Hello everyone! Thanks to the recent activity around the Military Model of 1923, I can summarize the history of the "Model 1923". Thanks to all the experts and forum participants who took part in this! Maybe someone else will correct or add.
The very name "М1923" never existed in the official nomenclature, that is, it was never put on receivers as in the cases with the pre-war modifications of the М1927 and М1928, for example. Obviously this is not even an internal term of Auto-Ordnance, which in an attempt to sell their 15,000 SMGs produced by the Colt Company in 1921-1922, tried to experiment and diversify their products to suit different consumers around the world. This is how the "Military Model" aka "М1923" appeared. I tried to figure it out a bit.
Even in the Auto-Ordnance catalog dated 02/27/1922, drawings of the so-called "Model F of 1922" are mentioned. Which has the characteristics of the "Military Model"
In the rare Auto-Ordnance catalog "Thompson Guns, Models 1921-1923" (also known as the "1923 Catalog"), this model is officially referred to as the "Extra Heavy Barrel Military Model" for the first and last time.
Also in the very rare 1923 Auto-Ordnance Price List, this model is referred to as the "Thompson Gun with Bipod".
In the Pacific Arms Corporation catalog in the early 1920s, there is a reference to the "Long Barrel Military Model".
As mentioned above, AOC did not stop at the US domestic market. D.T. Thompson embarked on his first European tour in May 1921. In 1921-1927. Tommy Gun has been represented in countries such as Great Britain, France, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Chile and others. In addition to the standard M1921, various variations were also offered, for different calibers, barrel lengths, and more. The "Military Models" configurations were also presented.
So in 1924, John Thompson visited France as part of the AOC delegation. He demonstrated the Commission D'Experiences de Versailles (CEV) - Model 1921 .45 ACP and Heavy Model 1923 .45 Remington-Thompson with bipod. Commission preference was given to the Model 1921 . However, CEV also requested a couple of "Thompson M1923" models but converted to the .351 WSL cartridge for testing.
Later, according to the "Gazette des Armes" article (courtesy by @rpbcps), one model "M1923" was introduced in the .351 WSL. This is Model No. 3075 which is in the Museum in France. However, the discussion on this issue at MGB made me doubt it. Because the .351 WSL is longer than the standard .45 ACP or even the .45 Remington-Thompson.
Size cartridges:
1) .45 ACP - 1.275 in;
2) .45 Remington - Thompson - 1.385 in;
3) .45 Peters-Thompson Shot - 1.380 in;
4) .30 Carbine - 1.680 in;
5) .351 WSL - 1.906 in.
There are at least two known conversions of the Thompson SMG made in 1942-43. chambered for .30 Carbine. This cartridge is 1,680 inches long, which is less than the .351 WSL. However, even this required a new wider magazine and receiver.
Photo from The Ultimate Thompson Book by Tracie L. Hill
As for the stores to use the .45 Remington-Thompson. For this, only a special store would be required, without changing / complicating the design of the SMG itself. As an example of this, consider the little-known Peters-Thompson .45 Shot shotgun cartridge designed for riot control and used with the Standard M1921 / M1928. the length of this cartridge is comparable to the length of the .45 Remington-Thompson, but only a slightly wide magazine for 18 rounds was required to use them.
In 1945, in the book "Material part of small arms" from A.A. Blagonravov, along with M1921 and M1928, has a description and two drawings "Thompson M1923". The origin of this "Military Model" in the USSR in 1945 is interesting, and it is named exactly as the "Model of 1923" ... It is likely that this particular model No. 1605 is now in the Museum in St. Petersburg.
Doug Richardson, after conducting his own long-term research of "Military Models", divided them conditionally into "M1922" (with ribbed barrel and bipod from Colt P75) and "M1923" (with smooth most havy barrel, bipod from Hotchkiss Model 1922 machine gun and Krag Bayonet M1896). He also concluded that only two SMGs were ever made for the .45 Remington-Thompson cartridge - both in the "M1922" configuration. The "M1923" version shown by George Goll in the famous photo was most likely a Dummy.
In his famous book "Colt Thompson Submachinegun Serial Numbers & Histories" Gordon Herigstag used the terms Models "M1922" and "M1923" referring to the research of Doug Richards.
Also in his book is mentioned "Model 21LB" Colt-Thompson No2970 chambered for .45 Rem-Thompson. Marked "This Thompson is not a Model 1923. It could be called a" developmental prototype ", a one of a kind special used to develop a product."
In the book "Sturmgever!" by R. Blake Stevens 2004. It is said that in the summer of 1924 in Kummersdorf the Semi-Automatic Rifle (SGew), Regular SMG (MP) and Military SMG (MMP) (all from AOC) were tested for the Reichswehr. Judging by the description, these were Thompson Semi-Auto Rifle M1923, Thompson M1921 and Thompson M1923, respectively. Photo of "Military Model" is attached and the cartridge is listed as a .45 special. This is not surprising because in 1923-24, 615 Thompson SMGs were sent to Germany. Apparently, bypassing the Versailles requirements ..
It is also worth mentioning the image of the Chinese Thompson submachine gun from the Beijing War Museum. It vaguely resembles the "Military Model". In the book "Small arms of China during the 2nd Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945)" by Bing Shi, a description of this model. It is listed as a 7.63x25mm Thomson LMG manufactured by the 21st Army Weapon Repair Division in Sichuan Province.
So let's summarize the known for today "Military models" (aka M1923 or M1922, "Extra Heavy Barrel Military Model"):
1. No. 1605 - Found in Russia in the Museums of Artillery and Signal Troops in St. Petersburg.
2. No. 2594 - located in Denmark at the Royal Danish Arsenal Museum.
3. No. 2970 - placed in RIA for sale on 05/15/2021. This is the so-called test version "Model 21LB" chambered for .45 Rem-Thompson.
4. No. 3075 - located in France. The "Gazette des Armes" lists the .351 WSL cartridge, but this is unlikely.
5. No. 3079 - Found in the United States at the West Point Museums. This model is slightly different from the others, it has a smooth barrel and bipod from the Gochkiss M1922 machine gun.
In any case, the story about TSMG has not yet been written to the end, it is fascinating.
Photo from my Instagram: @allweaponsww2
Edited by allweaponsww2, 05 April 2021 - 06:21 AM.
