USMC markings on Thompson magazine pouches

[RCS]

I have seen the USMC stamp on the three cell 30 round magazine pouch, were the 50 round drum pouches also marked USMC ?Attachment 56231Attachment 56232Attachment 56233

Information

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[Harlan (Deceased)]

I've never seen a marked 50 round cover for an M1 Thompson mag. The 50 round of the 20's and 30's gangsters mags didn't work on the basic M1A1 in WWII.

[RCS]

Harlan, this is the 50 rd pouch I was talking about, issued during WW 2 for the MODEL 1928a1. Were any of these pouches marked USMC Attachment 56283Attachment 56282

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Hi RCS. I have never even seen those pouches. The military accepted full scale production of the simplified M1A1 in 1942. It used the same 30 round mag as the earlier Thompson but it didn't accept the earlier 50 round drum mags.

PS - I have a demilled M1A1 and I cannot believe how heavy they are. Mine has an empty straight mag... A full 50 mag would be incredible.

[browningautorifle]

I had active guns, both 1928 and M1...yes Harlan, the 28 with a full drum is heavier. About 12lbs I think. But on the bright side, it gets lighter while you shoot. So, you shoot more...

[RCS]

Jim and Harlan, imagine the weight of this loaded 100 round drum on your Model 1921 ?

While not really a military item, it was used by the USMC to guard the trains during the 1920's, plus the IRA and South American usage.

This example may have some history from use during 1933. If there is any interest - I will find more photos ?Attachment 56305Attachment 56306

[emmagee1917]

I have seen the USMC stamp on the three cell 30 round magazine pouch, were the 50 round drum pouches also marked USMC ?Attachment 56231Attachment 56232Attachment 56233

R.M.Co made a U.S.M.C. marked L-drum pouch in 1942 . Very rare and the only maker / year I know of .
HTH , Chris

[emmagee1917]

Oh , and a note to what has been said above.
There are l-drum Mills pouches dated 1918 , several years before Thompsons were even around . Prob'ly made for Lewis or some such.
'21 and '28 Thompsons used 50 and 100 round drums and 20 rd sticks . There were no 30 rd sticks.
When the M1 came out , they deleated the grooves for the drums , but designed the 30 rd stick to make up for it.
They continued to issue orders for 20 rd sticks right up till the 30s started arriving . The 20s were produced for about another 6 months just to be sure there was no problems with the 30s as they didn't want to be caught short of mags.
Contrary to popular belief , '28s did not magicly go away when the M1/M1A1s arrived . Both served side by side till the end and beyond. Photo evidence shows the 50rd drum continued to be used in great numbers right up till the end , too .
Chris

[browningautorifle]

imagine the weight of this loaded 100 round drum on your Model 1921

I think the weight was 17 lbs fully loaded. Or was it 15...? That means it could deliver 3.25 odd pounds of lead on target in about 3 seconds...yes, all three were still in service really. The 21's and 28's and some M1's in the Commonwealth and I should think the same for US. The Marines had '21's to start. Ex Postal service guns that had been re-routed. They wouldn't have just gashbinned them because of time???

[RT Ellis]

Reference the "L-drum pouch" mentioned in Post #7:

Russel Mfg. Co. (usually marked R.M. Co.), Middletown, Conn., manufactured "Cases Magazine" on USMC contract NOM35953 Jun 1942 - Oct 1942 paid $124,000.
Harian Stitching Co. (usually marked HARIAN or H.S. Co.), Haverhill, Mass., manufactured "Cases Magazine" on Army contract W431QM10634 Oct 1942 - Jan 1943 paid $88,000.