kilroyjones Posted October 14, 2021 Report Share Posted October 14, 2021 This is an image from the local paper that shows the outgoing police chief with the department's Thompson. I know it isn't that great of an image, but can anyone tell me if it is a Colt or Savage? It is hard to tell, kind of looks like a Colt mag catch. On the other hand it is a small town with no need to purchase a Tommy, nor the budget, so I am thinking maybe a Savage that was war surplussed to the dept? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bug Posted October 14, 2021 Report Share Posted October 14, 2021 I'll go Colt. But I'd stop by and offer to keep the dust off of it for them. If it's not an F10 gun, maybe make them an offer they can't refuse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giantpanda4 Posted October 14, 2021 Report Share Posted October 14, 2021 Search Gordon's book for the name of the police dep't - maybe it is listed there then for sure it is a Colt, maybe not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halftrack Posted October 14, 2021 Report Share Posted October 14, 2021 (edited) The blurred engraving looks indicative of Colt origin. Edited October 15, 2021 by halftrack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilroyjones Posted October 14, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2021 I'll go Colt. But I'd stop by and offer to keep the dust off of it for them. If it's not an F10 gun, maybe make them an offer they can't refuse. Sadly it is long gone. Local rumor mill has three versions: 1. A retiring police chief in the 80s took it home. 2. It somehow got out of the PD and into the hands of a civilian. The civilian got nervous about having an illegal smg and had the bolt poorly welded shut. 3. The chief back in the 70s or 80s traded the Tommy to a police supply store. He got some S&W shotguns and revolvers in trade for the PD. (This is the most reliable version). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilroyjones Posted October 14, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2021 (edited) Search Gordon's book for the name of the police dep't - maybe it is listed there then for sure it is a Colt, maybe not. I don't have a copy of the book. If someone is curios it would be the Arkansas City, Kansas police dept. ETA: Going thru the local newspaper archives I found this article. Apparently the city did have the budget to buy a Colt. Thanks for the replies. Edited October 14, 2021 by kilroyjones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnat Posted October 15, 2021 Report Share Posted October 15, 2021 I'll go Colt. But I'd stop by and offer to keep the dust off of it for them. If it's not an F10 gun, maybe make them an offer they can't refuse.For those of us that are new to the full auto world, what is an F10 and how could it be transferred to an individual?Gnat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland the Thompsongunner Posted October 15, 2021 Report Share Posted October 15, 2021 Form 10 guns are not transferable to civilians only to other police departments 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giantpanda4 Posted October 16, 2021 Report Share Posted October 16, 2021 Arkansas City, Kansas Police Dep't did own #2487 per Gordon's book. Most likely that is the gun in the picture. No other info is in the book about it though. Are you sure they disposed of it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilroyjones Posted October 16, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2021 Arkansas City, Kansas Police Dep't did own #2487 per Gordon's book. Most likely that is the gun in the picture. No other info is in the book about it though. Are you sure they disposed of it? Thanks for looking up the serial number. The Thompson is definitely gone from the PD. My friend was the Captain of the dept and he said the Tommy wasn't there when he started in the early 1990s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Mills Posted October 16, 2021 Report Share Posted October 16, 2021 I see the salesman named in the article was "Sam Russell". I wonder if he was from Ark City or maybe a Colt sales rep, distributor, etc.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilroyjones Posted October 16, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2021 I see the salesman named in the article was "Sam Russell". I wonder if he was from Ark City or maybe a Colt sales rep, distributor, etc.? I did a google search for Sam Russell and Auto Ordnance. One of the results was the transcript of a 1937 Congressional hearing. In it it mentions a Sam Russell who was an agent for Federal Laboratories. I believe Fed Labs became the distributor for TSMGs in 1930 or 31(?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilroyjones Posted March 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2023 Dredging up an old post... I did find this 1977 Shotgun News ad where they list Thompson 2487 for sale. Only $1900. I guess the story that the police traded the Thompson in for shotguns and revolvers is true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpbcps Posted March 30, 2023 Report Share Posted March 30, 2023 Love the detective work that has gone into this topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcrowhunter Posted March 30, 2023 Report Share Posted March 30, 2023 Also listed in Roger Cox's book Pg.97 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bug Posted March 30, 2023 Report Share Posted March 30, 2023 Roger didn't miss many... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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