12 replies to this topic

[jim]

I just picked up this Auto Ordnance Corp. Thompson today. It's in extremely nice condition and I am trying to figure out if it was rebuilt at one of the arsenals. It has no arsenal markings on it, just the "GHD" and the crossed cannons wheel. the serial number is 320049, this serial number range is singled out in the "AMERICAN THUNDER" book on pages 124-125. The barrel has the "P" and is pin punched along with the reciever in close proximity to the barrel mark. All the parts are AOC marked, I removed the fore end and the barrel is marked with a Stevens manufactured squared "S"
The barrel is blued and the reciever is Du-Lite black, all the wood is in excellent shape, it has stamped sling swivels, buttplate has very few scratches on it and has almost 100% blueing, it has no cross bolt through the buttstock. It has a 1928 style NOERA oiler in it. It also came with an original mustard colored sling. The inside of the reciever shows almost no finish wear, the rear sight has the "Lyman Middlefield Conn USA" stamp on it. The bolt is nickeled and is the correct M1 floating firing pin.
The safety/selector controls are the later pin/stick type. There is no serial number on the lower housing.
Camera won't take very clear close-ups.
Is this gun 1940's factory original???

[jim]

One more thing, the lower fits like it was made for the upper, slides on and off as tight and smooth as my Colt '28.

[full auto 45]

QUOTE

Is this gun 1940's factory original???

From what I can tell by the pictures, yes it is a early 1940-1941 gun. Nice find. Has the correct site for the early gun.

[Merry Ploughboy]

Congratulations and enjoy your TSMG.

Many happy times to you and your gun!

[Hawkeye_Joe]

That is one nice Tommy..... ..That is why I'm selling the one WH to get the other one cuz it looks like that one..

[jim]

This is the 6th or 7th M1/M1A1 I've had and I've never had one this clean and new looking. I purchased the gun from a P.D. that had has owned it for the last 40 to 50 years so I don't think they'd go through the trouble of plating the bolt or refinishing anything on it. I was told it was donated way back when by the military.

I was wondering about the rivets myself but if an arsenal was to rebuild it and replace the rivets you'd think they'd put the M1A1 style rearsight on it? If the gun had been used and then rebuilt I wouldn't think the upper and lower would fit so smoothly and tight. There is NO slop when they are together either, the take-down button fits perfectly in the lower's semi-circular cut-out.

The best thing is, it's fully transferable.

[full auto 45]

I didn't think C3 was allowed in WA state? Anywhere near Bellingham?

[jim]

Only guys that hold a Class 2/3 can have 'em. I'm 45 minutes south of Bellingham, near Arlington.

[jim]

Thank you, I'm very excited about it.

[Ron Mills]

Strange it doesn't have the serial number on the underside of the trigger frame. I thought they all did. Congrats on a real find there, Jim!

[Bob]

I looked over Jim's new toy yesterday...It's as he said..new. No rebuild marks, and the tightest fit I have ever seen on a war time gun. Looks very correct, never messed with, the rivets do look original in person. The picture makes them look too brite.

Tom's toy that Paul dressed up is really nice as well... ( I SAW'd it )..but I'll let him talk about that! The evening video came out nice, but I don't have the resource to post.

[Merry Ploughboy]

Frame serial numbers were cost reduced out.

See the "American Thunder" chapter on M1/M1A1's.

[sigma1]

On the bright and dull bolt conversation - I recently was fortunate to open a crate of M1 Thompsons which had been sealed for many years- yes they were from the Russian batch, most were Savage - picked out two that were within 20 serials of each other- one had a bright bolt one had a dull bolt.

If you want to see the pics will have to buy American Thunder 2 because I sent all the pics to Frank!