Slightly Twisted Posted October 8, 2018 Report Share Posted October 8, 2018 Morning everyone, first time posting and thought I introduce myself.Im beyond green when it comes to Thompsons, but have grownup hunting and shooting. I have a few collectible firearms mostly from my grandfather, he served in WW2 and managed to acquire a few military guns. When he passed away the collection went to my father who was not interested in firearms. They ended up sitting in a safe for a LONG time. They only came out once in a while. Well it took 15 months but I just got the pearl registration transfered to my family. It is an Auto Ordnance model 1921 SN 10374. I would love to try and find more history on the gun so if you guys have any information about it or how to get more please sounds off! From what we know he bought it new and has been in my family ever since.Ill try and get some photos up soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ppgcowboy Posted October 8, 2018 Report Share Posted October 8, 2018 Welcome to the forum. Post pictures of everything including the internals. Others will chime in with books that should show some history and will point you in the right direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bug Posted October 8, 2018 Report Share Posted October 8, 2018 The term pearl confused me a little. The SN could be a Colt gun. Is the left side of the gun marked Colt? Does the barrel have a Cutts compensator on it? There is such a thing as a Pearl Thompson. Bob D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Fliegenheimer Posted October 8, 2018 Report Share Posted October 8, 2018 According to G.H., #10374 is a Colt 1921A 1968 Amnesty registered WWII bring back. That would negate the "bought new" possibility. From all the possible TSMGs your grandfather could have procured as a war souvenir he chose the Colt. WTG! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adg105200 Posted October 8, 2018 Report Share Posted October 8, 2018 Sweet, congrats and welcome to the board! Definitely post some pictures! Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vettom Posted October 8, 2018 Report Share Posted October 8, 2018 Some of us newbies have inquiring minds so pics please Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Dudley Posted October 8, 2018 Report Share Posted October 8, 2018 WOW! Thanks, Grampa!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slightly Twisted Posted October 8, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2018 Thanks for the information! Sorry for the confusion I meant the pearl or jewel of the collection. 20 years ago when my farther took possession the FFL and historian we worked with said that the military never issued the vertical grip, so we assumed it was bought new. He was in Germany up until I believe 52 or 53, they brought back a TON of stuff so that makes sense to me. The gun really hasnt been out of the safe for twenty years, I was allowed to clean it every few years that was about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villafuego Posted October 8, 2018 Report Share Posted October 8, 2018 Very nice......with a great patina. Looks like it was one of the guns originally sold to France Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speeddemon02 Posted October 8, 2018 Report Share Posted October 8, 2018 (edited) Welcome to the boards, great place to learn about your new heirloom. The gun is a little worn, but still looks really nice. Right away notice it does not have the usual US markings, no that it would, but the vertical grip and sling looks like it would have been through someone from the UK, but the stock sling placement was normally on top as well as the 1921 wood didnt have sling points. Either way if only this gun could talk! Edited October 8, 2018 by Speeddemon02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Fliegenheimer Posted October 8, 2018 Report Share Posted October 8, 2018 Thanks for the information! Sorry for the confusion I meant the pearl or jewel of the collection. 20 years ago when my farther took possession the FFL and historian we worked with said that the military never issued the vertical grip, so we assumed it was bought new. He was in Germany up until I believe 52 or 53, they brought back a TON of stuff so that makes sense to me. The gun really hasnt been out of the safe for twenty years, I was allowed to clean it every few years that was about it. As board member villafuego pointed out about the French connection to your Colt 1921, you might be interested in this thread: http://www.machinegunboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18154&hl=%2Bfrench+%2Bswivels&do=findComment&comment=154606 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halftrack Posted October 8, 2018 Report Share Posted October 8, 2018 Being that your colt went there and came back I believe makes your colt one of the more interesting ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colt Chopper Posted October 8, 2018 Report Share Posted October 8, 2018 Wow, A survivor! Actuator looks original. Congrats and welcome to the board ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merry Ploughboy Posted October 8, 2018 Report Share Posted October 8, 2018 Thanks for sharing. I get a kick out seeing these repatriate Thompsons coming out of the wood work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard w. Posted October 8, 2018 Report Share Posted October 8, 2018 Is that an Mp40 sling? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hntrdarren Posted October 8, 2018 Report Share Posted October 8, 2018 Thanks for sharing . Love that Been There Done That patina. Congrats and welcome to the board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgvince Posted October 9, 2018 Report Share Posted October 9, 2018 That's going to be a great shooter! It does look like an MP40 sling. Get those Colt parts out of that receiver before you shoot it. They are damn near impossible to replace if broken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thirtyround Posted October 9, 2018 Report Share Posted October 9, 2018 WOW, Looks like its right of the 1970 movie set, You Can't Win 'Em All ! I wouldn't change a thing on it, Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bug Posted October 9, 2018 Report Share Posted October 9, 2018 Thanks for the information! Sorry for the confusion I meant the pearl or jewel of the collection. 20 years ago when my farther took possession the FFL and historian we worked with said that the military never issued the vertical grip, so we assumed it was bought new. He was in Germany up until I believe 52 or 53, they brought back a TON of stuff so that makes sense to me. The gun really hasnt been out of the safe for twenty years, I was allowed to clean it every few years that was about it. Thank you. I was wrong. That's not a pearl, it's a Diamond. Wonderful gun. Bob D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMG28 Posted October 9, 2018 Report Share Posted October 9, 2018 (edited) Welcome to the board, and Thank You for sharing this history. Definitely a Diamond! The observation about it being one of the Colt guns bought by France is due to the sling hardware and its placement. Everything that I see is exactly correct for a French modified Colt gun. What a unique find. Congrats to your family for preserving it and making sure it was registered in the amnesty. I agree that you should locate a set of WWII intervals and swap them out before shooting, especially the actuator, which has a tendency to break sometimes. Dont try to disassemble the trigger frame unless you have the proper tools and knowledge. Again, Thank You for sharing! Roger Edited October 9, 2018 by TSMG28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelkih Posted October 9, 2018 Report Share Posted October 9, 2018 Welcome to the club. The Thompson looks amazing! Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Duce Posted October 9, 2018 Report Share Posted October 9, 2018 I love seeing history like this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adg105200 Posted October 9, 2018 Report Share Posted October 9, 2018 It's got some honest wear, but it's a beauty nonetheless! As before mentioned, definitely pick up some GI internals before shooting it. Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slightly Twisted Posted October 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2018 That's going to be a great shooter! It does look like an MP40 sling. Get those Colt parts out of that receiver before you shoot it. They are damn near impossible to replace if broken.Thanks for the welcome guys. So you replace the original internals with replicas? Never thought about that. I did a quick google search and didn’t really find much on where to get internals you guys must have a go to place. Wow if this is a French surviver that would be incredible!! I can’t even imagine the places it would have been. How would I go about finding the SN numbers that where sent to France, and is that even possible?!?! Looking at this forum others have mentioned a book that lists all the SN, would that have that information. Thanks again for the welcome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
full auto 45 Posted October 9, 2018 Report Share Posted October 9, 2018 There are a few of us in Indiana. Central Indy for me.Very nice piece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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