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Sure, even people have been able to fire it- My two buddies fired both Crown Point guns. One or both guns have been on display on occasion.

#7387 has quite a history- It was just featured on a program on the History channel two days ago, on tonight too ( Friday Nov 14- H2 )

Dillinger had it with him in the backseat of a car I used to own, 1933 Essex Terraplane 8. Shoot-out in St Paul.

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I understand that they were givin back to the police dept a while ago.and as the article read they were offered $1,000,000.is there truth to this?

Edited by MARK2112
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I've heard many years ago, one of the Crown Point Thompsons had an offer for a million bucks. Don't know for sure ? There are nine I think, last count, Dillinger gang Thompsons in PDs, FBI.

 

If you are going to " clone " a Colt 21 AC Thompson, I'd do #7387, would have a large story to go with it , plus add old photos of it for the display.

Great beer talk- One of the few Thompsons Dillinger actually used for business rather then scare tactic.

I've been to the old Dillinger farm a couple times. There is a spot at the bottom of the stairs, going up to Dillinger's bedroom, where Dillinger Sr made John leave #7387, rather then take it upstairs. Story told me by the family.

 

OCM

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I've seen it in person, and there's a photo of me posing with it that I need to find. I think it was in the TCA newsletter after the 2007 show at Glen Whittenberger's (RIP) place in Indiana. I wasn't able to stay for the next day when many folks shot it. I believe fullauto45 shot it, and probably Colt Chopper, too.

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

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Fullauto45 has some pictures on his web with it- Not sure if it's 7387 or 6444, don't remember, both Crown Point Indiana jail break Thompsons. The Peru Indiana Thompson, 5878 is on display in Tucson at the PD, The Auburn, Indiana Thompson 8946 is on display there at the PD or was recently.

On & on...

 

The Dillinger farm house is still there in Mooresville, pretty much as it was in 33-34, except the farm land has been sold off, probably many years ago. The Great Nephew lives there, NO, it's not available for tour to the public. There is a rumor that it could be turned into a Dillinger Museum, but a lot of stuff has to happen first. The Nephew has been restoring it to the time his Uncle was there- Has the original doors and door knobs still in it, stuff like that-

 

 

Edited by OCM
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Yep- The center picture is overexposed, probably from a Brownie, but he is holding the wood pistol pointing it straight forward... so he just set down or about to pick up #7387 for the famous Thompson/wood pistol shot. Been an interesting time-machine moment. Pretty much the entire close family was there at the time, whole series of photos, only one with the Thompson.

 

Dillingerfarm.jpg

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Francis Dillinger, the younger sister. Last I heard, she is still alive & living in Mooresville. 94 maybe. I'd of probably heard if she passed on. Doris Dillinger died about 6 years ago.

 

 

 

Edited by OCM
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I remember that old pony gun. We put about 1000 rounds out of it that day. I still have 200 empty cases from shooting it.

 

Dillinger #7387

 

Me and #7387

http://www.mikesmachineguns.com/TCA/TCA2007/tca5.JPG

 

 

 

Shooting #7387

http://www.mikesmachineguns.com/dillinger/dillinger6.JPG

 

 

 

#7387 in it's case

http://www.mikesmachineguns.com/dillinger/dillinger10.JPG

 

 

Sheriff signing the target I shot

http://www.mikesmachineguns.com/dillinger/dillinger11.JPG

 

I have the target framed with a hand full of shells and a few rounds I dug out of the wood.

Edited by full auto 45
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Cool, is it all Colt inside ? Anyone field strip it to see if it has GI parts. Always wondered.

 

OCM

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So your saying that this is the actual thompson that dillenger carried.......

why in gods name are they letting people shoot it......what if theres a catastrophic failure and someone blows it up?

This is truely a remarkable forum.

Edited by MARK2112
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I agree 150% on that- It's THE gun JD carried the most & used. IMHO, should be in a museum or PD museum, BUT OK, for those lucky to shoot it.

That's why I ask if the internals are all COLT and not like 28 stuff.

As I remember the Racine 28N, has GI internals- HMMMMMM, someone knew to switch out I guess.

Good for Mike on the signed poster and shells that he shot- That's the fun way with this stuff-

 

 

OCM

 

 

Edited by OCM
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It is ALL Colt internals. It is all original. That day we shot it, Glen Whittenberger tore the gun completely down and cleaned it for the sheriff. At that time, the gun had NEVER been cleaned or tore down that anyone was aware of. When Glen gave it back to the sheriff, it was in better shape then when he brought it down.

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Whos got the actual JD car?

if you could pair the 2 togeather (7387) it would make for an interesting photo.

Edited by MARK2112
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1) Yes that's the Thompson pictured with JD at the Dillinger farm, April, 1934. It was found in Lake Michigan a couple days after he was killed, was dumped there the day he was killed to hide evidence ( long story)

2) No, that is NOT THE Dillinger Buick, but the same model he used to rob the Racine bank in Nov 1933. ( long story on that too ) The original we believe is pictured at the Lake Como museum. A 1933 Series 90, seven passenger Sedan, Model 90, is the official name. Only 3 known to exist, the original JD Buick ?

3) JD always bought his personal cars, the 33 Buick was borrowed for work ( robbing)

 

Mike- Good to hear about the Thompson, I've always wondered that- Some other folk want to here this too.

OCM

 

Edited by OCM
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That was a great weekend, I was fortunate enought to get to fire a 20 rd. mag through it, the Sheriif was kind enough to let veryone at the TCA event handle, take pics and pop off a 20. Very exciting. I still have the signed target somewhere.

 

I also was fortunate enough to fire the Lake County Thompson one evening in the basement of the Government Center several years ago, that's another story.

 

Both functioned flawlessly.

 

Awe the memories !!!!!

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You are one of the lucky ones, if only the guns could talk. I was invited to go with Sheriff Hudson to Indiana to fire these. Long drive/flight to Indiana from Colorado, and back and expensive blah, blah. I opted not to make the trip. Back on my kicking machine. Hudson has family there staying for a couple weeks, for me a drive out, fire the Thompson and drive back.

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