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There is a seller on Ebay (dubjugz) that is selling reproduction FBI cases. Greed got the best of me and I bought one thinking it was a one in a million chance it was the real thing. I had emailed the seller about them and she stated that the case had belonged to her long time collector father.( It's a ploy) I received the case and it's obvious that it's a repro, yet it is well built example with a cotton felt interior and pretty much made like an original. The only thing you see right off the bat is the clasps are not as sturdy as the originals as in light gauge stamped plated metal. They are not as nice as Rat-Tats reproduction cases but are a cut above the China cases your seeing now. The auction price was $500. I think I'll keep it to remind myself of being such a gober :-). Attached are the sellers photo of it and by gosh it even has a Swetnam tag. -Darryl

I have received Phillies receiver (made by Phila Ord) and trigger frame. An intitial inspection seems to indicate that there is some type of burr or galling of the trigger frame. Here is a photo of the receiver - note the bluing is scratched off along the rail as far along as the frame would slide on: http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/reconbob/IMG_2640.jpg I have tried several trigger frames we have here and they all slide right on without difficultly: http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/reconbob/IMG_2644.jpg I am assuming by cleaning and deburring the trigger frame here that all will be well. One factor might be that the trigger frame has been painted black and maybe there is some crud mixed in with the paint stuck in the corners of the rails. Bob/Phila Ord

1) Since you say that anyone could manufacture a TSMG when the patents expired, could you provide the date these patents expired? Doug Richardson has a book on the Thompson patents. I suggest you read that if you need actual date information for specific patents. I believe there is also another book on Thompson patents. I am thinking Don Thomas is the author but I am not 100% sure. Suffice to say, once patent protection expired, anyone was/is free to manufacture a Thompson. 2) If AOC did not have a contract with Colt to exclusively make the TSMG back in 1921, could you provide the other firearm manufacturers that AOC contracted with simultaneously? Could you please show me where in the Auto-Ordnance/Colt's contract where Auto-Ordnance agreed Colt's would be the exclusive manufacturer of the Thompson Submachine Gun for any period of time. Not that it really mattered, the initial lot of 15,000 guns took nearly 20 years to sell. 3) If as you say Colt was a subcontractor of AOC, could you provide information of AOC actually making the TSMG during the period Colt was making them? Contractor or subcontractor, there is no need to argue semantics. Colt's was paid to perform a service for Auto-Ordnance. And they did. 4) Could you provide the page in TUTB where Hill or any contributing author provides a photo of a Chasan TSMG? I could but I am going to let you find it. From the above questions, you need to read the works of original researchers.

Russia...

Tommy Paul, I know you are looking for Frank's book, American Thunder II. It will answer most of your questions. In the interim, here is a brief answer to your question. There were two manufacturers of the Thompson Submachine gun during World War II: Savage Arms - A subcontractor for the Auto-Ordnance Corporation (just like Colt's was in the 1920's) Auto-Ordnance Corporation - The company that owned the Thompson Submachine Gun. It opened its first manufacturing plant in Bridgeport, Connecticut during World War II. Savage Arms Thompson's are easily identified because the serial number prefix begins with an "S" (for Savage). The right side of the receiver can have a New York address (the former address of the Auto-Ordnance Corporation) or a Bridgeport, Connecticut address (the address during most of World War II). Early Savage guns have the New York address; later Savage guns have the Bridgeport address. Auto-Ordnance Corporation Thompsons are easily identified because the serial number prefix begins with the letters "A.O." (for Auto-Ordnance). The right side of the receiver will have a Bridgeport, Connecticut address. Collectors or enthusiasts usually refer to the World War II Thompsons as either Savage Thompsons or Auto-Ordnance - Bridgeport Thompsons. This method avoids confusion and identifies the subject matter completely.

Darryl, The form is required if you don't have a C & R License. If you have the license you just make the notation in your C & R logbook.

When I sent in my 5320.0 for Knob Creek this fall I was a little late getting it sent in ( not usual for me ) I mailed it in on a Monday and got it back in Saturday's mail. The Martinsburg NFA has always been great in getting it back quickly. I thank them for that.

title ii, Thank you for sharing. Thompson Submachine Guns have an uncanny ability to survive. I bet there are plenty more around (this part of the world). This M1 is certainly an old warrior. I wonder what happened to the internals in the frame.

Curl, NO 6835 - an E.E. Richardson Thompson. A very nice acquisition. Congratulations. I look forwarded to seeing it and you at next years TATA Show and Shoot. Please reserve a display table so everyone can admire this great looking Tommy Gun. Thank you for still posting the video's of last years TATA Show and Shoot. You also posted some of the best pictures taken of the SVDM Thompsons.

Just so some are not confused here, if your serial # prefix letter is an "S".....it is a Savage manufactured gun and not a Bridgeport manufactured gun.

+1 for 450-500 euro for a nice M1 dewat , nice orignals, working condition are going for maximum 1200 euro, Euuuh no, didn't forget that extra 0 +1 that we can own 100% functional machineguns over here too