A couple of weeks ago I asked for some advice on these firearms and through a fortunate series of events I was able to purchase one with a steel receiver. This was a Cabelas purchase so with my points I had relatively little out of pocket expenses for this which was also a huge plus.
This is the post war civilian semi-auto version of the WWII production Thompson. I do not believe this particular example was ever fired but it does have some storage marks/dings on the metal. The wood looks brand new. I do plan on firing it so the new condition won't last long.
I suspect this to be an older production rifle but that assumption is just based on the lack of markings that are on the current Kahr Auto Ordnance models.
The wood is very nice, the metal finish is a little rough polish wise. I know very little about these so I took some photos of the action, etc so you can see the differences between this and the originals. This fires from a closed bolt, you can see the firing pin in two of the photos. It's a heavy rifle, it's size is very misleading. No sling came with it but I have a Kerr type on order. In addition to the closed bolt firing, the barrel is lengthened to be legal. This version does not accept the drum magazine and neither did it's military counterpart. Magazines are not interchangeable as made but I've been told the originals can be altered to work in these rifles.
I had hoped to fire it today but was unable to get any range time in. Hopefully soon.
Information
Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.
Very nice...you can see the holes in the back of the mag are stretched upward a bit from the original round hole. Easy to copy. I've always hated the long barrels but that's how it is. I'd sure like to show up with an ammo can of .45 so we could ring this out a bit. Try it in an underarm hold, if your range permits and you'll see it feels marvelous...
He sounds like a sharpie. I had that happen with a '28 and knew right away something had taken place, even though it had only rung the barrel. The shoot went on and only when cleaning did I notice. Had it happen with an SMG C1 9mm also with IVI ball. Still only a ring and it shot the rest of the practice un noticed until the troops cleaned weapons. Then I saw it...
The accuracy didn't seem to suffer as the rings I've dealt with were almost center of the barrel. Remember they were SMGs too. The biggest fear is a repeat will cause it to burst there. Kind of like his.
I had a Puma '92 in .44 mag that got rung, before it shot fine and after it wouldn't do better that a pie plate at 25 yds. Didn't matter what you tried. I compared the ammo straight across in a '94 angle eject in .44 and it was under a quarter. The ring was center barrel as well.
There's a Gun Shop here selling a nice Original .45 Cal Tommy for $38,000. This Greek Gun collector also has a nice Original Inland M2 for $11,000. I'm not real sure what there worth, but he's had many offers and won't budge. I held that Tommy and just felt my imagination running wild with what this Thompson has seen and done. I'm sure if he does sell it the buyer will have it checked out or if a Gun Collector buys will know how Original it is.
He always has a few nice collectables on board. Some of these guns didn't do much Frank. A friend of mine had 1921 number 6040 and he told me he "Didn't remember ever firing it. He donated it to the Smithsonian. Glad he did, when he died all his other guns went "Adrift" by hands of his self appointed personal assistant.