THIS IS A VERY RARE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE A TRUE THOMPSON COLLECTIBLE. IF YOU REFER TO PAGE 355 OF TRACIE HILL'S " THOMPSON; THE AMERICAN LEGEND", YOU'LL SEE FIGURE 412, PICTURING THIS VERY CASE. YES, THIS IS THE ACTUAL CASE PICTURED (WHEN JIM FALTER OWNED IT). IT'S A MILITARY STYLE CASE; AND ONE THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN ELSEWHERE.....SO THIS MAY THE ONLY ONE IN EXISTENCE. NO, THE CASE IS NOT IN PERFECT CONDITION. WHILE THE LATCHES AND HINGES ALL WORK FINE, THE HANDLE HAS TORN OFF AT ONE END (LIKE SO MANY OF THE FBI CASES I'VE SEEN). IT LOOKS LIKE THE HANDLE REPAIR WOULD BE AN EASY VENTURE, WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF REPLACING THE ACTUAL HANDLE.....IT'S LIKELY THAT IT CAN BE RESTORED. THE OUTSIDE IS AN UGLY ARMY GREEN THAT MAY HAVE BEEN PAINTED A FEW TIMES......AND THE INSIDE SPORTS A NICE VARNISH FINISH. AND, OF COURSE, SINCE THIS IS A GENUINE MILITARY CASE, THERE ARE A FEW NICKS, SCRATCHES, ETC...... THE BOXES OF AMMO PICTURED, ARE SIMPLY EMPTY BOXES FOR DISPLAY ONLY. OF COURSE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO PURCHASE YOUR OWN AND INSTALL THEM. THESE TYPES OF ITEMS DON'T ARISE ON EBAY TOO OFTEN....THAT'S WHY THERE'S A RESERVE. BUT YOU MIGHT JUST BE SURPRISED AS TO HOW INEXPENSIVE (ON A RELATIVE BASIS FOR OTHER ORIGINAL CASES IN THIS WONDERFUL THOMPSON HOBBY) THE RESERVE IS. AS MOST THOMPSON COLLECTORS WILL AGREE, THIS STUFF AIN'T GETTIN' CHEAPER WITH TIME!!
