank. American Thunder II: The Military Thompson Submachine Gun. Moose Lake Publishing.
Iannamico, Frank. United States Submachine Guns. Moose Lake Publishing. Johnson, Melvin M. And Haven, Charles J.
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Guia Internacional de Submetralhadoras. Editora Magnum Ltda. Sharpe, Philip B. 'The Thompson Sub-Machine Gun (in Police Science)' Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology (1931-1951), Vol.
Apr., 1933), pp. Smith, Charles H. Weeks, John. World War II Small Arms. Galahad Books. Wilson, R.K.
Textbook of Automatic Pistols. Small Arms Technical Publishing Company. Iannamico, Frank. 'The Colt Thompson Submachine Gun'. The Shotgun News Treasury Issue Volume 4. Primedia Publishing External links.