Z3BigDaddy Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 I picked this up in a parts set I bought at the Big Reno Gun Show. It came with a Richardson 28 receiver and an M1A1 barrel with lots-0-little parts. Kind of a messed up set of parts and pieces. I paid 500 bucks for the pile so I hope I didn't get ripped off to bad. I don't know Colt's bolt from shinola so here are some pics for your long drawn out opinions...... http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p178/z3bigdaddy/Thompson%20Stuff/twopieceactuator11212014a_zps4e422e18.jpg http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p178/z3bigdaddy/Thompson%20Stuff/twopieceactuator11212014c_zpsf359f802.jpg http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p178/z3bigdaddy/Thompson%20Stuff/twopieceactuator11212014b_zpsa5f1f631.jpg http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p178/z3bigdaddy/Thompson%20Stuff/twopieceactuator11212014d_zpscbc36eb9.jpg http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p178/z3bigdaddy/Thompson%20Stuff/twopieceactuator11212014e_zps3161516c.jpg http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p178/z3bigdaddy/Thompson%20Stuff/twopieceactuator11212014f_zpsb9d3ab71.jpg http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p178/z3bigdaddy/Thompson%20Stuff/twopieceactuator11212014g_zps1bd24826.jpg http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p178/z3bigdaddy/Thompson%20Stuff/twopieceactuator11212014h_zpsa356ba2e.jpg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThompsonCrazy Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 (edited) Wow! Good questions! The actuator knurling doesn't appear wide enough to be a Colt but certainly is a two piece. Not the first one we've encountered with welded on weight when the rivet becomes loose. Thought maybe someone welded on a knob that broke off but the only heat marks appear to be from the weight section. The slot in the knob section is also not teardrop shaped like a Colt. The bolt doesn't appear to have the signature Colt chamfur on the rear and I thought they were unmarked. Remington replacement? http://www.nfatoys.com/tsmg/tcn/1999/aug/aug1999p1.htmhttp://www.machinegunboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=7582 My vote is for not Colt on either but interested in what others think. TC Edited November 22, 2014 by ThompsonCrazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DLansky Posted November 22, 2014 Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 not only is the checkering incorrect for a colt actuator, the ears make a u shape that is consistent with military actuators and not the teardrop shape seen on the colt actuators. I concur with TC on his analysis of he bolt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARK2112 Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 Richardsons recievers are $600.00 alone so......i think you got your moneys worth on just that alone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giantpanda4 Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 $600? Mine was nearer to $1,400.....!!! But - funny, I have an actuator that looks almost exactly like that one. Came in a parts kit. I will look at it and come up with any comparison observations I can find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARK2112 Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 Inflation.......lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z3BigDaddy Posted December 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2014 So I am a bit confuzed about this now. We agree it is a two piece bolt but that the actuator that is attached to the bolt bottom is not Colt's. So the actuator is made by Savage then? Who all made the thin actuators? Certainly you are not saying that someone milled down a bolt them made a two piece after the fact. I guess it could be someone making a bogus two piece actuator.... Hmmmm... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandman1957 Posted December 4, 2014 Report Share Posted December 4, 2014 Original Colt weighted actuators bring over 1000 or more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bug Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 The "R" marked bolt appears to be a legitimate Remington WWll unit. The actuator looks like some sort of home made project/repair thingy. As far as I know only Colt made thin actuators and that ain't one of them based on the knurling on the knob. It may be a combination of a broken rear portion of a Colt 2 pc actuator and the front of a WWll unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief762 Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 Nice photography, though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z3BigDaddy Posted December 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 My final conclusion is this: This is an actual 2 piece Colt's actuator that for whatever reason has had a new knob welded on. I suspect the Colt's knob busted and this one replaced it. It has original blue down to the grind line if front and heat discolor from the welding. The rest of it looks identical to those I see pictured elsewhere. Don't know the value on a repaired one, that will be determined when it goes to auction. http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p178/z3bigdaddy/Thompson%20Stuff/2pieceColts12122014a_zps445facbf.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z3BigDaddy Posted February 12, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2019 Well let's see what it does, five years later..... Bet you didn't even know the Z3 f****r was still alive. Been a while since I have done Thompson parts, so don't know if the auction will make it to the end or not. https://www.ebay.com/itm/143129049120?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black River Militaria CII Posted February 12, 2019 Report Share Posted February 12, 2019 No visual indication that any welding or milling has been done below the knob so it has not been “repaired” in my opinion. I’ve been welding for 55 years and on MGs for 35 to this day and have seen every possible effort to disguise welded seams and there is no way, especially on vintage MG parts with disparate base and rod alloys. Years ago I welded back togethr a single saw cut ‘28 Thompson receiver and from the parts of another Savage torched receiver made some sections of narrow “rod” to TIG the seam. After welding, I annealed the receiver and finished ou the seam which looked really good but there was still evidence of a welded seam. It oxided well and the seam disappeared, but with close inspection the seam was still there. I don’t see any possible seam or weld evidence in the close up of the knob and the slight heat blued area tells you nothing. FWIW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melvin Posted February 12, 2019 Report Share Posted February 12, 2019 Z3BigDaddy,I have some good pictures of side by side comparison of a Colt and Savage. The Colt has proper provenance . I have examined a few Colts and it is correct.Good luck with your auction . Chuck K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z3BigDaddy Posted February 13, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2019 Ok,I changed my auction a bit. Thanks for the input. I did add a caveat to look very closely on the photos though. As pointed out way back when the knurling on the knob is suspect. I guess imaging would tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speeddemon02 Posted February 13, 2019 Report Share Posted February 13, 2019 I saw the post about Z3BigDaddy, and thought to myself, hey, havent seen him post in a while I guess he is still alive. Then you go and call that exact thought out, bravo sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colt21a Posted February 15, 2019 Report Share Posted February 15, 2019 I was glad the post was about this and Not that we lost another member.Looks like a Nice actuator....And every Thompson guy needs some action.hope you do okay with it.Ron Colt21a Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z3BigDaddy Posted February 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 I was glad the post was about this and Not that we lost another member.Looks like a Nice actuator....And every Thompson guy needs some action.hope you do okay with it.Ron Colt I'm a lot like herpes... just last forever... can't get rid of me. As much as some un-named people tried. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NFA amnesty Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 I was glad the post was about this and Not that we lost another member.Looks like a Nice actuator....And every Thompson guy needs some action.hope you do okay with it.Ron Colt I'm a lot like herpes... just last forever... can't get rid of me. As much as some un-named people tried. Wow, just looked at your profile and you are 97 years old! You remind me of my grandfather who lived to be 107. That guy was still following the stock market daily, and could hold a decent conversation right up to the end. He was in the Kansas National Guard and wore the old blue calvary uniform. Were you in the military during WW2, Korea, Vietnam? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim c 351 Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 I saw a picture of Z3 once and he doesn't look a day over 93.Jim C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z3BigDaddy Posted February 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 I was glad the post was about this and Not that we lost another member.Looks like a Nice actuator....And every Thompson guy needs some action.hope you do okay with it.Ron Colt I'm a lot like herpes... just last forever... can't get rid of me. As much as some un-named people tried. Wow, just looked at your profile and you are 97 years old! You remind me of my grandfather who lived to be 107. That guy was still following the stock market daily, and could hold a decent conversation right up to the end. He was in the Kansas National Guard and wore the old blue calvary uniform. Were you in the military during WW2, Korea, Vietnam? Actually truth be told, that is the birthday of the 1921 Thompson I used to own... I did not participate in any conflicts but that is a whole nother story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron_brock Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 I think he had a short service in WWI before going AWOL. Lol, glad to see you back. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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