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Did the lowers on Colt Thompsons change strictly at serial number 3001


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Just curious about this. if it was an exact change at 3000, or just a random number close to 3000, or maybe there is no way to know?

Michaelkih,

 

No, it was not an exact change at serial number 3000. That is the general range where the Full Auto/Single and the horizontal Fire/Safe arrows replaced the earlier Semi-Automatic/Automatic and vertical Fire/Safe arrows. Both style markings have been observed on guns before and after serial number 3000. For example, one of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre guns # 2347 has the later style Full Auto/Single markings and horizontal Fire/Safe arrows.

 

For the newer members that haven't seen some of the stuff before, here is a close-up of SVDM Gun # 2347. Notice the three small filing marks at the bottom of the trigger guard and the later-style Full Auto/Single markings:

 

2347 Close Up.jpg

 

 

Just for reference, here is the other SVDM gun, # 7580. Notice the two file marks at the bottom of the trigger guard on this one. Fred Burke was a busy guy.

 

7580 Close Up 1.jpg

 

 

 

Edited by gijive
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2ndArmored,

 

Thanks for posting the picture of the earlier markings. Ironic that you chose that photo, I know the fellow that used to own that gun. I believe the picture you show is from when it was sold at auction at Rock Island Auctions. It was a very nice 1921A Model in excellent condition. I remember looking at the auction pictures and saw that RIA changed out the wood on the gun. The rear grip in the picture is not the original grip that was on the gun. I may have some original pictures somewhere taken in about 2005 when Gordon Herigstad examined the gun and several others that my friend owned. If I can find them I will post a couple.

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All,

 

Here are the pictures from about 2005 or 2006 when Gordon was inspecting some guns, including No. 2221, pictured in 2ndArmored's post. The wood was definitely replaced by RIA when the gun was auctioned.

 

Enjoy the photos:

 

No 2221-1.jpg No 2221-3.jpg No 2221-2.jpg

 

Gordon H Examining Guns.jpg 1921 Models.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Gijive, pardon my confusion but I don't understand how the auction house could swap the wood. Did they purchase this gun then dress it up with nicer furniture they had on hand? Surely they couldn't swap it out if the gun was on consignment .... could they?

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Gijive, pardon my confusion but I don't understand how the auction house could swap the wood. Did they purchase this gun then dress it up with nicer furniture they had on hand? Surely they couldn't swap it out if the gun was on consignment .... could they?

Canuck,

 

You bring up a good point, but I really don't know the answer to that. I don't know if the gun was on consignment or not. I know that the gun was sold along with another Colt Thompson that I used to own to a gentleman in Texas. I am getting this story from the dealer that sold the guns, not just speculation. The individual that bought the guns died a few years after purchasing them and they ended up at RIA. I don't know if they were purchased from the estate or were on consignment. Both No 2221 and the gun I formerly owned were eventually sold at RIA Auctions. I can tell you that the wood had also been changed on my former gun. It did not have the original Colt wood on it that it had when sold to my dealer friend. He didn't change the wood when he sold both guns as a package deal.

 

The person that bought my former gun posted information on the Thompson Board a couple of years ago seeking information about the gun. I contacted him and it turns out he did some sort of work or was connected to RIA in some fashion. I told him the whole history of the gun including the fact that the wood was not original. He mentioned that it was not uncommon for RIA to "spruce up" certain things on guns or change wood as they saw fit. He understood that the wood had been changed and seemed to accept that fact.

 

In the case of No. 2221, the wood was not nicer than the original wood on the gun. I will post some more pictures shortly pointing out a couple of differences.

 

Canuck,

 

I found additional pictures from the original auction. Below are pictures of the gun with original wood and the pictures from the RIA Auction. I think the pictures should be self-explanatory.

 

No 2221 Auction Photo-marked.jpg No 2221-marked.jpg

 

No 2221 Auction Photo-marked-1.jpg No 2221 Auction Photo-marked-2.jpg No 2221-2-CU-marked.jpg

 

No 2221-2(1).jpg

 

I didn't think it was necessary to even mark up the differences in the buttstock. They are clearly not the same. As I mentioned earlier the wood on my former gun had all been changed as well.

Edited by gijive
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