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Thanks Tom, I was hoping someone had an original, so I could get a scan of that article, First Mile a Minute Army. A good few years ago now, Larry was selling a lot of things off. I bought a lot of old paperwork / handbooks etc. from him dating from the 1920's, and also a few period magazines with old AOC/ Model of 1921 articles, but he never offered me that one. I did get my Colt Era XVIII Shot cartridge magazine from him, that was a coup for me.

Originally posted by Larry, (joseph12297), on February 21, 2016. "Got this 1931 article showing clearly the US motorcycle mount for a Navy Thompson. I have never seen this style of mount before. Not like the ones in the catalogs or on the british bikes" Has anyone got the original publication in their collection?

250 years of Independence. Wishing all our American colleagues a safe and fun Fourth of July!

Tom, I had always presumed that the serial numbers started higher, in their thousands or what ever, but does this indicate that there is, or was, a AO manufactured 1928A1 with serial number 1? I wonder🤔

A photo I have not seen before, British soldiers on exercise with a Norton Motorcycle and sidecar.

Karl, There are three versions of the patent date magazine, the first being the 1920’s Colt Era version, manufactured by Johns Machine and Stamp Co. which were produced up to 1939 I believe. Once Russel Maguire took over AOC, more Patent Date magazines were produced, some which have an incorrect date on them, were stamped MSCO, (Mitchell Stamping Company, Philadelphia PA), inside backstrap. The harder to find Maguire era Patent Dates have the correct date on them, and were also manufactured by the Mitchell Stamping Company, Philadelphia PA, and stamped inside backstrap with MSCO. The first two patents were issued on the same date, August 24, 1920, so this is where the Maguire era incorrect Patent date magazines come in. As Roger Herbst states in his book 'Thompson submachine gun magazines : 1917-1921' "there was never a patent issued for the TSMG on August 20, 1920, so these Mitchell Stamping Company’, (MSCO), produced magazines are referred to as the “Incorrect Dated Patent Magazines". Rogers book is worth investing in, IMHO.

What a coincidence, today I have just been asked if I can run another 'Tommy Gun Story' display by the Blyth Battery Museum, and I've just ordered 2 more of stands. Having already used two of them for a public display, they are perfect, stable and lightweight, so they more than meet my needs. At that price, 'don't look a gift horse in the mouth'.

Is this the one....

I just noticed that two more cards in the set, appear to feature a Thompson too, No's 1 and 44. The Thompson was popular with this series of collectors cards.

Nice shot of a British Guardsman on a motorcycle with Thompson attachment and gun.

And another from Hawkeye_Joe, originally posted on April 13 2017. "Motorcycle cop using Army training".

And originally posted by David Albert on the 4th July 2009:

And another cool picture.. 2nd Armored Motorcycle Scouts in 1941

I've seen this image before, but not with such an in depth description. Originally posted as "Loaded for Bear", by Hawkeye_Joe on August 20, 2014., Hawkeye_Joe last posted on 2019. I thought, I'd repost here, so this is not lost in time: "United Kingdom Norton Big 4 motorcycle with a Bren gun and driver's mounted Thompson, WWII. The Model 1, or more commonly known as Big 4, was a Norton motorcycle made between 1907 and 1954 in various forms. With 633 cc (38.6 cu in), it was the largest and most powerful side valve engine, with plenty of low end torque in the model range, and was mostly used to haul sidecars. Approximately 4700 of the nearly 100,000 military bikes made by Norton during WW2 were Big 4 sidecar outfits. Designed to carry two or three men plus their fighting equipment over very rough terrain, the Big 4 was used for reconnaissance and carrying loads of ammunition to the front line troops. It was called Big 4 due to its power rating of 4 hp, calculated as tax horsepower. The Big 4 could be equipped with a Bren gun, Thompson or a 3 inch mortar; bombs could be fitted to a platform in place of a sidecar."

Another well leafed book on my book shelf is 'Thompson Submachine Gun Magazines: 1917-2021' by our own Roger Herbst. I'd recommend you read that book for some answers.. Page 148, the chapter on 'Creation on the XXX magazine', starts with a quote from Frank Iannamicos book American Thunder, a description of the 30 rnd Thompson magazine development. So if you have that book, you can read that too. In short XX mag was a flawless design, but shortcoming was limited cartridge capacity. Drums had proved to be unsuitable for military service, the British armed forces were considering replacement of drum magazines, as early as April 1941. Initial development of the hi cap box magazine, included welding two XX mags together, photos can be found in Rogers book, apparently it was The Crosby Company that worked on the development of the 30 rnd mags. There were actually 40 rnd capacity magazines, as as well as 30 rnd magazines, field tested by the Armored Force Board at Fort Knox in Dec 1941. Rogers book is a wealth of information, and with some excellent images of the development of all the Thompson magazines from the early prototypes, right through to recent times. Treat yourself to a copy.

The British certainly preferred XX round mags to 30 round, when the change came about. If you read Tom Davis’s book 'Great Britain the Tommy Gun Story', so you read in chapter 2. It was not about reliability of the magazines or “using the weapon in the prone position” for the British and Commonwealth forces through. It was down to the British MK1 and MKII 37 Pattern Pouches were not deep enough for the 30 rnd magazines, until the MKIII pouches were developed, and also logistical issues, the Metal Ammunition boxes produced for the British armed forces were also designed for the XX mags. Tom has done a lot of research into this area and quotes a number of communications on this subject, incl. one quote that states: The US War Dept. agreed to continue supplying 20 round magazines “from Stock while available”. So perhaps from that point the priority for distribution of remaining stocks of XX mags was shipped to the British, so the US forces received the new 30 rnd mags.

That is the difference between seeing and observing. 👏

Found one for sale in the UK, looks similar. https://www.epicmilitaria.com/thompson-gun-cover.html

Lance, PM sent.

BTT This forum has helped myself and other members with a wealth of information over the years. Providing history, sharing knowledge and advice, (most recently the '28 Savage Locked up' topic), and loads of opportunities to buy rarer Thompson items. Let us all help keep the Thompson history alive!

And do you want to take a chance, waiting for another 'HUGE new stash' being discovered. I made that mistake years ago, and regret it. Sometimes you just have to throw the dice.

Good point, but the Thompson was the Commandos main firepower, on the many raids carried out on German positions in the early 1940's on the French coast..

Lance, is this another batch you have had produced? I would have thought you would have sold out of the first batch they are so practical. I could do with a couple more of those myself, these are the best drum display stands I have come across in all the years I have been interested in TSMGs.

Having used both during my service, I agree 100%, but I prefer the Thompson on the Badge...classic look.

Yesterday, our King announced that following modernisation, the 3 Commando Brigade is to now be known officially, as the UK Commando Force. He also presented the Royal Marines with new Colours. On the colours of the HQ Commando Force, I note that on the Combined Operations insignia, the Thompson gun has been replaced by a FN SLR That does not look right....