dalbert Posted May 18, 2012 Report Share Posted May 18, 2012 OK, so the title of this post may produce a different visual than what I'm going to provide, so don't be too disappointed. This post is literally about a Thompson SMG "Thong." Not the g-string type, but instead, a pull-through firearm cleaning tool. I bought this item on Ebay. I have another one in my collection, but I never realized it was made specifically for a Thompson, among other firearms. Apparently, it's a pull through cleaning thong that is specifically assocated to the M1903A1 Springfielld, M1918A2 BAR, and the M1928A1 Thompson Submachine Gun. I was surprised when I saw this, as I did not remember such an item being associated to the TSMG previously. It's not shown in ATII, or TUTB. Has anyone seen this documented anywhere else? Perhaps an old newsletter? I'm interested in any thoughts you may have about this item. David Albertdalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winbar Posted May 18, 2012 Report Share Posted May 18, 2012 David,I have one in both my 1903 nickle oilers(no tag). Glad to see that Uncle Sam used to believe in "one size fits all".Great Document!Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stgw. 57 Posted May 18, 2012 Report Share Posted May 18, 2012 I also have a few of those, but without the tags, as with winbars they came with 1903 nickel oilers. I always thought they were only for the Springfield! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piep Posted May 18, 2012 Report Share Posted May 18, 2012 Looks like a few of us have that little gem.Mine is also in my Remington 1903s nickel oiler. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD. Posted May 18, 2012 Report Share Posted May 18, 2012 David,Excellent discovery! Set that aside for the next Thompson publication. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard w. Posted May 18, 2012 Report Share Posted May 18, 2012 Neat. New to me, as well. I searched the Ordnance drawing number "C64175" and got a hit for an online transcription of the "Handbook on M2A4, M3 and M3A1 Light Tanks March 1942-Revised (March 1942)". Appendix B specifically lists the C64175 pull-throughs (two of them) as an accessory for the TSMG assigned to each tank. See page 69 of the .pdf version linked at this page: http://archive.org/details/HandbookOnM2a4M3AndM3a1LightTanksMarch1942-revised 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted May 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2012 Neat. New to me, as well. I searched the Ordnance drawing number "C64175" and got a hit for an online transcription of the "Handbook on M2A4, M3 and M3A1 Light Tanks March 1942-Revised (March 1942)". Appendix B specifically lists the C64175 pull-throughs (two of them) as an accessory for the TSMG assigned to each tank. See page 69 of the .pdf version linked at this page: http://archive.org/d...rch1942-revised richard w., Excellent stuff! So, it looks like these may have been specifically designated as support items in M3 Tanks, and probably did not see wide use by Infantry in connection to the TSMG. Any thoughts on this? I'm going to look through some ORD SNL's, and see if I find any more references. David Albertdalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim c 351 Posted May 19, 2012 Report Share Posted May 19, 2012 David,If you want my guess, I would say they were found in the butt of every M1903 in the nickle or plastic oiler as mentioned above. The BAR man and TSMG man would have borrowed them from the 03 soldiers when steel cleaning rods were not available.When the M1 rifle came out the thong would have been replace by the handle for the steel cleaning rod. Every now and then you see pictures of Marines with steel cleaning rods sticking out of thier nap sacks.But remember this is all just a guess..as I don't know when the take down steel rod arrived on the sceneI think the tag is more valuable than the thong. As a totally unrelated side bar.--After a fellow hunter slipped , fell , and got mud in the barrel of thier rifle, I routinely carried one of these thongs while deer hunting. Of course once I was prepared I never needed it.Jim CPS I would think that any tank would have a steel cleaning rod for the M1919 and this rod would be preferred for cleaning the Tommy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard w. Posted May 19, 2012 Report Share Posted May 19, 2012 ....PS I would think that any tank would have a steel cleaning rod for the M1919 and this rod would be preferred for cleaning the Tommy. The handbook I linked above does list a D8237 jointed cal. 30 M1 cleaning rod as a support item carried in the tank for the M1919A4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mk VII Posted August 5, 2012 Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 The British list I've got here says, 'For use in tanks only' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted August 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 The British list I've got here says, 'For use in tanks only' Mk VII, Which British list do you have? David Albertdalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mk VII Posted August 6, 2012 Report Share Posted August 6, 2012 A document I found in the British archives, which appears to date from around Feb. 1942. The same note occurs against the 'Envelope, 3"x3 1/8", Empty' (15-18-102) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
full auto 45 Posted August 7, 2012 Report Share Posted August 7, 2012 I have to say that I for one was very dissapointed when I started reading this thread. I thought it was something about an item I could have my next model wearing for a photo shoot.But the historical value is great.Carry on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted June 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 I have to say that I for one was very dissapointed when I started reading this thread. I thought it was something about an item I could have my next model wearing for a photo shoot.But the historical value is great.Carry on. Mike, This still might be a wearable item. All, To follow-up on this, I found that the thong is referenced in several versions of ORD SNL A-32 for the TSMG. I was doing some research for someone working on an M3 Greasegun article when I ran across the thong listing in the Thompson ORD SNL. David Albertdalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reconbob Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 I agree that the tag is the real "goodie". I have a few of these cleaning brushes which I believe to be forthe Thompson, but they have no tag or documentation. The device consists of a brass weight, a lengthof string, and a horsehair brush. The string is only about 15" long so its clearly not intended for the24" barrels of Springfields, BAR's etc. http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/reconbob/IMG_0097.jpg Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piep Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 Definitely not wearable.. Ouch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banjo Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 WAR DEPARTMENT TECHNICAL MANUAL TM 9-21510 OCTOBER 1942THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN CAL. .45 M1PAGES 38 AND 39SECTION 41. ACCESSORIES Accessories of a special nature or those which have special uses are described below. J. Thong. The thong consists of a tip with cleaning patch slot and a weight tied to the ends of a 30-inch length of cord. It is used in cleaning the bore of the submachine gun. Not a 1928 but it's in there for the M1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawkeye_Joe Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 I thought it was for a thong or sling to carry it under your coat....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mk VII Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 I have seen things like these marketed as shotgun field cleaning kits. The string, of course, can be shortened by anyone. I agree that the tag is the real "goodie". I have a few of these cleaning brushes which I believe to be forthe Thompson, but they have no tag or documentation. The device consists of a brass weight, a lengthof string, and a horsehair brush. The string is only about 15" long so its clearly not intended for the24" barrels of Springfields, BAR's etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpbcps Posted June 20, 2013 Report Share Posted June 20, 2013 David,I bought one of those 'pull throughs' from a seller in Canada a while back, he had a few, but only one tag, and would let me have that, so I only got photocopy of it! Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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