
How Many Transferrable Usgi Thompsons Are There?
#1
Posted 14 December 2003 - 09:07 AM
#2
Posted 14 December 2003 - 11:39 AM
#3
Posted 14 December 2003 - 01:26 PM
Probably no way to tell.
I was once told by a former FBI agent that in the 60's and early 70's, many "bring backs" were turned in to the FBI by concerned parents of recalcitrant teenagers. The parents feared the teenagers would get the MGs use them for "The Revolution." The agent indicated the guns were destroyed.
#4
Posted 14 December 2003 - 11:30 PM

I asked the same question a few weeks ago...and received no answer. It is known that there are approximately 700 WH M1's, 1000 commemoratives, and a few thousand 1928 WH's
Out of the 15000 colts made most survived in the form of either 21's or 21/28's
Out of the 1.4 million thompsons made during WW2 I would estimate that 1.3 million either went to the brits, got lost in the drink, or lost in combat. the other 100,000 probably ended up in the US. Quite a few of the 100,000 were dumped or destroyed or are sitting inbetween walls or in attics.
There were approximately 18000 registrations during 1968 but that includes all registrations...i would estimate approximately 5000 thompsons in 1968
Several thousand more in the form of rewats, rewelds, and numerich, etc...from then until 1986
i know after WW2 they were sold out of magazines and out of armories for little more than nothing and subsequently registered...but i would say an OVERWHELMING majority are rusting away in boneyards, in the drink, or are awaiting an upcoming amnesty
I would say of the approx 120,000 transferable MGs there are about 25000 thompsons ao all variations
Take it for what it is worth
#5
Posted 15 December 2003 - 10:01 AM

#6
Posted 15 December 2003 - 10:55 AM
Remember, that includes everything from 21's to M1A1's that were not kosher for the past "x" amount of years
Also, registration included serviceable thompsons like mine as well as dewats like yours...also ALL registrations in 1968 were tax free...even servicable ones!
You don't think there are 25000 thompsons of all variations in the registry?
Here are numbers i have heard: approx 25,000 MACS, 20,000 M16, 12,000 HK, 6,000 UZI, ????? thompsons...those are the most common type of MGs so i think there could quite easily be 25000 thompson variants
This incluses everything from 21's to M1a1's...also Pearl, WH, etc...and registered DEWATS that coulf be reactivated on a form 1
What do you think?
#7
Posted 15 December 2003 - 11:09 AM
QUOTE |
"Out of the 15000 colts made most survived in the form of either 21's or 21/28's." |
USMC,
I am not sure what you mean by this, but the most recent guesstimates on total registered/transferable Colt Thompsons in the U.S. is around 1,800.
#8
Posted 16 December 2003 - 07:00 PM
#9
Posted 16 December 2003 - 11:28 PM
I stand by the rest of my estimates
Thanks Arthur for the correction
#10
Posted 17 December 2003 - 12:17 AM
This guy has been doing research since the 50's on it. He would know.
Jr
#11
Posted 17 December 2003 - 07:42 AM
I like to be optimistic and tell myself that someone has 'the motherload' f transferable thompsons sitting around collecting dust...and right before they die they will release them at decent prices. I would still like to have a 21 or 28 to keep my M1A1 company in the safe...i might even go so far as to trade one of my HK autosears for one!
So what do you RKIs think of my 25,000 transferable thompson (all variations) estimate...overly optimistic?
#12
Posted 17 December 2003 - 08:33 AM
Wouldn't it be nice to also know the breakdown of what models they are?
Anyone out there know how to get that info? My guess is the right person can do it in a couple of keystrokes!
The only question is how many are still in the rafters, etc. We need a new amnesty period and amybe we can get a number for those too!
#13
Posted 17 December 2003 - 09:48 AM
Knowing your fondness for polls, perhaps we could do a survey of Class III dealers and owners and arrive at an estimate of registered Colt TSMG's. Unless the dealer you know sold 3,000 Colt's, or has access to IRS/ATF files, the accepted figure agreed on by Cox, Herigstad, Dillon, Hill, Ballou, etc, is still below 2000.
#14
Posted 17 December 2003 - 07:37 PM


#15
Posted 17 December 2003 - 07:51 PM
other than that, i think J Curtis Earl had ONE HELL OF A COLLECTION of Thompsons. I've seen old pics of his guns and he had racks and racks of Thommies. if you know of him, they weren't cheap either

#16
Posted 17 December 2003 - 10:49 PM
Jr
#17
Posted 17 December 2003 - 10:53 PM
#18
Posted 17 December 2003 - 11:02 PM
Jr
#19
Posted 18 December 2003 - 08:54 AM
#20
Posted 18 December 2003 - 10:31 AM