Thompson Chest

[browningautorifle]

Here's a picture of a chest for what appears to be two Thompsons for shipping. RCS sent it, I'm not surprised he has it...

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[RCS]

Jim, not my Thompson shipping box as someone had sent the photo to me a few years ago. I am glad that I saved this photo which was identified
as USMC 1943 showing a shipping box for two Model 1928A1 Thompson smgs. Note only the Model 1928A1 will fit with their stocks detached but I
suppose you could use the M1 Thompson too. You would have to go through the trouble of removing the stock screws to make them fit and then you
would also have the extra space from the drums which were not used.

The photo show a very late production Model 1928A1 with the smooth barrel and stamped Lyman rear sight. Thanks for posting this photo. Robert

[browningautorifle]

You can see the one stock under the other gun... Yes, either gun would go in. I'm pretty sure by the advent of the M1 T-Gun the chests would have been a ten pack like rifles. This speaks of the old days, remember the USMC started out with stolen Postal Service 1921s. They were guarding mail cars and when it ended they took the Thompsons home.

[RCS]

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Jim, The Marines might have also took some of those Colt 100 rd drums too that were with the Post Office Dept Thompsons. The large drum was more common with the gangsters than the military. Photo shows a Colt drum that was said to come from Chicago.

The Model 1928A1 bolt has a field modification which consisted of a second notch cut into
the bottom of the bolt which would allow the safety to be applied while the bolt was closed.

Some say this was done by British armorers while other say it was done by US paratroopers, I am certain both could have performed this modification. The M1 and M1A1 both had this second notch on production bolts.

[browningautorifle]

I'm aware of the lack of the second bent in the original bolts, you'd nee a grinder to do it as it's hard as nutz. I also had an M1 (floating firing pin and hammer), low number, and it had the second bent of course. The drums might have been original issue for the mail cars, I'd have to look in the book and see what's said about it. Mine only had the 50 and I seldom used it except for look cool factor...

[emmagee1917]

I remember the discussion on this chest ( or one like it ) . Someone also posted a picture of a contents list that went on the lid . Note the space for 16 20 round mags and the presence of 4-5 cell pouches . The lid list also listed two cleaning kits and two spare parts kits . Neither was in the chest picture . The kits had containers listed for each , and I theorized they coud have been tin cans to fit in the cells rather than canvas cases .
Chris

[Gil Boyd]

Apologies if not the right place but came across this brilliant photo which in many respects is quite a story in itself. Strange barrel configuration or is it my eyes?
It shows a British line Regiment Corporal with a Thompson which was rare in 1943, but also shows the beat up to the eventual invasion of Italy.
This photo was taken of a Corporal of the 2nd Battalion The Northamptonshire Regiment. 17th Brigade, 5th British Division at Catania, Sicily on the 2nd September 1943.
In the background personnel fit the bow cannons to the troop ships.

[browningautorifle]

His gun still has the twin grips and the sling attached to a swivel, probably the butt swivel from a #1 Mk3 LE. Cutts comp is just under the hand rail in front of him...all standard for an early gun. Model '21, '28? Hard to say without reading the roll marks.

[RCS]

Nice photo, Jim is correct about the TSMG