HANS

It is a good thread Have you found out more about the other firearms seized with Carroll's Thompson? Cheers HANS

Hiya Ron, if their direct contact armax@helios.house didn't work out, you could probably talk to Caitlin Fitz Gerald to set you up: caitlin@helios.house You should also be able to get it via https://www.headstamppublishing.com/armax even though the volume in question isn't displayed. See https://www.headstamppublishing.com/contact. Headstamp have a marvelous selection of other stuff as well Frankly, some of these contacts have been on the slow side in the past (I understand these are side gigs for most of the folks involved), but I have always gotten a response, even if I had to wait a bit. If none of these work tell me and I'll talk directly to the editors (who don't handle sales but can investigate ...). Cheers HANS

I've been researching this and many other gangster guns for a dozen or so years now and I my view on the whole affair veers a bit from the official account; gijive and I have debated the whole thing several times, including when I was over in Chicago some years ago and he very graciously showed me around with John B. My issues are with details, but as we all know details make things interesting. I agree that No. 2347 and No. 7580 were used, although I believe the commonly accepted route of No. 2347 to the killers was a bit different. My main concern is the number of shots. Goddard made a very cursory examination of the bullets as far as I know, basically stopping after he matched one (!) bullet to each of the guns, rather than the 38 or so that were retrieved. He also made assumptions about the number of shots and especially the type of magazines used based on incomplete data -- but note that he worded his assumptions more carefully than is commonly reported, indicating that he knew they were assumptions. Given the state of crime scene examinations of the time generally and this one specifically, it seems that these issues are far from iron-clad. This is also supported by the coroner's reports, which by my tally indicate more holes than there should be if just 70+2 shots were fired. The outcome, of course, is still the same, but it is the small stuff that makes it fun Cheers HANS

Why, in that case the article is perfect for you, for it explains its history and use! And yes, the Monitor is a derivative of the M1918 BAR, specifically for law enforcement use -- although it was prominently employed by John Dillinger associate Lester Gillis (alias "Baby Face Nelson"). Cheers HANS

I am pleased to announce that my new article on the "Colt Monitor Automatic Machine Rifle" has now been published as the latest issue of ARMAX is shipping. In the article, I explain why it was introduced to the market and detail when, where, and how it was used. I trace a large number of official users, including the FBI and users abroad. I list 101 serial numbers and explain why I think there were quite a few more than the 125 usually quoted. Further, I provide very detailed examinations of two 1934 shootouts that supposedly featured a Monitor, the "Death of Bonnie & Clyde" (no) and the "Battle of Barrington" with "Baby Face Nelson" (yes, but differently than often claimed). All of this in a peer-reviewed article with hundreds of footnotes referencing mainly period sources. I am enormously grateful to the good folks at the Texas Ranger Museum & Hall of Fame in Waco, who gave me privileged access to their Monitor (the one claimed to have been used on Bonnie & Clyde or at least owned by Frank Hamer). Cheers HANS

The Goddard display looks intriguing, whose was that? Can we get more information on the stuff there? Many thanks! Cheers HANS

The money had to be divided by six and they had to meet upfront expenses for guns (Thompsons were typically about $320 on the grey market, and magazines, especially drums, were very difficult to source), ammo, cars, etc. Much of the rest went to bribe policemen, secure underground accommodation (Persons in Hiding had to spend a lot of money on that!), and, in the case of Dillinger and van Meter, trying to have their faces and fingertips surgically altered. In short, crime didn't pay, at least not for bankrobbers ... Cheers HANS

Very cool! Do you have other suggestions for places to visit between Waco and San Antonio? I'll be there this spring and would hate to miss out places of interest (museums, shooting ranges, historic sites). I'll be at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame, of course, and am also thinking of the Drive Tanks! range at Uvalde ... Many thanks! Cheers HANS

Has anyone seen details on how Thompsons were distributed at the squad level in that time? How many drums and magazines were issued? I've seen only a few photos and they seem at best inconclusive (sometimes you see two drum pouches, sometimes no pouches are visible at all, sometimes they have box magazines in the weapon, etc). Presumably things evolved as more guns became available, but even that is unclear. Would someone know? Many thanks! Cheers HANS

Yeah, the photo you mentioned has been widely published, but not in GO DOWN TOGETHER. It shows Deputy Sheriff Rogers of the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s standing next to a pile of guns and ammo. It shows the "left-overs" I mentioned: 2 M1918 BARs, 1 FN-Browning Auto-5, 3 Colt M1911, and 1 Colt M1909. Plus stacks of BAR magazines and much ammo, primarily .30-06 on stripper clips. Cheers HANS

Posse leader Hamer picked only half of the guns. How do I know? This is the complete arsenal: 3 M1918 BARs 1 FN-Browning Auto-5 in 16-gauge (this was supposedly damaged beyond repair during the shootout) 1 Remington Model 11 in 20-gauge 7 Colt M1911 2 Colt Pocket Hammerless (.32 and .380 ACP) 1 Colt M1909 (1 Colt Detective Special was sold as having been there as well, but is very conspicuously absent from all period accounts and photos; I consider it a fake.) There are several photos that suggest that Hamer ended up with only 1 M1918 BAR, 1 Remington Model 11, and 4 Colt M1911. Hamer's son also only mentioned 1 M1918 BAR in his 1968 interview. Notably, when Hamer's son showed off his father's guns in that interview, he had none of the above to show, only other guns including, infamously a Remington Model 81 that cannot have been there. He later sold a Remington Model 11 that he claimed came from the Death Car, but the serial number is wrong. There is one photo that shows 2 M1918 BAR, 1 FN-Browning Auto-5, 3 Colt M1911, and 1 Colt M1909. The Colt M1909 ended up with a deputy sheriff, and I believe all of rest ended up with someone else; the military guns were possibly returned. The two pocket pistols were pocketed (hah) by posse member Hinton, according to his son. Cheers HANS

Haha, very cool! As I wrote in the article, I think 600 shots per minute is a likely ballpark number, which should be not too bad considering the power of the cartridge, the compensator and foregrip, and the weight of the weapon. Cheers HANS

Very cool! What did he say? Cheers HANS

Thanks Kevin! I remember talking with you about gunsmith Lebman and his designs many years ago (back then everybody including myself was convinced that all those things were the handiwork of Lebman, but as you've read I've since discovered that may not have been the case). I think you were primarily interested in Colt pistols then, right? I am still working on publishing my findings, such as they are, about the machine pistol conversions. Hopefully one day they will be ready ... Cheers HANS

Chipotle publish a lot of cool stuff. Would someone know whether they have a store in/near Las Vegas? Their offices are in Henderson, as far as I can tell. I would be thrilled to pick up some items while I'm there; shipping to Europe is generally very costly. Many thanks! Cheers HANS