Thompson SMG Information

[stcstc]

Hi.

 

I recently purchased a deactivated Thompson SMG. (I'm in the UK)

Details are;

Serial number 134019.

Marked 'Auto Ordnance Corporation Bridge Port Conneticut USA'.

Has an 'S' stamped on it near to magazine chamber.

Is this an M1A1? Roughly when was it manufactured? etc.

Any help appreciated.

[Mk VII]

If the S is at the six o'clock position on the receiver under the chamber then it is a Savage one. Unfortunately the de-act cuts often destroy the evidence at this point. M1A1s are usually marked as such, sometimes with individual stamps if an M1 has been overhauled with a later bolt. An examination of the bolt to see if it has had a hammer or not will tell (if it comes apart that much and if the bolt is not too mutilated at this point.)

[stcstc]

Thanks James. Yes, the 'S' is where you said. My Thomas does partially strip but I'm not sure if the bolt can be accessed easily. Will take a look. How could I tell if the bolt had a hammer or not?

[Chief762]

stcstc,

If the firing pin is machined into the bolt face, there will not be a hammer, because it's not needed. My Vietnam Thompson was such a gun. I sure wish I could've brought it home with me...

Chief762

[stcstc]

Here are some pics of the bolt. It is a deactivated Thompson and so I think the hammer and firing pin has been removed. On the side of the Thompson it says M1, NOT M1A1 so I assume it is an M1 Thompson.

 

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag63/stcxstc/ThompsonSMGBoltfaceREDUCED_zps8c10da3a.jpg

 

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag63/stcxstc/ThompsonSMGBoltface2_zps1c8f276c.jpg

 

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag63/stcxstc/ThompsonSMGBolt_zps86f28afc.jpg

 

 

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag63/stcxstc/ThompsonSMGSerialNumber_zps315ef0fc.jpg

 

 

 

 

ALSO, can anyone tell me what these markings are on my Thompson?

 

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag63/stcxstc/Thompsonbuttmarking_zps0ebba135.jpg

 

 

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag63/stcxstc/ThompsonMarkings_zpsbaf6f57a.jpg

 

 

THANKS.

Edited May 13, 2013 by stcstc

[emmagee1917]

The notch in the center front of the bolt is where the bottom of the cresent hammer was. It swung out the front from firing spring preasure. when the bolt struck the reciever , the hammer hit first and rotated into the little pocket there. As the bottom moved back , the top pushed the firing pin forward. The M1A1 bolt does not need nor has that pocket notch cut.

Chris

[emmagee1917]

Oh , bottom picture :

Crossed cannons....final acceptance mark , gun was now US property and manufacturer could now be paid.

Circled CLG......mark of George E. Goll....Auto Ordnance's own civilian inspector ....passed inspection by Savage's personel.

FJA.....Colonel Frank J. Atwood....Army Inspector of Ordnance for the Rochester Ordnance District ....passed government inspection ....applied by army inspector assigned to plant ...not FJA personally.

 

RA in wood ....rebuild mark of Raritan Arsenal...applied when it went through there for cleaning / inspection up to total rebuild as needed.

 

Chris

[stcstc]

Thanks for your replies. Great information. Does anyone know roughly when the Thompson was

manufactured? Can it be worked out from the serial number?

[Paladin601]

That looks as though that it could be made functional by replacing the bolt, did they do anything else in demilling?

[stcstc]

I think the barrel has a rod welded in part of it and a slot cut in the barrel too. Also, I think something has been done to the trigger. The trigger moves and is sprung loaded but not sure about the rest of the mechanism.

[emmagee1917]

Savage started delivery in July '42 . By July 17th they accepted the request for the winged rear sight that your gun now has. This new sight appeared shortly thereafter in the high 137,000 range . Yours was added during rebuild. But from that I'd guess this was an Aug.-ish '42 gun.

Chris

[stcstc]

Savage started delivery in July '42 . By July 17th they accepted the request for the winged rear sight that your gun now has. This new sight appeared shortly thereafter in the high 137,000 range . Yours was added during rebuild. But from that I'd guess this was an Aug.-ish '42 gun.

Chris

 

 

Thanks Chris.