Thompson FBI style case options

[RandyM]

After doing some looking and reading, looks like the only cases currently being offered are the

 

auto ordanance

http://www.auto-ordnance.com/search/fbi-case.aspx

 

and the IMA

http://www.ima-usa.com/u-s-thompson-smg-fbi-carry-case.html

 

 

and both these cases may not be strong enough to carry the gun and mags?

 

any other suggestions?

 

Thanks.

[timkel]

The IMA case is the correct size for a full auto Tommy. Materials and hardware on the lower end for quality. The reviews on this case were fairly positive for the price.

There are several other style cases, made with much higher quality materials, available from builders on this forum. Depends what you want.

[jim c 351]

Randy,

I don't know how strong the various FBI cases might be, but my opinion is such cases are best used for display only. Not for transporting or storage.

For transporting a gun as valuable as a Thompson a foam padded hardcase is the way to go. For storing, ---a safe with a Golden Rod.

Jim C

[darrylta]

As a side note, A heavy safe bolted to a concrete slab.

 

I'm away from home now and got a call last night from the security system people

that the motion detector in the safe room had been set off.

 

Police were dispatched and found nothing out of whack on the exterior. I'm hoping it was just an insect or maybe a pesky mouse? I'll be getting home

around 6:00 pm today to check it out. Nerve racking to say the least

 

-Darryl

[buzz]

It's never a good idea to store any gun so that it's surrounded with fabric.

 

The gun temperature will always lag a few degrees behind room temperature as the temperature changes.

 

This can make a small amount of condensation form on the gun.

 

If the condensation cannot evaporate off the gun because it wicked up into fabric, it can rust the gun.

 

It's basically impossible to convince people of this, people insist on wrapping guns up like a mummy or storing them in a fabric gun case.

 

But every once in a while a guy will report that he opened his gun case and found his pistol or shotgun was magically covered in freckles.

 

That goldenrod is an awesome device, definitely recommended.

 

I live in Rust Central, all that humid air rolling up the atlantic coastline, so I've had plenty of experience with this.

Edited October 17, 2014 by buzz

[AlexanderA]

I have one of the IMA cases, and I'm fairly satisfied with it after replacing the lock and the handle. The original lock and handle were junk.

 

I agree that this is not suitable for carrying, mainly because of the weight of the gun and accessories. The weak point is the means of attachment of the handle, by split rivets that could pop loose. You'd want to replace those rivets with machine screws and nuts (even though those mught not be authentic).

 

My guess is that the original FBI cases were not suitable for carrying either. They were probably used to keep the Thompson stuff together in the trunk of a car.

[timkel]

I have an old Numrich FBI style aftermarket case. It's on the low end of quality. Its been banged around a bit but never had any issues after many years. I did upgrade the handle to make it more secure not because it came loose or anything. When you fill it up it's on the heavy side. This has always been my main issue with the FBI style cases. Still it's a good case for putting in the trunk and hitting the road. These type cases are mainly for the collector.

[buzz]

I'm a big fan of the aluminum cases with the textured foam interior that sort of compresses the gun into the foam and keeps it from sliding around.

 

Of course it doesn't look very "vintage" but it does a real nice job of protecting everything.

 

 

I wonder if there is an existing sturdy aluminum case that could be dressed up to look like an FBI case.

 

It would not be hard to make the partitions with some thin plywood.

[OCM]

Randy-

Might hang tight and look for an early production case, Fox, Necessary etc. ( see the pin section) . I like the ones with the side latches, called the Police case, FBI didn't have that side latch. The originals will cost. I have two early ones, not sure who made them, think 1970s production. Pretty sturdy. I got these from Chuck O., may have come with the Curtis Earl stuff ??

The Kahr cases will fit the Kahr semi or the short barrel Thompson with padding up front. At best for display only, made in China etc.

 

You had interest in a 21/28 overstamp, here is a nice picture of one with a police case.

 

OCM

[mike in pa]

I have an old Numrich FBI style aftermarket case. It's on the low end of quality. Its been banged around a bit but never had any issues after many years. I did upgrade the handle to make it more secure not because it came loose or anything. When you fill it up it's on the heavy side. This has always been my main issue with the FBI style cases. Still it's a good case for putting in the trunk and hitting the road. These type cases are mainly for the collector.

Same here. I bought my FBI case back around 2007/08 from my LGS that had a few in stock. I paid about $160 and I use it to take mine to the range. Works great and no problems.

[RandyM]

Randy-

Might hang tight and look for an early production case, Fox, Necessary etc. ( see the pin section) . I like the ones with the side latches, called the Police case, FBI didn't have that side latch. The originals will cost. I have two early ones, not sure who made them, think 1970s production. Pretty sturdy. I got these from Chuck O., may have come with the Curtis Earl stuff ??

The Kahr cases will fit the Kahr semi or the short barrel Thompson with padding up front. At best for display only, made in China etc.

 

You had interest in a 21/28 overstamp, here is a nice picture of one with a police case.

 

OCM

 

 

Thanks for the picture and info.

 

I read about a couple guys who made cases at one time on this site, looks like they had stopped making them.

If I use the case at all, it would be back and forth to the range, without ammo in the mags / drum.

I was thinking i could peel back the inner layer of felt on the top, reinforce the top and side seams with extra wood, glue, replace the handle and its hardware and probably be good to go.

[OCM]

Yes, Fox & Necessary made them, no more as far as I know. My cases are pretty sturdy, I've carried them full loaded. The latches are good quality.

Don't think I'd carry them a mile , but to the car and back not an issue to me.

Here is another case. 21AC.

[dalbert]

There is still one person who makes FBI style cases. They sell them through Recon Ord. Right now, there are none available, but I know the person who makes them, and he told me last year that eventually he would make some more. So, at least you know who will have them when they return. I have no idea when more will be produced, but I'm hopeful to see them available again soon. No promises, though...

 

This is a market that someone could potentially fill. There used to be 3 manufacturers of good reproduction FBI style cases, and I don't think Greg Fox or Robert Necessary will make any more.

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[OCM]

I was thinking about trying one at one time. I had talked to Greg Fox at one time, he said it takes about a week to make a good one and he knew how to do it, with the right jigs & equipment. I've done a few classic cars, so have a little talent and stuff. ( little) . My issue would be room. There was a guy in Colorado that was making good ones too, don't know where that went.

Do like the 30s outlaws, carry them in blankets, in the back seat-

[dalbert]

There was a guy in Colorado that was making good ones too, don't know where that went.

 

That's the one...

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[jim c 351]

Another reason I don't take my Fox cases to shoots is because I don't have a case to put my FBI case in. At 650.00 each, I would want a case to protect the FBI case.

Jim C

[OCM]

Back to Randy:

 

Seems the Fox-Necessary-Colorado cases run about 600-800 or something. From there you go way up in the 1000s for an original one or down to the 100-200 cases. The FNC cases are hard to find, guy was hunting for one a while back, don't think he found one. Even worse the original ones.

Probably best try one of the big gun shows that supports Class III stuff, Arizona ?

Good luck with it, just takes time & $$$.

 

OCM

[Motorcar]

I have the IMA case and it works well for transport to the range. I carry it in and out and have had no issues, although I am keeping a good eye on the handle and rivits. There are several threads on FBI cases here, you may have found them in the search function already.

[Mario Scarpino]

All,

 

I've made several FBI style cases in the past year of so. The "week to make" is correct. I'd say it's at least 40 hours to build an FBI/Police case from scratch. Now multiply 40 hours by whatever labor rate you think a craftsman is willing to work for today and you have the labor costs. Then add in the cost for the machine tools required to make the case. Add in somewhere between $150.00 (vinyl exterior) to $250.00 for the materials (leather exterior), including all the hardware and you have the cost without profit and without shipping and handling. I wouldn't even start to build a case if all the market would bare was $600.00 TO $650.00. It's simply not worth the effort. Overseas provides the cheap labor these days. It's hard to purchase something today that doesn't say "made in china".

 

If you find a well built, made in America, FBI case for $650.00, I strongly suggest you buy it!