Arthur Fliegenheimer Posted May 6, 2004 Report Share Posted May 6, 2004 QUOTE Here is my opinion (and I don't know everything so remember that) John Jr, There are some things just too painfully obvious to have to add the above disclaimer. For instance, your grandiloquent and contumelious statement: QUOTE WHY would the US or anyone in the US stamp british proof marks on a gun (with british roll stamps, I might add)in this country that was never over there. The british stamped the guns when they were done using them and PRIOR to shipping them back. If they have brit proofs, they were in british hands. End of story. is sadly contradicted by no other than Frank Iannamico, as well as Smith, Cox and Hogg. The following is from "American Thunder:. QUOTE Guns that were made under contract for the British military were subjected to inspection and were often stamped with prolific British military marks. It is believed that British inspectors were assigned to the Savage factory in Utica, New York to inspect and stamp the Thompson guns that were being made for them under contract. British military acceptance marks were a a crown over a letter/number combination that indicated who inspected the weapon, and additional letters indicating where the inspection took place. So not all proofed Thompson's were done at Birmingham or Enfield England. Therefore, it is not only possible, but highly probable, that not all Brit proof-marked TSMG's crossed the pond. I know Frank's book has nice pictures, but the copy is worth reading also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSU Tiger Posted May 6, 2004 Report Share Posted May 6, 2004 (edited) Aurthur makes a good point. Like the "US Property" No. 4 Mk I Enfield rifles. Not all went to the UK. Nice late '28A1. I do agree that the rear sight was changed, but this could well have been done during a rebuild. Edited May 6, 2004 by LSU Tiger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Jr Posted May 6, 2004 Report Share Posted May 6, 2004 "It is believed" That all it is too. I don't buy it, not for one second, that british inspectors sat around in the savage factory stamping guns. Again WHY would they have done this? What since would this make? I am pretty sure that Hill states in his book that there are Colt guns that have the british proofs that never left the country, I don't buy that either. Refer to page 220. Doesn't make any since, never will. No proof means someones opinion of what might have happened. British proof marks will always remain a mystery for this reason. Cya Kronos John Jr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Jr Posted May 6, 2004 Report Share Posted May 6, 2004 Sight is correct for SN range. Besides they would not have "retrofitted" a late 28 with a Lyman Adjustable, they would have just placed an L on it. I seriously doubt that this gun was rebuilt by the military. With the later SN and by the time the gun would have needed rebuilding there was no care given to matching lowers and uppers. I would rather not venture outside of Thompsons on the british thing, cause then we get into "NOT ENGLISH MAKE." Anyway Be proud of your gun Kyle! Jr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Fliegenheimer Posted May 6, 2004 Report Share Posted May 6, 2004 John Jr, I am sure you were your high school's most incredulous student when it came to accepting facts that didn't square with your tunnel vision. But low and behold, you have flip flopped in less than 2 hours, like the contemporary JFK, from "If they have Brit proofs, they were in British hands. End of story." to "British proof marks will always remain a mystery for this reason. "....... It's a story?...... It's a mystery? ......No...... It's supercilious JJ and his version of truth, justice and the American way. Would your world end tomorrow if you discovered that your Thompson never left the U.S. during WWII? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Jr Posted May 6, 2004 Report Share Posted May 6, 2004 QUOTE Would your world end tomorrow if you discovered that your Thompson never left the U.S. during WWII? Mine is the real deal. No worries there. By the way AF, why don't you try to contribute something to the board rather than sitting behind your computer and hiding like a little school girl. Help out a board member instead of getting banned like you have 3 times before. Stop going to other message boards and posting west hurleys are junk guns and not Thompsons. You need some social skills in the worst way. I have asked you time and time again to join our chat sessions. I have asked you via email to call me on the phone if you needed help in getting into the chat sessions. You never replied. You hide behind a board name, won't tell anyone anything about out and act like an asshole. You are not an asset to this board and you never have been. I know exactly where you are and all about your prized Navy gun, I know who you bought it from, where, when and what you paid for it. Doesn't that give you a nice warm fuzzy. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/laugh.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gijive Posted May 6, 2004 Report Share Posted May 6, 2004 Kyle, Nice looking gun! The gun appears to be just what was stated earlier. It was imported after WWII by Numrich and marked as such. The stamping under the serial number might be importer marks. They were required to marked in some fashion by the concern importing the gun. Do the stampings under the serial number say N.A.O. or N.A.C.? The gun appears to have been rebuilt at some point by a US arsenal, Numrich, the dealer or a prior owner. This is evident by the replacement of the flat paddle-style selector switches with the later M1/M1A1 type. A Savage gun with that serial number range would have the earlier style smooth selectors. The gun has a nice finish and nice wood. It's a keeper! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyle Posted May 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2004 Saw my gun today. This was almost certainly a British gun. What I thought was a "B" is most likely the British crown marking. This would also fit with the theory that Numrich imported this gun from overses- thus the NAC suffix. There are no US Inspector marks on the gun. There MAY be a flaming bomb stamp but it really looks more like an "8" than the actual ordnance mark. Without any "RLB" initials visible anywhere, I just don't believe it is an ordnace mark. The gun has what looks to be a brand new barrel. It is a distinctly different shading than the rest of the gun, which has a brown shading to its color. The bolt, Blish lock, and actuator are all Savage but the actuator knob is smooth. I think it should be knurled. The bolt may be unused based on the condition of the bolt face and extractor. The wood is in excellent condiditon. The forend is stamped "M" for Modine. All in all, it is a very nice example of '28A1 Lend-Lease Thompson. That frankly was not what I thought I was buying and I am pretty disappointed. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/sad.gif Not because the gun isn't in excellent condition but because I had an entirely different picture of what I was buying. Seller has offerred to refund money but after looking so long for any gun, I just don't have the heart to go through all that again. Thanks again to everyone for your help in understanding the history of this gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMGguy Posted May 6, 2004 Report Share Posted May 6, 2004 Kyle, Congratulations on a great gun! Mine is virtually identical to yours, Sn. 339xxxNAC. I believe it to be an absolutely original mid production run M1928A1. It differs from yours only (that I can see) in that it has a bright bolt and plain, paddle style pivot and safety. All original WWII USGI parts. Serials match. It is very accurate, shooting precisely to the point where the sights are set. Rest easy, you're getting a great gun! Note the frosted blue on your receiver, and the subtle differences in the bluing and finish on the rest of the parts. Had it been refinished, all parts would have an identical appearance. BTW, one identical to yours was on subguns.com last year at $25,000, NIB.Arthur has the story exactly right. The NAC marking has been thrashed on this board until it hurts. Run a search for the whole story. Again, congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walter63a Posted May 7, 2004 Report Share Posted May 7, 2004 Kyle, that's a great Thompson! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif Unfortunately, here in New Yorkistan we are prevented, by law, from owning these beauties! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/blink.gif http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/mad.gif I can only envy your acquisition, until I escape from totalitarian rule, and the 'gulag state.' http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/cool.gif Regards, Walter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyle Posted May 7, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2004 QUOTE (colt21a @ May 6 2004, 09:28 PM) kyle are you burney from florida?? No... I'm Kyle from Texas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now