12 replies to this topic

[LIONHART]

Say, has anyone seen the new Kahr Arms ad in American Rifleman, page 41? "OWN A PIECE OF AMERICAN HISTORY! Auto-Ordnance: Original manufacture of the world famous "Tommy Gun" Well, that sums up the debate on what is/is not an original Thompson in my mind!

[Arthur Fliegenheimer]

So much for truth in advertising! The only piece of American History the Kahr buyer posesses is that they bought a firearm that holds the U.S. record for being sent back to the manufacturer for repairs.

[Waffen Und Bier]

The current Auto Ordnance is no more the manufacturer of the original Tommy gun any more than the current ArmaLite is the manufacturer of the original AR10. They ain't.

In fact, the original Auto Ordnance wasn't even the manufacturer of the original Tommy gun. That was Colt.

[Arthur Fliegenheimer]

W&F,
Actually Auto-Ord did build the prototypes sans Colt. But of course Kahr's reference to the Auto-Ord that they are associated with only extends back to 1975 when WH manufactured their version of the Thompson.

[Sgt]

Guns are tools of death and without death, how can we know life?
Guns are tools of death and without death, how can we know life?
Guns are tools of death and without death, how can we know life?
Guns are tools of death and without death, how can we know life?
Are you getting sleepy?
Now you will mail Sgt all your Thompsons.

[gijive]

Waffen Und Bier,

Recommended reading would be, "The Gun That Made the Twenties Roar", by Bill Helmer. Auto-Ordnance did indeed design, build prototypes, research, refine and ultimely contract with Colt's to build the first Thompson submachine guns. Auto-Ordnance did retain all the rights and patents to the gun, even though Colt's built them.

The Auto-Ordnance Corporation of today has no definitive lineage to the original Auto-Ordnance Corporation that designed and manufactured the gun and the arguments about the legitimacy of the current company wont be repeated here. Colt's has no claim to the gun other than being the first contractor to manufacture them in any quantity.

[Deputy 89C6]

Nothing is as it was in the past..."Miroku" now builds the "Gun that won the west" but they still say "Winchester" Same goes for the Browning. Kind of like the city of Cleveland retaing the rights to the history, and team name of the Browns when they moved to Baltimore....but in that case the "reproduction" is at least as good as the original.

Steve

[TommyGunner]

Did anyone catch the part about the "oustanding workmanship" that goes into them?

Damon

[Waffen Und Bier]

Okay, okay. If you want to count prototypes, then that would be Auto Ordnance Corp. That's what I meant. Yeah, that's it. That's the ticket...... How's that? I was just trying to point out that they just bought a name, but everyone here knows that.

[JimFromFL]

There sure is a lot to laugh about, but the funniest is the price.

[Deputy 89C6]

PhilOhio,

Not running down Miroku...I have several Winchesters & Brownings made by them. Just trying to point out that sometimes the only thing that doesn't change is the name. Unfortunately, the Kahr seems to be on the other end of the scale.

BTW...I was completely ignorant to the problems inherent with the Kahr Thompsons. To think I was shooting my 1927A1 in complete bliss, totaly unaware of the potential problems lurking beneath the surface. Once educated I began to fret accordingly and sent it off to PK. Man...I might have gone on shooting it for years and not have known what a liability I had there...but then I started reading about the Kahr Tommy's reputation here...lucky for me!

Steve

BTW...the last paragraph was tounge in cheek if I offended anyone.

[427sohc]

anyone see the nonkhar ad on page 73?

[Sgt]

427sohc-- I don't get the magazine. Would you mind elaborating? Thanks