31 replies to this topic

[Sig]

Very nice job on the website.

[full auto 45]

Great site and great gun. Now that is a true gun with history behind it. I'll put a link to it on my site. Great job.

[TSMGguy]

Great gun! I enjoyed the web page very much. I wish that I had your skills! Time to go looking for an original stock without the cross bolt. It seems to be all the old girl needs!

[21 smoker]

Sgt,...how refreshingly open and honest ...great job on the entire site,thanks for sharing your family history...what struck me most,...your background history...Solid...It is said here often that we only possess our Thompsons for a while and than someone else takes over...that 28a1 is in good hands again...to be used and appreciated...Well done.. oh ya...the babes pretty hot too!KEEPEM`SMOKIN`,out.

[Sgt]

Smoker--
Thanks for the good words. I still draw lots of strength from those early times. Many of my hometown family and friends are now gone, but their deeds and guidance are ever clear.

Yea, wished the lady in the picture was real, but I probably couldn't afford the Savage if she was. LOL -- Smok'm if you Got'm

[Arthur Fliegenheimer]

SGT,
It seems a stretch that Gen. Groves would allow his scientists to be carrying Tommy Guns. Considering the spying going on at Los Alamos by the scientists Klaus Fuchs and Ted Hall, I betcha it would have given the Russians an extra kick to know their agents could shoot their way out in case they were discovered. I doubt they would have given Edward Teller a TSMG, never mind a Keaton Keller. Since it says on his application for registration that he got the gun in 1964, I guess he was covering up for national security reasons?

[Sgt]

Good point, Arthur. Although I hate to be a bother, I'd love to locate some of the Dr's relatives, who might know the true story of his ownership. I'm still doing some research on the subject though.

[Walter63a]

Sgt., that's a great gun, with great stories and a great site!! Thanks for sharing! Regards, Walter

P.S. I remember reading a story, in one of our local papers, about a scientist at Los Alamos (during WWII) owning a TSMG. I'd like to know who, and how many of them, owned such guns, during the war!

[45fan]

Great site . . . outstanding job! And a very nice Savage too!

[Arthur Fliegenheimer]

Walter,
Since Dr. Keller stipulated in his 1968 application that he didn't get the TSMG until 1964, I think it is safe to assume that the most top secret WWII projects involving civilian scientists and the prospect of the government issuing TSMGs' to them could only be adapted from a Mickey Spillane novel.

[Walter63a]

Arthur, I am not claiming to have the inside scoop on this subject, "Thompsons and nuclear scientists," but I have heard the topic discussed, read newspaper articles, etc. So, I am just wondering if anyone on this board has any information on this, or source material. I don't think it is beyond the realm of possibility that some of these atomic scientists had a Tommy or two in their personal collections, during the 1940's, when all one had to do was pay the $200 transfer tax and the price of the gun. Regards, Walter

[LIONHART]

There has been in the past much talk about Los Amos on the Art Bell show. No mention of Tommy Guns though.