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M3 Versus Tsmg


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After reading the post of the M-16 v. TSMG, I thought you guys would like to render opinions on why people charge nearly the same price for an M3 as others charge for a TSMG (I am talking about M1's and M1A1's). http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/ph34r.gif
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I am trying to collect all the WW2 US infantry weapons and I will not include the M3 Grease Gun. I held one once and thats all I needed to do. They are like a, well, you know, a.... piece of shit. They replaced the Thompson and thats enought to piss me off alone. Just my 2cents worth.

 

Jr

 

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John they are a piece opf shit but reliable, and simple!

 

They are the US version of the Sten!

 

If you collect semi auto versioins NO WAY would I buy one they are BIG time expensive for a stamped out gun

 

But hey we all have our opinions!

 

I like all guns, I am a gun nut, I LOVE machine guns, ANY types any kinds!

 

My favorite is the Thompson 1921A Colt to be exact I love the look without the compensator, that is why I built this post sample, I only need to finish it off!

 

Hey just for the hell of it, I belong to a gun club up here in North Eastern Ohio that is Automatic friendly, we host a military shoot twice a year in the spring and the fall if anyone is interested drop me a line, it is an open invitation for ANYONE on this board and I will let ALL of you try my autos if you make it out!

 

Dave

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I am trying to collect all the WW2 US infantry weapons and I will not include the M3 Grease Gun. I held one once and thats all I needed to do. They are like a, well, you know, a.... piece of shit. They replaced the Thompson and thats enought to piss me off alone. Just my 2cents worth.

 

Jr

 

I realize that it is your opinion that the M3 is a piece of shi t. However, you cannot discount the fact that it IS a weapon that was issued during WWII and will forever go down in history as being such. If you are serious collector, you will not allow your personal emotions to interfere with your logic. By saying that you do not recognize the M3, and not wanting it means that you are disallowing yourself to have a 100% complete USGI small arms collection. I would love to get my hands on the real M3 Grease Gun. I only need that and the BAR. The BAR is in the works for the future.

I hate the M3 for replacing the Thompson. But that doesnt mean that I would disallow it into a collection.

 

MIke

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I lack the Bar and M3 as well, but I will be damned if I pay 10K for a POS like that gun is.

 

I have an M1 Garand and 3 Carbines (all Winchester) from the CMP. I have a Rem Rand 1911, 03 Spring, 28 Thompson, 1919A4 so far. BAR's cost like rip, so I have been slow on getting one of these. The M3 is the only gun that I would consider in Semi. I could SBR it and pull the trigger as fast as that POS fires.

 

Again just my opinion

 

Jr

 

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For some odd reason when I read the topic name, I though of the M3 carbine..

 

Anywho.. I don't believe many people supported the replacement of the thompson, but like said it has its place in history. Though it is kinda odd on how highly priced they are for something so few care for.

 

Dave - I might take you up on that some time...

 

 

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I feel asleep shooting an M3 once http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif If I were going for a complete WWII US collection I would have to include an M3 (tolerable to own) and a Reising (wretch, gag, puke). Neither has really floated my boat, but I know plenty of people with otherwise excellent taste who love them (to each their own). Some like chunky chicks. Some like skinny chicks. Some like long hair, some like short hair.

 

The Thompson kicks a s s on both guns and neither could ever replace the Thompson. JMHO.

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I would have to agree with Bob, I think, just because M-3's were not very desirable (pre 86) not many were registered, hence (supply and demand) the high prices today. I have both a Colt Navy and a Guidelamp M-3. There is no comparison between the two. The Colt Navy is a Harley and the M-3 is a Vespa; but both are fun to shoot, and both have a definite place in history. I have found it interesting that when I show both of them to people who "don't know" those people tend to be drawn to the M-3....go figure. BTW, both of them will kill the hell out of pumpkins the Thompson is just a faster kill!
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Now I will mention my grandfather in which I am doing too much of. During the 2nd he refused to even pick up one, because he never was trained on them at all. No one in his squad knew how to reload it, nonetheless maintain it. They were all trained early in the war and for the most part not many of them died.

 

Just a side note, he did get his Thompson replaced, once. It was when it was really beat up from use(but still never jammed). He went up to a tank crewman when they were not in combat and asked how much the guy used his. The crewman responded that it wasn't fired once and was still in the bag(?) it came with. So he asked to trade off and the guy accepted it... This was all to get it replaced and avoid getting a grease gun. A thompson brought him that far in the war and he wanted it to finish the job.

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With all the tube guns registered before '86 in stens, MP40's, Swedish K's, and the like, I'm amazed someone didn't make an M3 tube. Were they so unpopular, or the parts kits unavailable? Why would Wilson or Erb and the rest overlook the M3?
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My buddy just called and got me all excited about all the fun we will have at the next shoot in Oregun.

 

Here are a few of my "American" collection that will be on the table for rent http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

 

Yes Hawk there is a "AO" M2 carbine.

 

My M3 carbine has that stupid IR sight on it and it's no fun with all the junk hanging on/off it so it won't be going! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/laugh.gif

 

 

http://home1.gte.net/gyroman/photos/toys.jpg

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Bob, great BAR. That is one of my intended next purchases. I found a Group Industries here in Indiana, but price is a little higher than what I want to pay right now. The M2 is also a "next" on the list.
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It just so happens that i have (2) M-2 Carbines. One of you WW2 fanatic collectors should take one of them off my hands

 

One is a Plainfield Machine M-2 RR in excellent shape...runs perfectly (in posession), the other is a Saginaw SG carbine overstamped M2 by Rock island armory...runs perfectly ("pending")

 

Bryan

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Very nice collection Bob http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/smile.gif

 

The M3 was much harder to make than a simple tube gun. It involved two deeplty stamped receiver halves (like a clam shell) being welded around the entire profile of the receiver. Not hard for General Motors to make (especially when they had the stamping and welding tooling and procedures used in auto component construction). It's a different story for for your average small time tube gun maker. Parts availability dictated to some degree if pre ban guns were made also. There weren't a lot of M3 grease guns made and many served well into the 1980's for armor crewmen. IIRC, prior to the ban (maybe even back in the 1960's) a company called Medea (sp?) bought a bunch of Ithaca M3 receiver halves and welded them up themselves. Some of those guns are out there. Some of those receiver halves are still out there.

 

I missed out on the only M3 I ever thought about buying in the late 1980's when they were still "cheap". http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/sad.gif

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Thanks for the kudo's all, anyone going to Albany?

 

Media Corp....Think there is one still for sale on Buddy's board for around 11.5K. Mine is a Guide Lamp.

 

The Madsen M50 is one also built in two halfs of stamped sheet held together with the barrel nut. Pretty cool idea but a pain to get back together if you're in a hurry http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/laugh.gif

 

Mike, the BAR is a strange duck, I can't hit the broad side of a barn from the hip, but off the shoulder mine seems to shoot like a Garand...only full auto and smooth like a Thompson. Go ahead and step up to the plate take her for a test ride, you may not get another chance http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/sad.gif

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I'm off to the SAR show on the 5th of Dec, so who knows, maybe I'll see one out there I just can't live without.

USMC-2-USN; if the price is right...............you can email me if you want with details.

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I'll be there the 5th and 6th...hope to see some of you in sunny Phoenix http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif
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I might as well throw my hat in, my dad was armor and was trained on the M3, his coments going to a gunshow were interesting. He said they never jambed but after a while the internals got worn down and they tended to run away at a light jar or failing to stop when you let off the trigger. As he was active threw the 80's I suspect these guns were quite worn, but still, I've never heard of a Thompson doing that. He got to fire my Uncles (other side of family) M1A1 and said if he could have one he wanted the Thompson.

 

As an aside I know of a National Guard Armory where they were M3A1's were in stock till 89.

 

Bob, you have a very nice colection, throw in a UD 42 and a Resing and about all the bases are covered.

 

BB

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Had a Resing, don't know if I really want another http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif

UD42 would be cool but they are pretty scarce. As well as the Hyde 35, and the M2 Hyde (400 made).

 

The M3 does have a weak sear and rather wimpy spring...but they were not intended to last 60 years with heavy use. The Thompson and BAR (or most of JMB designs) are built to last a millennium http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

 

Thompsons have their problems, as any mechanical device can break that's why we all have spare parts!

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One thing I do remember about the Grease Gun, was you could cock it with one hand by holding the pistol grip and sharply thrusting the gun straight backwards. The inertia would carry the bolt backwards and lock it back. ALWAYS done with an empty gun.

 

As much as I would not spend 10K on one today. I'm really pissed about the one I lost out on in the late 80's. Damn small town politics.

 

 

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Ya, that's a John Wayne way to cock one!

 

Well, I'm off to the range to warm up the ole '21/28...gotta practice for the match on the 14th.

And I need all the practice I can get...well maybe not "need" but "want"! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

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