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Savage made Thompson 1928 A1 - PICTURES


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Hello everybody

 

I am new on this forum so first of all thanks for having me. Amazing wealth of knowledge and information.

 

I reside in Switzerland, and had the chance to acquire what I understand to be a Savage built Thompson 1928 A1. Serial Nbr S-326252.

 

I admit not knowing much about these, but I am willing and eager to learn.

Switzerland is a gun country, with a militia army, a solid tradition of shooting, with service rifles being kept at home, and available to soldiers when they finish their service for a very modest fee (full autos being converted to semi auto only).
Swiss attics are full of K11 & 31, Sig 510 & 550, as well as the whole array of Swiss issue handguns. A guy at the local range just bought a Sig P 210 army for 500.-
As to full auto weapons, unlike the US (1986 act?), they are legal to own under certain circumstances (sizeable collection, serious security and safe storage) but very difficult to shoot. You have to ask for a special permit for a specific date (cost 100.-) and a range that agrees. Not easy.
So there is a good supply of all kinds of full auto weapons, old and new (M16, AK 47, HK G33 & MP5, Glock 18, Sten, UZI, modern SIGs etc) at reasonable prices (typically 2 to 3 grands).
The 1928 A1 cost me 2200 Swiss francs (abt the same in US$). The modern semi auto only version is sold for 2700 here, so it was an easy decision for me. Still awaiting permit and delivery, here is a picture from the auction house, it comes with another two straight mags (20&30 rds). I will take and post pictures as soon as my permit clears and I receive the gun, should be a few weeks.
http://i19.servimg.com/u/f19/18/96/16/39/image36.jpg
Can someone tell me manufacture date please ? And opinions, comments from the knowledgeable people are are welcome.
Thanks
Edited by CLASSIC12
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I don't have any of the books to help out with specifics about your TSMG but I just wanted to say congrats on the great score!

I'm sure one of the guys well chime in soon.

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CLASSIC12,

Welcome to the Board. That is a very nice looking Savage 1928A1. I am sure I speak for everyone when saying we all anxiously await more pictures.

 

Question: Does your Savage have any British proof markings? It definitely has that British look to it.

 

Regarding the date of manufacture, there is no master list of Thompson submachine gun serial numbers by month and year of production by either World War II manufacturer. However, knowing that the 1928 model was replaced in mid-1942 with the M1 Thompson, and the highest found Savage Thompson guns seem to be in the 550,000 serial number range, it is easy to surmise your gun was most likely manufactured in very late 1941 or early 1942. Others on the Board study this subject in more detail than I and may be able to offer a smaller date range.

 

Again, congratulations on your new Thompson!

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  • 1 month later...

Well it has been a long time, between travelling, receiving the permit, travelling again. But it has arrived

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4910.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4911.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4912.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4913.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4914.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4915.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4916.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4917.jpg

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Markings

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4817.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4818.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4918.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4919.jpg

 

Those are inspector marks I suppose ?

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4920.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4921.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4922.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4923.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4924.jpg

 

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Magazine

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4925.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4819.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4820.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4821.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4822.jpg

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Well it's an old gun, it's clearly been used and no safe queen, some wear and tear

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4926.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4927.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4928.jpg

 

Looks like someone went at the barrel with large plyers

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4929.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4930.jpg

 

Fore end grip is badly cracked and partially glued back together

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4932.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4933.jpg

 

First detail strip

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_5010.jpg

 

Mmmh something is missing ... where the h*** is the recoil spring

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4934.jpg

 

http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/18/96/16/39/img_4935.jpg

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Congratulations on a great purchase! You'll treasure that Tommy forever.

 

I'm curious. I understand that your service rifles must be permanently converted to semi-auto, but it doesn't appear that your Thompson has been tampered with. Are you able to own fully-operational full autos?

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Congratulations on a great purchase! You'll treasure that Tommy forever.

 

I'm curious. I understand that your service rifles must be permanently converted to semi-auto, but it doesn't appear that your Thompson has been tampered with. Are you able to own fully-operational full autos?

 

Yes on both, army rifles are converted to semi auto, and full autos are legal to own. Kindly look at post # 1.

 

The army is happy to supply service rifles in the name of sport and marksmanship (similar to the DCM / CMP in the U.S. I suppose), but there is no need to leave the full auto function for 300 m target shooting.

Edited by CLASSIC12
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Not to sound stupid but you do realize that the oiler goes against the back of the receiver with the recoil spring guide rod passing through it and then out the back of the receiver? You have it assembled backwards in your picture.

 

Congrats on a very nice looking Thompson

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nice Thompson, looking at the barrel chewed up and it appears the vertical grip mount is not fully in the receiver, from the picture the tab usually behind the barrel has sheared off, possibly they tried to pull the barrel to address this issue.

 

if you wish to shoot this can you convert by simply getting hold of another lower with the selector fixed in semi position? possibly a lever from a M1A1 with the cross pin removed

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That is a GREAT piece of history you have there, very neat! I agree it has been around, British home guard perhaps? It doesn't appear to have been shot much if at all. The compensator has no carbon fouling at all, none in the slots, none in the inside below the cuts, none. I know it may have been replaced but it sure looks original to the rest of the gun. There doesn't seem to be any wear on the bolt or Blish Lock from running a bunch of ammo either. The hammer, hammer pivot pin and firing pin spring all seem to be missing along with the recoil spring. Perhaps this was a demonstration/function weapon for the home guard that was carried from place to place for safe training purposes, really great Savage Thompson.

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Inspection marks, to the best of my limited knowledge:

 

Flaming bomb: U.S. Military acceptance.

GEG: George E. Goll, Auto Ordnance inspector

RLB: I think means Roy L. Bowlin, Savage inspector, but I'm not sure...

 

Thompsonstocks.com for fore grip. Not sure if he ships overseas.

 

I don't know where to get the missing firing mechanism parts in Europe.

 

Many parts are available here but can't be exported due to ITAR.

 

It takes special tools and knowledge to remove a Thompson barrel. Whoever tried obviously had neither.

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Congratulations on your 1928A1 CLASSIC12 and welcome to the board.

 

 

Very nice indeed!

 

 

That's a nice one! Thanks for the good information on your country and its laws.

 

Robert

 

 

Congratulations on your new Thompson.

 

And thanks for posting an exceptionally nice set of high resolution photographs.

 

 

Congratulations on your Tommy!

 

 

Great looking gun! It will be lots of fun.

 

 

Thanks to all for the compliments and welcome.

Edited by CLASSIC12
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Not to sound stupid but you do realize that the oiler goes against the back of the receiver with the recoil spring guide rod passing through it and then out the back of the receiver? You have it assembled backwards in your picture.

 

Congrats on a very nice looking Thompson

 

Nothing stupid in that, I am fairly ignorant of the TSMG at this stage and found it like that when I filed stripped it, but I am willing and eager to learn, so thanks for the tip. Will try to find correct illustrations and familiarize myself with the gun.

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nice Thompson, looking at the barrel chewed up and it appears the vertical grip mount is not fully in the receiver, from the picture the tab usually behind the barrel has sheared off, possibly they tried to pull the barrel to address this issue.

 

if you wish to shoot this can you convert by simply getting hold of another lower with the selector fixed in semi position? possibly a lever from a M1A1 with the cross pin removed

 

You are right the grip mount is not properly installed and there is some wiggle room in it. Guess the whole barrel and grip mount have to be removed and re-assembled ?

 

I will have opportunities to shoot it in single action at a regular range, and maybe some opportunities in full auto at a privately owned range.

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