13 replies to this topic

[colt21a]

what i mean is the first model you bought,full auto,colt or military,not a semi-27 or tennessee!! commando model from the 60's or the m-6 lookalike,or the black plastic 50's squirt gun.

but the tale of buying the first...........if full auto is legal in the state you reside...so this one might bring you back a few year's................so travel back, clean out the cob-web's,and fire away and tell it.....

after i see a few good one's i will post "my tale"

no embellishment's.........just the fact's......and maybe a little humor.........we all need that!!

thanks guy's.........take care,ron

p.s.in the event you could only buy and own a semi,please tell us that tale also,i like stories of thompson's.{even once i was in a semi only state.....}

[SecondAmend]

First model I tried to buy was a M1A1 mail order dewat for $97.50. I was about 12 at the time and my dad intercepted the outgoing mail with my wad of cash inside.

I received a stern reprimand.

The real deal was much later.

[hawksnest]

I was an Ohio State Highway Patrolman during the Ohio State Penitentiary riots in the late 60's. I carried a Colt 21AC. I wanted to own a Thompson ever since. A career change postponed my quest until after my retirement. In 2002 Tracie Hill told me about a Thompson for sale. I drove to the owner's house to look at the Thompson, knowing all the way there that my wife would probably kill me. The owner had an M1A1 and a 1928A1 for sale. I purchased both Thompsons. On the way home I kept thinking I am a dead man when she finds out. I am still alive and still happily married.

[colt21a]

QUOTE (hawksnest @ Jan 25 2004, 03:20 PM)

I was an Ohio State Highway Patrolman during the Ohio State Penitentiary riots in the late 60's.  I carried a Colt 21AC. I wanted to own a Thompson ever since.  A career change postponed my quest until after my retirement.   In 2002 Tracie Hill told me about a Thompson for sale.   I drove to the owner's house to look at the Thompson, knowing all the way there that my wife would probably kill me.    The owner had an M1A1 and a 1928A1 for sale.  I purchased both Thompsons.  On the way home I kept thinking I am a dead man when she finds out.    I am still alive and still happily married.

i remember bob bond had two guns like that for sale in ohio,but so did irv kahn,kenny kielholz,bob landies,and a few other's..............good buy,it probably set you on the right track................good story,

i hope a few more chime in,or just maybe,they don't want to relive the "first thompson purchase"

too painfull!!!wink!


i will always remember mine...take care,ron

[giantpanda4]

This is where I would like to add my story... except I still haven't found a Thompson at a reasonable price!

So...WTB - 1928 shooter (not WH).

Email jemwank@ismi.net
517-546-4120

You can be a part of my story!

[colt21a]

QUOTE (giantpanda4 @ Jan 25 2004, 05:40 PM)

This is where I would like to add my story... except I still haven't found a Thompson at a  reasonable price! So...WTB - 1928 shooter (not WH). Email jemwank@ismi.net 517-546-4120 You can be a part of my story!

mike i feel your pain,i had a deal on three gun's.and it flopped...............a little greed set in,after i made a fair offer..........that is why i am out of the thompson bizz.......
{as far as buying and selling anymore of them,for customer's}now if i see one for sale,i pass on it.i have not seen a good deal on any in over five year's........

i am sure you will find something out there,at worst buy a kahr semi,and have pk work his magic.......

then you can say you have some thing>"thompson"and have a story to tell!!!wink!!

if i come across a lead i will send it your way,>i found out lately it's easier to do that..........then get involved with all the b.s.from the seller.............anyhow good luck out there.take care,ron

[21 smoker]

I had heard about my first Tmsg from a vender that would stop at my shop weekly.Seems his long time freind was sick and not doing well.He owned the Tmsg, but didn`t want to sell.18 months past before he gave up the fight for life and immediatly the vender insisted I call the widow...a very hard thing for me to do.She took my number said when she was ready she`d call. 6 months..out of the blue she calls and sets up a day to look at the gun...and says `I tell the rest of the buyers to be there`.Great! that`s all I need..a bidding war.The day comes,I almost don`t go,but I do and she pulls out a WH28,great shape, and an unfired PS mac10 and nobody else wanted NFA.She said she has been checking the net for prices and knows what they will bring...I agree to her price,we make the deal and when I leave she tosses in a 97 trench gun.At the time I didn`t know what it was....I just knew it was cool! Well...that`s my story and I`m stickin` to it.KEEPEM`SMOKIN`,out.

[The Moor]

I read an add in the classified section of Machine Gun News in 1993 for two original M1 Thomspons for sale. I called the dealer, who was a police officer in a small Ohio town and also a class 3 dealer. He would update police department armories with newer equipment and sometimes acquire their older firearms in partial trade. One of the Thompsons was a M1 with the M1A1 type bolt and rear sight. The other was a M1 with the correct M1 rear sight and bolt. I purchased the M1, with correct sight and bolt, for $2500 and the form was approved around 90 days later. I had to wait about a week for the guy to "find a box to ship it in". I asked that he let me know the exact day that he shipped so that I could be available to receive. I got no call from him and one day I came home from work and there is the Thompson (in a box) laying on my back porch. The stocks were varnished and the gun had been arsenal refinished by Mount Rainer sometime after WWII (stock has the MR letters). I removed the varnish and restored the wood to its' military finish, removed the Auto Ordnance (un-numbered) lower receiver and replaced with a Savage M1A1 lower receiver that I got from a parts kit order from IMA for $200. The serial numbers on the upper and lower receivers do not match but the Savage lower fits much better (more snug-less play) than the Auto Ordnance lower. The finish on the lower is of course original WWII and the upper is post war parkerizing but this gun has and is 100% reliable and is my first child so it will always hold a special place in my collection. I wish I could find an early Savage M1 lower receiver (serial number 30,000 range) and a M1 early buttstock (no crossbolt) to put on this baby to make it perfect.

The price of Colt Thompsons are way out of reality for me but I had always wanted one. In early 2003, I knew a fellow that had a 1921AC Thompson that he had purchased from Dan Shea in the early 90s for $5,000. I approached him about trading 1 1/2 modern smgs for his Thompson and he was receptive. I traded the 2 modern smgs for the Thompson and $5,000 cash. After exactly 90 days (July 2003) I took possession of my first Colt Thompson. I do not in any way regret that deal but instead feel rather fortunate.

Most recently, I sold a registered H&K sear and as a result have bought a Savage M1928A1 that is pending form approval.

Wish I could find a couple more guys who are interested in trading their Colt Thompsons for modern smgs.

I'm having fun...........................wink!

[craig101]

just finalized a deal on a Savage 1928. I've always liked Thompsons (in a C&R state), but never thought of getting one. I have a SW76 and was content with that until i found my AR15 01. i won't get into my 01 "debacle" as this is not the place.

I had been watching those commemerative WH's sell for like $5k a few years back. i was gonna get one. again cheap C&R, but i thought they would always stay at 5k, since those comm. guns look kinda cheeeezy! so i didn't go for them. all the sudden people are asking $8k+ for them. oh hell no, not for a WH. then i came across a local rewat 28 for a pretty good price, and it came with a bridgeport drum. needless to say i finalized a deal to get it. dunno if i will keep it or trade for a M1a1, i can think about that while the paperwork is going through.



I do remember looking at my MGN magazine from 1996, and it had a 28 Colt in it for $4800, with drum. or a WWII m1/28 for like 3k. woulda shoulda coulda LOLOL

[ODS9091]

SUBMITTED PAPER WORK ON AUG 20 CHECKED CLEARED AUG 25
PENDING STATUS SINCE SEPT 24

RECEIVED IN THE MAIL MONDAY THE CITIZENSHIP COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION FORM..I HAD FILLED IT OUT WRONG..I AM SUPPOSED TO CERTIFY MYSELF AS A U.S. CITIZEN (EVEN THOUGH ON MY M-3 I HAD SOMEONE ELSE CERTIFY ME AND IT WENT THROUGH NO PROBLEM)

HOPEFULLY NOW IT WILL ONLY BE A FEW MORE WEEKS (6 MONTHS TOTAL )

ANYWAY
SAVAGE M1 (#186074)
2 SLINGS
5 20rd MAGS W/ORIGINAL WW2 MAG POUCH
EXTRA BUTTSTOCK
ORIGINAL REVISION-D CANVAS COVER
$7500

[timkel]

I just turned 21 in 1978. The Colt .45 auto was $400.00 and a new WH Thompson 1928 was $550.00
I picked the Thompson with a few drums. Seemed like a better deal at the time.

[Chopper28]

I purchased my Thompson in 1977. A friend of mine and I purchased a new pair of consecutively numbered WH 28's for 650.00 each. Could have bought Savage M1A1's for the same price. Colt's were 1,000-2,000 each. The dealer had plenty of inventory and I figured I would always be able to get them at a later date. What a mistake. It took me almost a year to pay for this one. I should have bought a box car load of them. We still have them. I have been trying to get my friend to sell me his. He is not a gun guy. Just bought it on a lark. I've offerd 5 times what he paid for it but no dice.LOL WH L drum was 99.95 and Bridgeport was 89.95 from sarco.

[knobcreeknut]

my story is unfolding as you read this. 2 wks ago found a colt 1921 with accesoriesthat was for sale privately. just closed the deal verbally, and will be starting paperwork in a few days. now if someone can only tell me how to come up with the money, i'll be set.

[colt21a]

QUOTE (Chopper28 @ Jan 28 2004, 07:19 PM)

I purchased my Thompson in 1977. A friend of mine and I purchased a new pair of consecutively numbered WH 28's for 650.00 each. Could have bought Savage M1A1's for the same price. Colt's were 1,000-2,000 each. The dealer had plenty of inventory and I figured I would always be able to get them at a later date. What a mistake. It took me almost a year to pay for this one. I should have bought a box car load of them. We still have them. I have been trying to get my friend to sell me his. He is not a gun guy. Just bought it on a lark. I've offerd 5 times what he paid for it but no dice.LOL WH L drum was 99.95 and Bridgeport was 89.95 from sarco.

i like the saying from john dillinger {warren oates} classic...................take care,ron/colt 21a