17 replies to this topic

[John Jr]

I found this picture on the Uzi site. Comes from West Point or something.

WHAT IS THIS DEVICE?



?????

[cavediver]

It appears to be a silencer. I have seen pictures of Silenced Thompsons before for covert ops.

[DC Chris]

At first, I didn't think it was a sound suppressor.... it goes too far back from the end of the gun to provide any amount of suppression (with the assumption the barrel is still 10.5"). After looking closer, it looks like there might be starts of threads being cut before the silver part of "the object", so I guess it could be. I think the action of the M1 would still be pretty loud and possibly this was a prototype attempt at this.

My only other guesses are a heat shield, flash suppressor, or someone making a crude machine shop or field modification/repair.

I would love to know more about it, but that won't be making it to my M1 anytime soon.

Chris.

[Norm]

Assuming that it is a suppressor, be careful how you hold that front grip!

The finger groves are VERY close to edge of the suppressor.

Whats that BURNING smell?!? OWW! My fingers!

[full auto 45]

Put a hose on the bottom and it's a water cooled Thompson!

[TN.Frank]

What ever it is(I vote for silencer) they screwed up a nice Thompson by installing it.

[SecondAmend]

Looks like an integral (i.e., drilled barrel) suppressor that probably drops the muzzel velocity to about 700 fps. Probably pretty quiet considering how small it is.

Definitely watch your fingers as it will get very hot, very fast.

Swap back to original barrel - good as "new". Looks like may be a rewat receiver.

That's my guess.

[LIONHART]

SUPPRESSOR

[Zamm]

I'm for suppresser... a lot of times these units only cut down the noise level "downrange" of where it was pointed, being open breach auto's, with a hell of a lot of sound coming out the side.
But, quite effective for that.
Zamm

[cookie]

QUOTE (John Jr @ May 7 2004, 11:14 PM)

I found this picture on the Uzi site. Comes from West Point or something. WHAT IS THIS DEVICE? ?????

Yes, it came from West Point. Every year the History Dept. has a machine gun shoot, and my son (a Cadet) took some photos from the one they had last weekend. I've been trying to find some answers for him, but didn't even know this board existed until this morning.

Thanks to everyone!

[JimFromFL]

I would like to know the history. When and if it were ever used in active duty.

[John Jr]

PhilOhio,

QUOTE

And you also need to eliminate the little "pop" of a bullet breaking the sound barrier, by reducing velocity through ammunition choice or gas bleeding.

The 45 ACP round is by default sub sonic, even from a Thompson. Red Ryder BB guns make 88dB of sound.

A Norrell 10/22 with 18" bbl makes 96 dB. Silenced 9mm's make about 130dB. I recon the Thompson would be a bit louder, but not TOO much.

If this thing is a silencer, its just there to kill the muzzle explosion. The only "Example" of a Thompson silencer I have ever heard of is in Richardsons pamplet. It describes how to make one, but he never did. I would like cavediver to elaborate in regards the pictures he has seen and where I might see them too.

Jr

[cavediver]

The picture I remember was in a book about the OSS and cant remember the title but will look through my library and see if I can locate. It may be a book by C B Colby.

[cavediver]

Phil,
Thanks for the insight. I had a friend that worked for Evergreen International and he had a few stories to tell.
I also have a Liberator from the OSS.
Thanks
Charles Burrage

[Gargoyle]

Phil

Nice info.

For everyones dreams: The goverment is not required to register MGs with BATF. Any pre-86 goverment owned MG is transferable. The agency simply files a Form 5 for a tax free transfer to the buyer. It is government policy (law for Department of Defence?) not to do such transfers. If you know someone who knows someone, you might be able to get a CIA owned MG. Other than that, it's just a dream. Other than Pantex, I don't remember any federal MGs sold by a federal agency.

[SecondAmend]

John Jr:

See Hill, Tracie, "Thompson: The American Legend," 1996, page 222.

[cavediver]

Phil,
On page 222 is a picture of a silenced thompson used by the British S.O.E.
This is similar to the one i had seen used by the OSS

[SecondAmend]

PhilOhio,

Maybe a modern SEAL could not handle the package, but I'd bet Gov. Jesse could have. The gun, even with an L drum has got to be less heavy than a pink feather boa.