Thompson: On The Side Of Law And Order

[Roland, Headless Thompson Gunner]

I'm headed to the Premier tomorrow. The invite says "Business Attire". Does that mean sidearms are required?

[full auto 45]

Yes, but it must be in a real leather holster.

Take lot's of pictures and pick up a extra poster or two for me! You could give it to roadking (Tino) I'll see him in a couple weeks at Knob Creek.

[Roland, Headless Thompson Gunner]

I'll give Wayne your regards Mike and see what I can do about a poster. If I can get a couple I'll send you one, or maybe i'll put ti on Ebay! I'll post some pics if they let me take em.

 

[Roland, Headless Thompson Gunner]

Just got back from the opening of the "On the side of Law and Order" exhibit. Pretty classy affiar, I was underdressed in my jacket and collar with no tie. Of course halfway to Gaithersburg realized I had forgot my camera and turning back in rush hour DC traffic is not an option, so sorry no pics. Which was ashame since they had a cool ice sculpture of the Thomposn Bullet logo and and a Navy Overstamp. You could just make out the & if you got there early.

 

Opening remarks were by VPs of the NRA. The woman VP Sandy did admit she thought that Senator Thompson of Law and Order was going to be there. But she did say she moved to Arizona to escape California gun laws and so she could own a machinegun and shoot it in her backyard.

 

John Woods accepted a plaque on behalf of the TCA. The grandaughter and great grandaughters of Gen. Thompson were there as well as the son of Theodore Eickoff, who each made a few remarks. With a little coaxing they got Tracie Hill to say a few words and he thanked all the contributors to the exhibit. I think they said there are 24 guns on display.

 

It was my fist trip to the NFM and its not huge but they sure pack a lot of weapons in a small area, somthing like 4000 items on display. The THompons were in about 6 large cases with different themes. There was one dedicated to Gen. Thompson, another to the movies, military etc. No gangsters though.

 

Any futher descriptions I give wouldnt do it justice, I'm sure others who were there can add alot more. Got to meet Tracie and John and a few other TCA members so that was cool.

 

Sorry they didnt give out any posters, but Mike I got you a program. Send me your address and I'll send it to you. The program autographed by the Thompson and Eickoff family will be on eBay to help subsidize my shooter.

 

I'm sure you will all enjoy the exhibit during this summers Show and Shoot

 

[Roland, Headless Thompson Gunner]

Also Sandy from the NRA dexcirbe seeing 2 Thompsons on display a the Tucson Police Department, supposedly captured from John Dillinger. A third was presumed to be in the hands oa a local A fourth Thompson was unaccounted for. She said "wouldnt it be somthing if you could find that/" To which I believe Tracie replied "If it was registered".

[gijive]

Here are some preliminary pictures from the NRA Thompson Exhibit last evening. It was quite the affair as previously mentioned. The Ruger Gallery is very classy looking as you can see by the pictures. More pictures to follow in a day or so.

 

http://members.aol.com/chuck375/Gallery3.jpg

 

http://members.aol.com/chuck375/Gallery1.jpg

 

http://members.aol.com/chuck375/Gallery2.jpg

 

And here is the ice sculpture, complete with fifty round drum.

 

http://members.aol.com/chuck375/Gallery5.jpg

 

The pictures have been resized at the suggestion of PhilOhio to allow dial-up modems to load the pictures faster.

[hawksnest]

Great pictures gijive: Many thanks to all who donated or helped on a truly classic display. Hey gi, since the ice sculpture is post 86, would that make it a "dealer sample" ice sculpture? http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/blink.gif

[gijive]

Hawksnest,

 

I believe you're right. I guess a Class III Dealer would have needed to be on hand to set up the ice display, too!

[gijive]

Here are some additional pictures of the display and ceremonies.

 

http://members.aol.com/Ace1730/Gallery6.jpg

 

http://members.aol.com/Ace1730/Gallery7.jpg

 

General Thompson's personal gun with experimental barrel and prototype for the Cutts compensator.

 

http://members.aol.com/Ace1730/Gallery8.jpg

 

Here are members of the TCA Club accepting the award from the NRA.

 

http://members.aol.com/Ace1730/Gallery9.jpg

 

 

 

 

[hawksnest]

Thanks GI, nice photos. For those of you who are not yet members of the Thompson Collectors Association, you should consider joining now. In addition to receiving the quarterly "Thompson Collector News" you can also attend the annual Thompson show and shoot, which this year will be held August 5 thru 7 at the National Rifle Association Firearms Museum and the NRA firing range. Pre-registration is a must. The annual dues are $30.00. Send your name, address and payment to TCA, P.O. Box 8710, Newark, Ohio 43055.

[giantpanda4]

Great photos!

Great exhibits!

Damn I wish I lived closer to DC......

 

THANKS!

 

[giantpanda4]

Phil,

 

Yes, the only Giantpandas in DC are in the zoo!

I do mean more like Lynchburg, where my brother lives. Very nice and far enough away from the Zoo(s)! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

 

 

[aut-ord-co]

 

Nice photos GIjive! And good to see you again.

 

It was a great opening and an outstanding exhibit.

Everyone, if you can, try to view the Thompson exhibit this August at the TCA Show or anytime before December 31, 2004. This grouping of Thompson guns, accessories and atifacts is truly unique.

 

If you like airplanes and have some time, go over near the Dulles Airport (short ride) and come nose to nose with an SR-71 Blackbird at the companion facility to the National Air & Space Museum. There is a large impressive collection of all eras of aircraft there.

 

Rare Thompson guns, the NRA Museum, an SR-71, a huge building of aircraft and ...the Maryland Arms Collectors gun show at the Timonium fairgrounds...it was not a bad weekend!