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NRA National Firearms Museum Thompsons


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Hey guys, the Air Force sent me to a conference in Virginia for a few days and I took some time to head over to the National Firearms Museum at the NRA building. It was really cool but I was kinda disappointed that I only saw a 1928 and M1A1 that were a little beaten up but then I ran across a wonderful display of 1921s/1928 overstamps and a few 1928s including a low number Savage. I took a few pictures (lighting was bad sorry) but if you ever get a chance definitely stop by the museum if you find yourself in the Washington DC area.
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Jim. I was thinking that same thing. Most had data cards that said where they originated from but one at the bottom did not. I asked one of the historians walking around but he didn’t know.
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The museum also had a fun display that looked like a bombed out building with tons of WWII guns laying around with one of them being a 28, it was deviled but the story behind it was pretty cool about it being found at Anzio. It looks like a lend lease Thompson with the swivel placement and the fact that the guy who brought it back found it on a deceased Brit.

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Hey guys, the Air Force sent me to a conference in Virginia for a few days and I took some time to head over to the National Firearms Museum at the NRA building. It was really cool but I was kinda disappointed that I only saw a 1928 and M1A1 that were a little beaten up but then I ran across a wonderful display of 1921s/1928 overstamps and a few 1928s including a low number Savage. I took a few pictures (lighting was bad sorry) but if you ever get a chance definitely stop by the museum if you find yourself in the Washington DC area.

You had to be there in 2004 for the "on the side of law and order" display when there was not only a bunch of Thompsons, but a lot of accessories, and even tooling used in production on display. Items from serious collectors were rounded up and put on display at the time. Whomever organized it got a lot of cool stuff together at one time that likely will never be surpassed. Somewhere I might have pics

 

Today your time is better spent at the Marine corps museum. I did them both the same day if I recall and the MC museum would be my first choice.

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I believe Tracie Hill, founder of the Thompson Collectors Association, organized the On The Side of Law & Order exhibit at NRA museum exhibit in 2004. If I remember correctly, the exhibit was supposed to end on December 31, 2004 but the positive response from the NRA and members of the public was so overwhelming the exhibit remained on display until the end of March 2005. Please correct me if I am wrong. The exhibit featured many items from many different collections that will probably never been seen together again. That said, the annual Shows and Shoots sponsored and/or supported by the two Thompson organizations are a good preview of what was on display so many years ago. If you have never attended a Show & Shoot, you really do not know what you are missing.

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I did get a chance to see the On the Side of Law and Order exhibit but I don’t remember the exact date. I was a teenager then and wasn’t into the Thompson anywhere near as much or knew who Tracie Hill was so I didn’t take any pictures. As the saying goes, youth is wasted on the young. I was kicking myself about it as I went through the museum the other day so if any of you guys can find pictures it would be awesome to take that trip down memory lane. I’ll check out the Marine Corps Museum next time I’m in that area as well. I also hear the West Point Museum has a great collection too. I have been there as well but once again before my interest in learning more about Thompson’s peaked. The show and shoots will be on the list for sure, however the wife told me the price of her dealing with the trust paperwork and getting fingerprinted for the Thompson would be a vacation to Cabo. Since I doubt there are any good shoots near where I am now it’ll be number 2 on my travel list.
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It is hard to believe it the exhibit was 15 years ago . Time goes so fast. The NRA printed a 36 page exhibit catalog the quality of the printing was out standing. And I am a retired high end color printer. The booklets are now collector items stuffed full of all color Thompson history. For people who have never seen one here are a few pictures.

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It is hard to believe it the exhibit was 15 years ago . Time goes so fast. The NRA printed a 36 page exhibit catalog the quality of the printing was out standing. And I am a retired high end color printer. The booklets are now collector items stuffed full of all color Thompson history. For people who have never seen one here are a few pictures.

That’s awesome thanks for sharing these photos.

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