Jalabert Posted July 18, 2008 Report Share Posted July 18, 2008 Hello! First, i'm french, so sorry for my bad english. I would like to have your opinion on my Thompson because it is difficult to find accurate information in France. The serial number is 171196. What can we learn? What's the date of made for example? Herewith a few photos. Thank you in advance for your precise answers. http://armes.historiques.free.fr/thompson/1.jpg http://armes.historiques.free.fr/thompson/2.jpg http://armes.historiques.free.fr/thompson/3.jpg http://armes.historiques.free.fr/thompson/4.jpg http://armes.historiques.free.fr/thompson/5.jpg http://armes.historiques.free.fr/thompson/6.jpg http://armes.historiques.free.fr/thompson/7.jpg http://armes.historiques.free.fr/thompson/8.jpg http://armes.historiques.free.fr/thompson/9.jpg http://armes.historiques.free.fr/thompson/10.jpg http://armes.historiques.free.fr/thompson/11.jpg http://armes.historiques.free.fr/thompson/12.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted July 18, 2008 Report Share Posted July 18, 2008 Bonjour! Welcome to the Thompson board! It is a nice looking specimen. Do you live in France now? If so, does the French government allow you have a functional Thompson or is it deactivated in some way? Does the gun have any specific war history that you know of? I personally can't offer much information on the gun, but I sure that other RKIs will be able to. Norm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jalabert Posted July 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2008 Salut! Yes i live in France so it is desactivated. Unfortunately, I don't know anything else about this thompson... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Mills Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 (edited) Mon ami, Very nice Thompson! It is difficult to find the "exact" manufacture date of your Thompson. The M1 Thompsons were made starting in early 1942. Your gun has the "protected rear sight", which was put into production in July of 1942, starting with serial numbers in the high 137,000 range. According to production figures, it seems likely that your Thompson was made sometime in August 1942. Since the words "Full Auto" are marked on 2 separate lines, that indicates that the trigger frame was made at the Savage Arms factory. All this information comes from the 2 great "American Thunder" books written by Frank Iannamico, founder of this forum. I hope this helps you. Thank you for joining our Thompson forum, and for sharing your pictures. Bon chance, Ron Edited July 19, 2008 by Ron Mills Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jalabert Posted July 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 (edited) Thanks! "protected rear sight" What's that? Have you a picture, please? According to production figures Can we find the listings on internet? My Thompson is a M1 or a M1A1? Can we find a blueprint of Thompson on a siteweb? Thanks for your answers, Jalabert. Edited July 19, 2008 by Jalabert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colt21a Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 they have a condom on the site. just google "protected rear site."everything is on the web.let your fingers do the walking. and welcome to the Tommy board.Ron we had to have a little humor today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jalabert Posted July 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 (edited) http://images.google.com/images?hl=fr&...sa=N&tab=wi Cooool... :hail: Thanks for your help! Edited July 19, 2008 by Jalabert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 Jalabert, Here are two photos showing the difference between the protected rear sight and unprotected one. Picture "A" is the unprotected sight. It is just an L-shaped sight. These sometimes got bent when the gun was dropped. :banghead: This is why the protected sight (picture "B") is the one that most people want on their gun. Your gun has the protected sight. If you were to remove the triangle shaped "ears" from each side of the rear sight you would basically have the unprotected version. Hope this helps.... Norm http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y204/mbsennett1/unprotectedsight.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y204/mbsennett1/protectedsight.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Mills Posted July 20, 2008 Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 Thanks for jumping in, guys. Humor and pictures always help! Jalabert, your Thompson is an M1. By the way, have you ever been to Normandy? Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jalabert Posted July 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 (edited) OK! Many many thanks! Do you know how many Thompson were made with the unprotected sight? Yes, I have ever been to Normandy. Why? You want to visit? Edited July 20, 2008 by Jalabert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Mills Posted July 21, 2008 Report Share Posted July 21, 2008 See to my earlier post: The 'protected' rear sight started with guns in the high 137,000 range. Sooo, around 137,000 of them were made with the older 'naked' sight. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jalabert Posted July 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2008 OK, thanks and sorry to have you made repeated. Amicalement, Jalabert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jalabert Posted August 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2008 Hello! I followed your advice and I bought American Thunder II: it is very comprehensive! But I still have two small additional questions: - The letters "MR" are carved into the wood of my cross. Do you know what that means? - In a french book, the author said that only 80 Thompson M1 were manufactured by Savage. Is this true? I'm skeptical because this is not mentioned in American Thunder. Thank you in advance for your answers. Jalabert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Mills Posted August 24, 2008 Report Share Posted August 24, 2008 The MR means that the gun was an "arsenal rebuild" at the Mount Ranier, Washington (west coast, USA) arsenal. See page 278, American thunder II. Far more than 80 M1's were made by Savage. I can't locate the exact number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD. Posted August 24, 2008 Report Share Posted August 24, 2008 Jalabert, I would be interested in the name of the French book citing the M1 Thompson production totals. On Page 244, American Thunder II: "There were approximately 285,480 M1 models manufactured by Savage Arms and Auto-Ordnance Bridgeport. Savage Arms manufactured the vast majority of the early M1 model." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jalabert Posted August 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2008 (edited) Thanks for your answers. For the number of M1, I understood so correctly this sentence in American Thunder. The book is that of Jean Huon, french author. I will buy no book on him! Edited August 24, 2008 by Jalabert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD. Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 Jalabert, Do you have the 2002 edition of the Jean Huron book? I note Huron has the same production figure for M1 Thompson's on page 69 that I provided from American Thunder II. I do see a reference to 80 M1 Thompsons, but my French is not good enough to translate it completely. I would welcome a complete translation of that paragraph. I like Jean Huron's books on the Thompson. I believe it is a required book for a complete Thompson library. I understand the 2002 edition is the second edition. I have been looking for a first edition. Do you ever see the first edition offered for sale in France? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted August 25, 2008 Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 Jalabert, Do you have the 2002 edition of the Jean Huron book? I note Huron has the same production figure for M1 Thompson's on page 69 that I provided from American Thunder II. I do see a reference to 80 M1 Thompsons, but my French is not good enough to translate it completely. I would welcome a complete translation of that paragraph. I like Jean Huron's books on the Thompson. I believe it is a required book for a complete Thompson library. I understand the 2002 edition is the second edition. I have been looking for a first edition. Do you ever see the first edition offered for sale in France? TD, I have the first edition of Jean Huon's book, if you ever want to reference it. It was published by Barnett Editions, and the 2nd edition was published by Editions Crepin-LeBlond in France. David Albert dalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jalabert Posted August 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2008 Editions Crepin-LeBlond, page 69: http://armes.historiques.free.fr/huon.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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