Installing a new barrel on a Savage Thompson

[BassBuster2]

I am a new member that has never posted before and am looking for some expert advice. I am five months into the 4 – 6 month BATFE waiting period for my tax stamp. It is my first and probably only Thompson; a kit that was used as a movie prop back in the day and in its’ history was owned and sold by J. Curtis Earl in late October 1967. It is a U.S. Model of 1928 A1, NO S-512956 NAC complete with the Flaming Bomb, GEG and RLB stamps on the LH side of the receiver. Both the upper and lower have matching S/N’s and it’s in great shape except for my concern with the barrel which is obviously a replacement installed sometime in its past. The fin count on the barrel is only 26 and the unmarked compensator is not pinned, making it suspect in my mind.

 

I would like to replace the barrel with a “S” marked Savage WWII parts kit barrel that has a pinned Cutts compensator before I even shoot it for the first time. Is this something I can do myself, or do I need to take / send it to a good gunsmith to do the replacement job for me once I finally take possession?

[mohawk64]

John andrewski. Qick turnaround. He definitely knows what he is doing.

[jl7422]

I had Paul Krogh do one recently for me -- same situation as yours; PK used an NOS Savage barrel and comp. to replace an aftermarket barrel and comp.

 

Paul turned the job around quickly and was (as always) very professional and priced right. I hear and read very good things about Mr. Andrewski mentioned above, I just have never had the opportunity to use him. I can recommend PK's work with no reservations--

[mnshooter]

You can't go wrong with either of those guys. The same for Dan "Deerslayer" Block.

 

As for the question you asked regarding doing it yourself?

 

Not without the special tools and knowledge essential to do the job correctly; and most importantly, without damage to the receiver.

Edited June 25, 2016 by mnshooter

[BassBuster2]

Thank you all for your quick response and help. I'm really looking forward to being an active member on this board.

[TSMG28]

BassBuster,

 

In addition to participating on this board (a wonderful resource as you have found), you may want to join one or both of the Thompson collector groups, The American Thompson Association and Thompson Collectors Association. The former holds its annual show and shoot on July 22-23 in Granville, Ohio. You must be a member to participate. The latter holds their annual show and shoot on September 16-17 in Midvale, Ohio, at the Tusco Rifle Club.

 

If you can make either of these show & shoots, you will not be disappointed. You don't need to have your gun if ATF doesn't do their work in time, but you will see items and learn things that are not available anywhere else.

 

Roger

[TD.]

Welcome to the Board.

 

Excellent advice from mnshooter and TSMG28, above. This is the perfect opportunity to join and attend one or both of these organization's events.

 

Regarding the barrel change, if you live close enough to one of the three above mentioned sources or Bob Bower at Philadelphia Ordnance, I suggest making the drive instead of worrying about the shipping. Most gunsmiths that work on Class Three firearms will allow you to schedule an appointment for a job that can be easily completed in one or two hours. Now you have 4 choices.

 

Good luck!

[darrylta]

People ship class III weapons everyday for repair. I agree, either of the 3 Thompsonsmiths would be a great

choice to do the work. Get with whom ever you choose and get the shipping details from him.

A very easy, no stress option..

Darryl

[reconbob]

A general comment on shipping...

 

If you read the fine print UPS will accept firearms but NOT machine guns. Of course they

Do not know what is in the box but if you ship and it gets lost or stolen when you tell them

the true contents they will say you should not have shipped it in the first place, you have

violated their terms of service and they will not cover the loss.

 

If you read the fine print FedEx will accept machine guns but you must declare the

contents and they will not cover over $2,000.

 

I assume that either everyone assumes that if you pay for the insurance you are

covered, or that many people insure thru a third party. But it's amazing to me how

many people ship guns FedEx or UPS and they are really not going to be covered.

 

The best way (I think) is registered mail. The box is signed for every time it changes

hands and you can insure for (I think) up to $30,000. Now this doesn't help if you are

shipping a gun of greater value, but in that event you should have third party insurance

like when people insure works of art, etc.

Also, if you go to mail your gun and the person at the counter asks you the contents

it's none of their damn business. No good can come if you tell them and you are under

no obligation to tell them. All they can ask is fragile, liquid, perishable, flammable, etc. If it

was me (and it has been) and they asked contents I would leave and try a different

post office.

 

Bob

[Paladin601]

Bob, that is very good information, I have run into problems with UPS and FedEX shipping firearms. It is a lot harder for a private person to ship those items then a Company or business.

[darrylta]

Bob,

USPS offers an insurance rider for it's Registered Mail. The last time I checked

it capped at $5,000,000. When the Hope diamond moves, it always with Priority

Registered Mail. I agree it's the best and safest deal going, I've always used it as well.

Darryl

[BassBuster2]

This site never ceases to amaze me with the amount and quality of information you all provide. Roger, I will definitely be joining both collector groups. Bob & Darryl, your insight on shipping is great!

 

I'm really getting the itch to finally have my Thompson. I just received a complete "Super Select" parts set that I ordered from IMA that I'm going to use to replace the barrel, rocker and safety levers and the horizontal grip. Mine has the vertical grip with side mounted sling swivel. The spare barrel is a like new Savage complete will all three of the proper markings in all the right places according to reconbob's 3/25/12 "Mini Treatise on Barrel Markings". Everything else in the parts set is also all Savage made, except for the foregrip mount. The Rocker and Safety Levers in the parts set are the non-checkered paddle type whereas the ones on mine now are the round pin type; probably installed somewhere along the line when the aftermarket barrel was. I'm guessing the parts set I got is a Russian Lend-Lease, but it's in very good condition based on my limited knowledge. Once I've gotten all this done to it, mine should be in original as manufactured and issued condition and will be 100% Savage with matching serial numbered upper and lower. I feel like a kid at Christmas.

 

Jim