Cased Vietnam War Commemorative Thompson Semi-Automatic Rifle Number 829 of 1000

[usabaker]

I was at a friend's house this weekend and he has decided to part with his Cased Vietnam War Commemorative Thompson Semi-Automatic Rifle; he's downsizing as he gets close to retierment.

This is Number 829 of 1000, he bought this at a gun show years ago and has never shot it. I do not know if the prior owner shot it but in looking at the muzzle break there are no heat marks on it. I'm not sure if it's brass or gold plating so I need to do a little research on it. I did notice that the front sight is missing. Why someone would take if off ; I don't know.

Anyhow, I told him I would help him sell this rifle. You can no longer own ot transfer to another in California so it would need to be sold out of state. Any information you may have on this rifle would be helpful.

Attachment 104038Attachment 104039Attachment 104040Attachment 104041Attachment 104042Attachment 104043Attachment 104044

[browningautorifle]

Front sight should be held in place by a transverse pin that also locks the Cutts in place...on the real guns. They're only semi as you can see and they're a cross between the M1 and the '28. Kind of a parts mixture. I found them not pleasant to shoot at all as they shot from a closed bolt. They were brutal to load as well...to insert a drum it took two. One to hold the bolt open and one to slide the drum in. There IS a tool available to hold the bolt back for one man alone. The mags aren't the same as an FA gun, the hole in the back is drawn a bit more lengthwise so you can't just use a standard 20 or 30 that you would find from a '21/'27/'28/M1.

These aren't a Thompson, they're a commemorative.

[rcathey]

I see a couple not selling on GunBroker for $1,600 plus. They’ve been relisted multiple times.
Rock Island sold one in April of 2010 for $1,380.

In my experience selling, if you list it enough times it’ll sell even if it is 10-15% overpriced. Someone will come along that MUST HAVE IT.

Since they’re not selling at $1,600, I’d say they’re worth about what they were in 2010.

It would probably sell eventually for $1,400, quickly for $1,200, and immediately for $1,000.

[Sunray]

"...Thompson Semi-Automatic Rifle..." No such thing. Any Chopper that was "semi'd" was done to avoid the U.S. Class 3 tax.
Anyway, Commemorative's have proven to be a really bad investment. It's just a gussied up AO Thompson. Nothing special about 'em. If the thing is not still sealed in its original box, it really has no collector interest or value. They're on the auction sites because dealers can't sell 'em.

[Hcompton79]

"...Thompson Semi-Automatic Rifle..." No such thing.

Well, not exactly....

Model 1927 Thompson Semi Automatic Carbine - YouTube

[browningautorifle]

No such thing.

Well, except for the widely known and very beautiful 1927 model...as illustrated. Maybe you should watch this vid...

[usabaker]

I found them not pleasant to shoot at all as they shot from a closed bolt. They were brutal to load as well...to insert a drum it took two. One to hold the bolt open and one to slide the drum in.

Jim, Thanks for the information. He never shot it and I doubt he ever will especially since he wants to sell it. I'm sure thought he would have hated it from the description you gave.

---------- Post added at 07:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:23 PM ----------

Since they’re not selling at $1,600, I’d say they’re worth about what they were in 2010.

It would probably sell eventually for $1,400, quickly for $1,200, and immediately for $1,000.

Thanks for your thoughts, I'll probably advise hin to list it around those numbers. I think he would be happy breaking even on it, so anything more then what he bought it for would be a bonus.

[browningautorifle]

To be fair, I don't think anyone really expected them to be shot at all. They sold high and the guys buying them probably didn't actually mean them for range work. For those of us that have used the real ones, these aren't even close. I still think a beautiful original Thompson, pre West Hurley are the best.