"Creates Of Brand New Thompsons"

[shadycon]

Thompson Machine guns found in Ukraine - Thompson Submachine Gun Message Board - MachineGunBoards.com Forums

[fjruple]

Thing I didn't see was for sure were they the 7.62x25 or .45ACP? I think the M1 had no special mag housing attachment like they made so they didn't touch them after lend lease. Honestly, here I don't know where I would even store two CASES of them. Just a couple and mags...one each, 28A1 and M1...and a truck load of ammo. I'd love to see the case lot markings on the ammo.

Jim-- I believe the 7.62x25 conversion was done by the PRC who also never threw any firearms away. These Thompsons were part of the associated equipment for the Sherman and other tanks that were provided under lease to Russia. I believe some were given to the Russian Navy but most were placed into storage and long forgotten until recently. The Russian military did not want to have to deal with another caliber in their supply chain. The US provided 4,065 Shermans to Russia. It is alleged that the NKVD had M1921 Thompsons shipped to them via Mexico pre-war. Imagine finding them in the cases!

Additional Information: It seems over 137,000 Thompsons were shipped to Russia which represents 8% of the total war production of Thompson shipped to Russia. God only knows how many ended up at the bottom of the North Atlantic due to U-boat activity.

[browningautorifle]

I believe the 7.62x25 conversion was done by the PRC who also never threw any firearms away.

Right, that makes sense. When they surfaced here they had mags accompanying. They also had the housing installed and held by a screw I think.

These Thompsons were part of the associated equipment for the Sherman and other tanks that were provided under lease to Russia

And that EIS was sold some time back as a huge discovery of original equipment.

It is alleged that the NKVD had M1921 Thompsons shipped to them

Love to see some of those too.

[old tanker]

Looking like a scene from the Humphrey Bogart movie, "Sahara" an M3 crew in training on Fort Knox during the summer of 1940. M1917 revolvers and M1928A1 Thompson. The Lee had a seven man crew. Commander, 37mm gunner, 37mm loader, 75mm gunner, 75mm loader, driver, and radio operator.

[Brian Dick]

I bought two M1A1 parts kits in the mid 2000's at the Knob Creek show to restore my Savage M1A1 that was mailed back in pieces from Iwo Jima during WW2 by a local guy, then given to and registered during the amnesty in 1968 by the Edgefield Chief of Police. It had been abused more in the care of the police and fire department than it ever was in combat. I had to have the barrel replaced which was buggered from a half assed reinstallation and rusted from corrosive primed ammo. I also installed a new pistol grip as the original had a huge chunk broken off. The parts kits were both cut Savage guns so the parts were perfect. Luckily the parts kits were complete with barrels back then and pretty reasonably priced @ $450 each. The parts kits were also from Ukraine or Russia and in new condition. The seller told me at the time that the kits were imported from England. Apparently, the 1928A1 kits were from M3 Stuart tanks and the M1/M1A1 kits were from guns supplied with the M4 Shermans. I only cleaned it so it looks like a well-used gun that got a new barrel and pistol grip. It's an absolute blast to shoot. Pardon the pun!

[champ0608]

Reminds me of coming across many locals armed with Martini Henry and No 1 Enfield Rifles in Afghanistan.