Balder Posted May 13, 2018 Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 (edited) A friend recently got this deactivated M1928A1, supposedly recovered from a lake in Austria. Part of the story is that it served with the British 1st Airborne (Red Devils). Opinions, anyone? Production date? Balder Edit: Sorry about the picture orientation. Edited May 13, 2018 by Balder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annihilator Posted May 13, 2018 Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 Then there should be a british proof mark on the left side of the receiver, near the barrel How can he tell that it served with a specific unit when it comes out of a lake ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balder Posted May 13, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 Annihilator, I wish I knew, this is all the information I have. There's no broad arrow or British proofing visible, but the metal is quite worn at places. Balder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMGguy Posted May 13, 2018 Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 There wasn't much oxygen at the bottom of that lake, or the whole thing would be corroded solid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benedw60 Posted May 13, 2018 Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 What exactly makes it a dewat the receiver looks intact Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mk VII Posted May 13, 2018 Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 I can see cuts under the grip mount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benedw60 Posted May 13, 2018 Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 Doesnt mean anything its 10 minutes to swap out barrels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giantpanda4 Posted May 13, 2018 Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 It is in the UK.... right? Rules are different than in the US. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speeddemon02 Posted May 13, 2018 Report Share Posted May 13, 2018 If im not mistaken I see the US ordnance bomb stamp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adg105200 Posted May 14, 2018 Report Share Posted May 14, 2018 Doesnt mean anything its 10 minutes to swap out barrelsWhile that is true, you get in BIG trouble in most of the European countries if you are found with any live barrel. Some countries you can have certain live guns with a special license. Deactivation rules differ depending where you are. Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HANS Posted May 14, 2018 Report Share Posted May 14, 2018 While that is true, you get in BIG trouble in most of the European countries if you are found with any live barrel. Some countries you can have certain live guns with a special license. Deactivation rules differ depending where you are. Live M1928A1s and M1s are comparatively common and really cheap in Germany -- I paid €800 for my AO M1928A1, these days they are probably around €1,000. These are original in all respects (Cutts, Lyman sights, 10.5" barrels, etc) except that they are permanently converted to semi. Heresy, I know, but that's how it is. I shoot mine a lot even so All of these are Lend-Lease guns that came out of the former USSR. Cheers HANS 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black River Militaria CII Posted May 14, 2018 Report Share Posted May 14, 2018 HANS: Please explain how the Thompson was converted to semi-auto only. Rules for conversion of an MG to semi-auto or manufacture of a semi-auto MG in the US are vry specific and strict. Would be interesting to know if you can take the time. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyDixon Posted May 14, 2018 Report Share Posted May 14, 2018 what is the rest of the story, how did this gun get from a lake in austria to being a dewat in england ?? buy the gun not the story.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adg105200 Posted May 14, 2018 Report Share Posted May 14, 2018 If im not mistaken I see the US ordnance bomb stampI see it as well, which puts the production date sometime from later 1941 to probably earlyish 1942. The U.S. Ordnance Dept. final inspection stamp from the flaming bomb to the crossed cannons during Oct. 1942. (ATIII pg. 104) Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huggytree Posted May 14, 2018 Report Share Posted May 14, 2018 (edited) lake gun looks better than some recent m1a1's for sale on gun broker(less pitting)just needs to be parkerized!....the bottom of a lake must be an excellent place to preserve a thompson Edited May 14, 2018 by huggytree Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paladin601 Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 lake gun looks better than some recent m1a1's for sale on gun broker(less pitting)just needs to be parkerized!....the bottom of a lake must be an excellent place to preserve a thompson Some of the stuff even still functions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petroleum 1 Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 Russian T34/76 with German markings how cool is that find!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indochinavet Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 (edited) HANS: Please explain how the Thompson was converted to semi-auto only. Rules for conversion of an MG to semi-auto or manufacture of a semi-auto MG in the US are vry specific and strict. Would be interesting to know if you can take the time. Thanks.I have seen a semi auto "permanent" modification, trust me is better to see it deactivated rather than "castrated" lol. of course first step is removal of the selector, second they cut the bolt on the bottom 80% of its lenght and some of the bolt height (to remove its channels) and insert a moving rod that acts on the sear, then the actuator is again modified, they mill the spring channel in order to insert another movable rod that strikes on the receiver, in this process they also mill a small portion of the b lock (in the middle, making it very prone to breaking). Lastly, they insert one spring for each horrible device that so you end with three different springs, and a small plate to be inserted at the back. The system is so ugly and complicated, that the author would still deserve a medal for designing it. Of course if one is able to swap parts, in this case everything except upper, you end up again with a mg Edited May 15, 2018 by indochinavet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halftrack Posted May 16, 2018 Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 (edited) I respectfully disagree with the above post. I believe Ive seen the same build you are referring to. Was it the one built on a Phila Ord receiver? If so, I thought it came out more representative of a full auto Thompson then any current semi auto on the market. How can you ruin a Thompson when its a new receiver? Ive seen the same build using welded receivers. How can those be ruined when they are already cut up? A deactivated gun is just a fancy paper weight, no matter how original it may be. Edited May 17, 2018 by halftrack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halftrack Posted May 16, 2018 Report Share Posted May 16, 2018 (edited) . Edited May 17, 2018 by halftrack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adg105200 Posted May 17, 2018 Report Share Posted May 17, 2018 I respectfully disagree with the above post. I believe Ive seen the same build you are referring to. Was it the one built on a Phila Ord receiver? If so, I thought it came out more representative of a full auto Thompson then any current semi auto on the market. How can you run a Thompson when its a new receiver? Ive seen the same build using welded receivers. How can those be ruined when they are already cut up? A deactivated gun is just a fancy paper weight, now matter how original it may be.In many countries, deactivation does not touch the receiver. Most receivers are still 100% although I know that the new spec deactivation in England isn't anymore. I know there was some that it was discussed in another thread, but there was a website in another country that was selling modified original 1928s to semi configuration. I'll have to see if I can find the page again. Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indochinavet Posted May 17, 2018 Report Share Posted May 17, 2018 I respectfully disagree with the above post. I believe Ive seen the same build you are referring to. Was it the one built on a Phila Ord receiver? If so, I thought it came out more representative of a full auto Thompson then any current semi auto on the market. How can you ruin a Thompson when its a new receiver? Ive seen the same build using welded receivers. How can those be ruined when they are already cut up? A deactivated gun is just a fancy paper weight, no matter how original it may be. I was not referring to any Phila Ord guns, but many EU "semiautomatized" registered 100% original Thompsons. Also not referring to any deact gun, as long as the chop barrel and bolts and weld it shut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halftrack Posted May 17, 2018 Report Share Posted May 17, 2018 Indochina.... I would like to see the semi-auto European conversions. Are the plans readily available? Is it better than the Kahr design? Any photos would be much appreciated. Would the conversion pass the smell test in the US? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bug Posted May 17, 2018 Report Share Posted May 17, 2018 Indochina.... I would like to see the semi-auto European conversions. Are the plans readily available? Is it better than the Kahr design? Any photos would be much appreciated. Would the conversion pass the smell test in the US? In the US, the receiver is the focal point. It must be destroyed upon entry. No conversion without that step is possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indochinavet Posted May 17, 2018 Report Share Posted May 17, 2018 Indochina.... I would like to see the semi-auto European conversions. Are the plans readily available? Is it better than the Kahr design? Any photos would be much appreciated. Would the conversion pass the smell test in the US?I will try to post some pictures later on, they modify only the internals, everything else (receiver side) stays the same. Honestly only because the mill out a portion in the middle of the b lock, i think its converted into a time bomb. Still shoots open bolt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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