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Your opinions- Kahr/AO Semi M-1 Thompson quality


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Hello,

 

I am new to the forums here and want to ask the opinions of those who own a Kahr or Auto Ordnance M-1 model about the overall quality, dependability and satisfaction of their firearm. I'm also curious how the semi auto only versions compare to the original M1/M1A1 in terms of fit, feel and general authenticity (no need to mention select fire features).

 

Being in the wonderful state of Illinois, a semi auto commercial variant is the best and only choice I happen to be able to have. The SBR version is legal here, with certain stipulations, and that would be what I would prefer. I've never had the chance to shoot one of the semi auto commercial M-1 models, or get the opinions of those who own them, so I welcome what everyone has to say. Thanks!

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I have a 27A built in the 1970's for Blanks only and an M1A1 Built by Auto Ordnance when owned by Numrich in the 1990's that I fire live rounds.

The M1A1 only problem I find is with the Magazines,lining up at the right height for feeding. The hole in the GI Magazines tend to be various sizes, some punched larger, some Filed larger to give a more oblong shape. There is someone in the Thompson Community that modifies the Magazine Catch to take stock GI Stick Magazines for Semi Autos to avoid dealing with the Half Ass Modification made by who knows who by Numrich,Kahr or some guy sell cheap home modified Magazines he bought at a Gunshow.

If someone know the Vendor that sells that Semi Magazine Catch please PM thanks.

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I put an original mag release lever on on late 1990's Kahr Tommy and the mags line up just fine. YMMV. The firing pin can break off at the root where it goes from round to rectangular cross section. Bad geometry with a stress riser at the inside corner of the pin combined with high hardness to the point of brittle. When mine broke, Kahr lost my order twice for a replacement. It took 6 months to get a new one.

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In the thread "Upper and Lower Stuck" in this forum I related my story of my interaction with Kahr. Here and in the Kahr Talk the subject of quality, reliability and customer service do arise, many of them share the same complaint of firing pin failure and extractor failure due to fracturing of the groove machined in the bolt that retains the extractor. Am I satisfied in general with my Kahr 1927-A-1? Yes. Am I satisfied with the quality of the gun? Somewhat, but there is no excuse for a failure that puts a gun out of service in the first one hundred rounds put through it, especially with the price of that gun. Would I purchase another Kahr firearm other than a Tommy Gun? No. If they had stepped up to the plate and actually offered some assistance my thoughts of them would be completely different. I help a friend who owns a gun shop on occasion and he was considering becoming a Kahr dealer and asked my opinion. I gave him my side of the story. He changed his mind. Like I said in my post in that thread, they were fully "in the right" following the warranty as written to deny any assistance with the failure of the bolt and extractor. But IF they had offered some assistance, say a 50/50 split, I cover the part, they cover the labor, they cover the part, I cover the labor, whatever, something I would have went away with a whole different attitude towards them especially with the type of failure I had and the many other threads here and elsewhere of guns with the same failure. The whole job of replacing the bolt that i purchased from Kahr and sending it to my gunsmith for fitting was about three hundred dollars parts and labor. And while a small item they could not even get the order correct. My smith reused one of the old pins, it wasn't worth waiting for a couple of weeks for a three dollar item that they screwed up once already, I just wanted the gun to get fixed and work. As I have to say, your results may vary.

Edited by SHOVELHEADRIDER
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I have a Kahr TM1 (Aluminum reciever) that took 2 trips back to the factory before it would function reliably (or safely for that matter). It also shot very low which I fixed myself Since getting it back the last time I have had no function problems other than loosening rear sight screws of which 1 has stripped out(they could have at least used a common thread @ the expense of reproduction accuracy here).This is the only gun that I have ever bought just to have fun with & it is very much that. It's a ball plinking with this thing, everybody loves it. I would advise to go with the steel receiver models if you buy one. I also have a Kahr CW45 pistol that has been good. The Tommy will most likely be my last A/O Kahr purchase as it didn't do much for my confidence of quality(quality control) in their products. The willingness to toss out apparently un-checked products to let the consumer sort out is one thing for a fun-gun, a no go for a defensive arm.

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I have a an m1, and 2- 27s I had dan block do the mag catch mods and a couple other things. all of mine run great. ive had to do a couple minor repairs , change the firing pins, stake the extractor , tweak the mag lips for better feed etc. anything you need to know about fixing one is right here in this forum. if you cant do it someone on here can don't rely on khar ,learn to do it yourself. just ask a question and explain the problem someone here has the answer. I own at least a half dozen subguns ,mostly reproductions of ww2 models. all have needed some type of tweaking to make them run good. just don't get discouraged.

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I have a an m1, and 2- 27s I had dan block do the mag catch mods and a couple other things. all of mine run great. ive had to do a couple minor repairs , change the firing pins, stake the extractor , tweak the mag lips for better feed etc. anything you need to know about fixing one is right here in this forum. if you cant do it someone on here can don't rely on khar ,learn to do it yourself. just ask a question and explain the problem someone here has the answer. I own at least a half dozen subguns ,mostly reproductions of ww2 models. all have needed some type of tweaking to make them run good. just don't get discouraged.

That's all well & good but on a brand new piece I think they should be held to make good on the warranty. How else are they going to know there is a problem? If everyone does as you suggest they will continue to crank out crap for a premium price.

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That's all well & good but on a brand new piece I think they should be held to make good on the warranty. How else are they going to know there is a problem? If everyone does as you suggest they will continue to crank out crap for a premium price.

that business model seems to be working for them so far ....lol
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The parts breakage issue should not be happening for the prices these guns cost! Since the same parts seem to always be the ones that break, I wonder if cryogenic treatment would eliminate or diminish the parts breakage issues you guys are talking about. This company https://www.300below.com/ has done work for me on several of my rifle barrels and I have been happy with their work. Maybe it would be worth having firing pins, extractors and other break prone parts treated.

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These guns are what they are ... The only reason that I own one is to visually fill a slot in my WWII collection without laying out a lot of money for a FA weapon ... Same with my OOW BAR ... I had my chance to purchase a FA Thompson in 1986 for $3600 ... If only I had a crystal ball.

 

While my Kahr Thompson runs pretty much trouble free after a lot of work, I would still be reluctant to use it in a life or death situation if I had an option of any of my other weapons ... It's a toy ... That's the only way to look at one.

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My M1 (a Kahr) was purchased as a project gun to fill out my SBR trio (two 27's -a Kahr and WH- made like a 21A and 28A1 and the M1). All it really needed was a GI barrel. It already had a modified mag catch, and with Seymour mags it runs like a Swiss watch.

It is actualy the best shooter of the three.

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Does the Thompson firing pin need to protrude as much as it does? Seems like it protrudes more than my other firearms and if it were shorter maybe wouldnt break as easily

 

I believe that the length is not the only issue. An MP-40 firing pin is REALLY long, and breaks also, but not at a junction where a change in geometry exists (stress riser). The Kahr Tommy pin is stout and a tad long, but the heat treatment for whatever metal they use to make it may be an issue. If the pin is too hard and not properly tempered, the junction where the pin shape meets the larger, rectangular portion would not be as prone to crack. If the pin had a gradual transition from the pin shape to the rectangle, it would probably last longer.

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