HistorianInProgress Posted October 15, 2018 Report Share Posted October 15, 2018 Good afternoon everyone, Hypothetically, if someone got a Thompson T5 or A5 would they be able to replace the aluminum receiver with a steel one? I prefer aesthetic and ergonomics of the shorter barrel, but just about everything I've read says to avoid aluminum receivers for the Thompson so I figured this could be a best of both worlds scenario. I'm just not sure if doing so would be possible and if it is whether or not it would cause the pistol to lose its pistol status and be considered a rifle thereby making it an illegal SBR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giantpune Posted October 15, 2018 Report Share Posted October 15, 2018 (edited) The serial number goes with the receiver. You could do what you're suggesting, but you'd have to get your hands on a steel simi-auto receiver that has not already been built as a rifle. The gun you built would be considered a completely separate firearm than the original aluminum receiver. If you did know where to get a stripped steel receiver, it would be just like in AR-15 land. You could build the receiver as a pistol or rifle. But if the first gun it was ever built into a rifle (either from the factory or in somebody's garage), then it will only ever be able to be a rifle or a NFA regulated SBR/weapon built from a rifle. Edited October 15, 2018 by giantpune Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HistorianInProgress Posted October 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2018 I see, thanks. Going by your comment "If you did know where to get a stripped steel receiver" I'm guessing it's not too common to find stripped/unbuilt receivers? Browsing through gunbroker and a few online parts stores didn't yield any results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anticus Posted October 15, 2018 Report Share Posted October 15, 2018 You won't find one. Neither West Hurley or Kahr ever sold unbuilt receivers to anyone. If you want a short barrel steel Tommy, SBR is the way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HistorianInProgress Posted October 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2018 Dang. Thanks for letting me know though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerslayer Posted October 15, 2018 Report Share Posted October 15, 2018 Kahr doesn't sell bare receivers.. the only option is to build up a semi from one of the very few Richardson receivers he made in semi size... Or build a full auto size dummy receiver into a semi. Pay$200 and get a steel sbr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HistorianInProgress Posted October 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2018 I'm not familiar with the Richardson receivers so I'll look those up but I won't hold my breath. Really the only reason I don't want an SBR is it sounds like too much hassle, such as how (from what I understand) I'd need to notify the ATF in writing in advance if I wanted to take it across state lines. I suppose when I really think about it, it probably wouldn't end up being that much of an inconvenience, but I like the idea of having some leeway with my firearms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giantpune Posted October 16, 2018 Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 Another option is to find the older tommy "pistols". IIRC, back in the day, they were sold with a 13ish inch barrel which brought the overall length to >26". And they were sold with the vertical front grip which keeps them from being a pistol or a rifle. They're simply otherwise uncategorized "firearm" and are not NFA items. If 13.5" barrel is too much, you are allowed to put as short of a barrel as you want on this, as long as you take off the vertical foregrip. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/788366782 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadycon Posted October 16, 2018 Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 That one looks like it's been modified to accept a butt stock................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldtrooper Posted October 16, 2018 Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 That one looks like it's been modified to accept a butt stock.................I noticed that as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herd118 Posted October 16, 2018 Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 Another option is to find the older tommy "pistols". IIRC, back in the day, they were sold with a 13ish inch barrel which brought the overall length to >26". And they were sold with the vertical front grip which keeps them from being a pistol or a rifle. They're simply otherwise uncategorized "firearm" and are not NFA items. If 13.5" barrel is too much, you are allowed to put as short of a barrel as you want on this, as long as you take off the vertical foregrip. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/788366782The circa 1978 WH 1927a5 pistol I had way back then had an aluminum receiver. The steel receiver was only on the carbine version at that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HistorianInProgress Posted October 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2018 Another option is to find the older tommy "pistols". IIRC, back in the day, they were sold with a 13ish inch barrel which brought the overall length to >26". And they were sold with the vertical front grip which keeps them from being a pistol or a rifle. They're simply otherwise uncategorized "firearm" and are not NFA items. If 13.5" barrel is too much, you are allowed to put as short of a barrel as you want on this, as long as you take off the vertical foregrip. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/788366782The circa 1978 WH 1927a5 pistol I had way back then had an aluminum receiver. The steel receiver was only on the carbine version at that time.And how did you like it? Also, thank you giant for the link. I'd already seen it and believing it to be at the crossroads of WH lack of quality with an aluminum receiver I wrote it off, but if new information contradicted my prior belief then I'd look into it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giantpune Posted October 17, 2018 Report Share Posted October 17, 2018 The circa 1978 WH 1927a5 pistol I had way back then had an aluminum receiver. The steel receiver was only on the carbine version at that time. Was that all of the WH pistols with the 2 vertical grips? I've seen a few of them floating around with the seller saying they have steel receivers. I wonder if they just don't know what they have. Probably not a bad idea to have them try to stick a magnet to the receiver before you bid on one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HistorianInProgress Posted October 18, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2018 They do have vertical grips, but everything I've seen on them says aluminum receiver. From what I understand, Kahr made theirs out of aluminum because it was considered too heavy to hold with one hand which apparently restricts it from being classified as a pistol. If that's the case then I'd imagine the same is true for WH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StooperZero Posted October 18, 2018 Report Share Posted October 18, 2018 numrich had a source of bare receivers a few years back for the price of $799 each . they didn't say who or where they came from , at the time you could get a complete pistol or rifle version for $750-850 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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