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Thompson Pistol Braces


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Not really a concern of mine being that I have an SBR, but some people may be interested to know these are out there.

 

Cheaper than a tax stamp, but I wonder how many rounds you could put through the pistol with this thing before it broke:

https://customsmithmfg.com/shop?olsPage=products%2Fthompson-pistol-tailhook-host

 

Not sure who makes this one...it seems more robust, but I can't tell how it is secured to the lower:

http://midwestgundealer.com/index.php/listings/550-2/?id=3260

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  • 4 weeks later...

What is the Difference between these Tailhook item and a Buttstock??

The Tail Hook is an arm brace and can be used on pistols with a barrel shorter than 10.5" keeping it a "Pistol". Whereas the buttstock can only be used on a firearm with a barrel no shorter than 10.5" without applying for an SBR through the ATF. Simple and confusing, but hey, that's what the ATF is all about. But, this is the fun part! The firearm had to begin life as a pistol and not a rifle in order to put a brace on it, otherwise you have to have the firearm "re-classified" as a pistol by submitting a different form at your LGS to the ATF (not sure which form it is).

Edited by tray burge
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So if you take a 1927 Thompson Pistol and screw on permanently attach a Arm Brace( stock) it's not a Short Barrel Rifle ??

And Legal.

But if you take the Semi M1 Thompson, which has a screw on permanent attached Stock,

install a Pistol Barrel(10.5)....and call the Stock an Arm Brace it is totally Illegal.

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So if you take a 1927 Thompson Pistol and screw on permanently attach a Arm Brace( stock) it's not a Short Barrel Rifle ??

And Legal.

But if you take the Semi M1 Thompson, which has a screw on permanent attached Stock,

install a Pistol Barrel(10.5)....and call the Stock an Arm Brace it is totally Illegal.

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I like the one in the 1st link, makes it look really sweet, if I didnt have a custom built SBR id go for it!

 

The more I looked at it, the more I could get used to it, kind of a Thompson/MP5 hybrid. Not a bad option if SBR is not possible...probably makes the gun a fair amount lighter too.

 

The firearm had to begin life as a pistol and not a rifle in order to put a brace on it...

 

I didn't realize you can't put a brace on a rifle...these laws are more inane than I could've imagined.

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So if you take a 1927 Thompson Pistol and screw on permanently attach a Arm Brace( stock) it's not a Short Barrel Rifle ??

And Legal.

But if you take the Semi M1 Thompson, which has a screw on permanent attached Stock,

install a Pistol Barrel(10.5)....and call the Stock an Arm Brace it is totally Illegal.

Correct, and to make things more absurd, you CAN'T even refer to the now attached "brace" as a "stock" because if you do and get caught making this statement on any social media forums, supposedly, you've now committed "negligent intent" (I believe is the term) in the eye's of the ATF because now your running around calling your "pistol" an SBR without the proper stamp!

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I like the one in the 1st link, makes it look really sweet, if I didnt have a custom built SBR id go for it!

 

The more I looked at it, the more I could get used to it, kind of a Thompson/MP5 hybrid. Not a bad option if SBR is not possible...probably makes the gun a fair amount lighter too.

 

>The firearm had to begin life as a pistol and not a rifle in order to put a brace on it...

 

I didn't realize you can't put a brace on a rifle...these laws are more inane than I could've imagined.

 

 

You can put a brace on any rifle with a barrel greater than 10.5", but you can't put a stock on one with a barrel shorter than 10.5" w/o an SBR tax stamp.

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If a 10.5 Barrel has as Cutts welded permanently to it and a screwed on Brace,

it's designated a 1927 Semi Pistol with Brace, much like the Base SBR 1927 with the M1 style non removable stock.

I could never understand the whole SBR Regulations.

It should be based on the total overall length of the weapon with the Short Barrel.

I looked into the SBR laws when Building a Semi 1927 with a 14.5 Green Mountain Barrel several years ago and had the Cutts permanently weld.

I also had put on a Detachable Buttstock kit.

My local Gunshop told me to Measure the finished gun without the Buttstock on.

So the Barrel doesn't look hideous, I use the Horizontal Forgrip to hide some length.

Even with the Buttstock removed it's is in no way a Concealable Weapon.

Auto Ordnance currently sells what I built 10 years ago.

 

I currently own the Semi M1 Thompson with the fixed Stock, but hate that stupid Barrel length.

I just want Semi M1 that looks like a WW2 M1 Thompson, but I live in a State run by Liberal Democrats Assholes. Honest Firearm Owners are Denied Conceal Carry and SBR.

My Goal is to leave the People Republic of New Jersey and live in Pennsylvania when daughter graduates High School in few years.

Edited by jojeep
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If a 10.5 Barrel has as Cutts welded permanently to it and a screwed on Brace,

it's designated a 1927 Semi Pistol with Brace, much like the Base SBR 1927 with the M1 style non removable stock.

I could never understand the whole SBR Regulations.

It should be based on the total overall length of the weapon with the Short Barrel.

I looked into the SBR laws when Building a Semi 1927 with a 14.5 Green Mountain Barrel several years ago and had the Cutts permanently weld.

I also had put on a Detachable Buttstock kit.

My local Gunshop told me to Measure the finished gun without the Buttstock on.

So the Barrel doesn't look hideous, I use the Horizontal Forgrip to hide some length.

Even with the Buttstock removed it's is in no way a Concealable Weapon.

Auto Ordnance currently sells what I built 10 years ago.

 

I currently own the Semi M1 Thompson with the fixed Stock, but hate that stupid Barrel length.

I just want Semi M1 that looks like a WW2 M1 Thompson, but I live in a State run by Liberal Democrats Assholes. Honest Firearm Owners are Denied Conceal Carry and SBR.

My Goal is to leave the People Republic of New Jersey and live in Pennsylvania when daughter graduates High School in few years.

Your not the only one that feels that way. The barrel length is the reason I don't have a Semi M1 right now. It's ridiculously here. PA is where I'll probably go as well when. The time comes.

 

Andrew

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So if you take a 1927 Thompson Pistol and screw on permanently attach a Arm Brace( stock) it's not a Short Barrel Rifle ??

And Legal.

But if you take the Semi M1 Thompson, which has a screw on permanent attached Stock,

install a Pistol Barrel(10.5)....and call the Stock an Arm Brace it is totally Illegal.

 

The markings make it legal, "Pistol". "Rifle" , remove the stock makes it illegal.

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I often wondered why they never put the Vertical Grip on the Thompson Pistol.

Thank you for pointing it out.

To much Government Bullsh*t with SBR.

I just want to be able to own the Semi Auto M1 version from WW2 with out having to sell my home to move to free State. The Semi Auto M1 with 10.5 Barrel is in no way Concealable.

Unfortunately till I move my M1 keeps the ugly 16 inch Barrel.

Unless Green Mountain comes out with a 14.5 Smooth Barrel,....I can live with the welded Cutt on the M1.

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  • 1 month later...

Cheaper than a tax stamp, but I wonder how many rounds you could put through the pistol with this thing before it broke:

https://customsmithmfg.com/shop?olsPage=products%2Fthompson-pistol-tailhook-host

Should point out that this link is just for the adapter. You still have to buy a $95 tailhook brace + shipping. So it costs more than the tax stamp. And pretty much all of the Thompson pistols are aluminum receiver.

 

I'll take a steel receiver, removable buttstock SBR over an aluminum receiver, non-removable non-stock any day of the week.

 

 

 

One other thing to keep in mind here. If you have a Thompson pistol, you cannot install a front vertical foregrip. if you do, it is no longer a pistol.

 

https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/open-letter/all-ffls-may2006-open-letter-adding-vertical-fore-grip-handgun/download

 

If you use a non-folding pistol brace, it counts towards the weapon's overall length. With a 10.5" barrel and this brace, your OAL will be > 26". ATF interpretation of the law says you can attach a vertical forward grip on it and it will no longer be a pistol. It will just be an otherwise unclassified "firearm". The same place a mossberg shockwave, fostech origin, and franklin armory reformation fits in. This is because it doesn't fit the definition of rifle (no buttstock) or pistol (meant to be fired with 1 hand) and its not an NFA "any other weapon" (26" is not concealable according to ATF).

Edited by giantpune
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  • 9 months later...

Bear in mind that an OAL of > 26 makes it an SBR in some states (Mi for example). State definitions dont always match federal.

 

In reference to the M1: if you had a receiver made as a pistol, wouldnt it then be ok to add the brace as long as it was never assembled with a stock?

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I often wondered why they never put the Vertical Grip on the Thompson Pistol.

Thank you for pointing it out.

To much Government Bullsh*t with SBR.

I just want to be able to own the Semi Auto M1 version from WW2 with out having to sell my home to move to free State. The Semi Auto M1 with 10.5 Barrel is in no way Concealable.

Unfortunately till I move my M1 keeps the ugly 16 inch Barrel.

Unless Green Mountain comes out with a 14.5 Smooth Barrel,....I can live with the welded Cutt on the M1.

 

IIRC, the original West Hurley Thompson pistols had 13.5" barrels and had a vertical fore grip. Again, IIRC, people speculated that Auto Ordnance had gotten some sort of BATF variance to sell them.

 

Be well.

 

ETA: Barrel length was 13" for the West Hurley vertical grip equipped pistols, which were made 1977-1995. See, for example, page 475, Hill, Tracie, "The Ultimate Thompson Book" (2009) for text and photo no. 724.

Edited by Merry Ploughboy
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