DXDunner

I thought I should share these pictures with this thread. Obviously, your thoughts, comments and observations are welcome http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i32/dxdunner/Exterior.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i32/dxdunner/DSC_1497sm.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i32/dxdunner/GR2a.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i32/dxdunner/GR1a.jpg

Gentlemen, I'm sorry to say that (well being the owner of Thompsons with significant current value which keep going up in value, I guess I'm not really that sorry) the price increases are simply the inexorable product of a finite quanity of guns (and perhaps a shrinking quantity) being chased by an ever growing number of people with ever growing quantities of money who desire to own them. If anyone thinks this is going to stop then they are sadly mistaken and probably believe in the tooth fairy. Look at what oil paintings or other examples of "fine art" are selling for. Hundreds of millions and there is still no limit to those increasing prices in that arena. The fact of the matter is that the prices have no relationship to the intrinsic value; rather sale prices are limited only by how much money a buyer is willing to part with and how much money a seller requires to part company with his cherished Thompson. And it's all being fed by the fabulous positive publicity we have recently enjoyed. I can assure you that in a few years ANY current seller of a Thompson (including this writer) is going to be VERY sorry he sold at today's prices. In my opinion the ONLY justification for selling a Thompson (or for that matter, any NFA device) is to raise funds to buy another NFA device or, of course, to solve some financial emergency. Now this is only my two cents but, mark my words, the price merry-go-round is not about to stop. Buy now if there is something you really want and hold what you have unless you have a very good reason to sell. Also, I thought you guys might like to see how two engraved Thompsons finally got together. http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i32/dxdunner/Two.jpg

Today in a conversation with a very reliable ATF agent an amazing story has emerged. The agents said (and I have no reason to not believe him) that some months ago he received a call from a local scuba diver who said that he had been diving on a liberty ship from WW II and discovered a whole intact shipment of Thompsons. Now the quantity mentioned was 10,000 guns. Allegedly, the diver told the agent that the guns were still packed in cosmoline grease and (can you believe it?) in perfect shape. Obviously, the diver would not identify himself and, not surprisingly, the agent did his duty by advising the diver that 1) the guns would be unregistered and, therefore, contraband and 2) in any event they wewre probably still Government property so if recovered would be seized on bot counts. Now who knows if any of this is true or not. I'm just posting this in the spirit of passing it along for what it's worth.

Bob and Phil: There is no question but that the MU2 (and especially the Solitaire) is a high performance flying machine with some real unusual flight characteristics; but so is the Learjet -- especially the 23 which is the one we were originally type rated in some 25 years ago. You might remember that when Bill Lear originally brought out that 23 they were droppng from the sky like flies. Now it wasn't a defective design or a bad airplane. The fact is they were taking guys right out of Twin Beeches and letting them go up to coffin corner at mach .82 at Flight Level 410 without the benefit of high altitude training or simulator experiance. Unfortunately, the "experienced" pilots all were sure they were up to it and they found out they just weren't. Remember a Lear 23 at full gross under standard conditions climbs out at 6000 ft per minute WITH ONE ENGINE SHUT DOWN! Now that's moving in anybody's book. As far as my own experiance with the MU2 goes it's a fantastic aircraft but just like the Lear one has to stay ahead of the airplane and pay attention to the recurrent training. After all, we cruise it at 315 knots (that's over 360 mph) yet it stalls at 65 knots at light landing weight and 80 knots at full gross. The real question to ask any pilot who doesn't like the MU2 is how many hours they have in MU2s. Experienced MU2 pilots just love the machine. By the way, what do airplanes and Thompsons have in common? Why they are expensive high speed money to noise converters.

Phil: As to the Learjet. Nope, it just so happens that every Lear built is approved for turf, not that it matters because even though we're Lear typed (with 3000+ hrs PIC) the biggest machine we fly now is our Mitsubishi Solitaire. But no never mind it's all fun and we love them all.

OK, all you flying guys and gals: Since everybody in our family flies (Mom, Dad, Kids and Kid's spouses [should that be spice?] we are fortunate to have our very own 5000' (turf) airstrip (FAA identifier: VG09) right here next to our private display of our NFA "stuff". So that means that anybody on this board with a plane (or who has a friend with a plane) has a standing invitation to come visit. Just email us and we'll pick a time. Also, with 400+ acres, there is plenty of room to shoot right here on our property. By the way, we are on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. So shoot us an email and we'll email pictures of some of our NFA stuff.. The Historic Arms Family DD and Class 3 since 1978 NRA Life Member And the family is SMEL, Inst, ATP, Lear typed EMail: HistoricArms@StarBand.net

To all those who posted replies: Thanks! To those with some questions: I really don't know who did the engraving or under what circumstances it was done. I was done at least 25-30 years ago. If anyone has any information on the history of this engraving I certainly would like to hear it. And, yes, if I personally owned that gun today in an unengraved state I probably wouldn't authorize the engraving; but, having said that, it is an incredable piece of art. I have examined the entire gun under high magnification and I can't find a single error or mistake. I was obviously all done by hand and the hand of a master engraving artist at that.

Hey Guys: Didn't have a lot to do tonight so I pulled one of my Thompsons (which I've owned in this condition for some 25 years) down off the wall and took a few pictures to share with all of you. Obviously, your thoughts, comments and observations are solicited. http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i32/dxdunner/82806011a.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i32/dxdunner/82806020a.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i32/dxdunner/82806023a.jpg

Norm: It's hanging right there among the Thompson display on the wall of my Gun Room which I can assure you is right here in the old US of A. And it is fully transferable -- not a dealer sample of any kind. Why not come on over and visit. RKIs are always welcome; after all I may get another great story.

Now that's a good wife. You guys ever split send her my way

Hawkeye: About 3" from the muzzle end there is a very slight internal blemish -- not a ring or bulge, just a slight blemish on the inside that you really have to look hard to even see. Therefore it may have been a squib load that left a bullet in the barrel which led to a barrel change. Later the bullet was removed and the barrel is perfectly servicable. But, who really knows?

OK, all you guys (and gals) who would like to hear an amazing, real neat and very true Colt Thompson story – here it is. Recently a noble Colt Thompson 1921A, Serial Number 416, once again saw the light of day in that it left its “put away safely†resting place where it had been stored for over 20 years and assumed its rightful place of honor on a proper wall display in the Gun Room surrounded by other Colt Thompsons, flanked by an honor guard of West Hurley Thompsons and a wide variety of guns of less noble lineage. Now S/N 416 was quite happy to just hang there on the wall and be admired by one and all who happened through. And admired it was, not only because of its noble lineage shared with all other Colt Thompsons, but because of its documented service with the Roanoke, VA police department – the first organization with which it had the honor and privilege to serve . However, while delighted to be back in the real world, unbeknownst to the world at large and certainly unknown by its keeper it was really unhappy and sad because in its dim dark past under conditions and for reasons unknown to all but itself someone had replaced its original serial numbered Colt barrel with a military barrel. Nevertheless, our proud and noble ‘21A kept a stiff upper lip and continued to represent its noble heritage to one and all without a single complaint. And would you believe, the other day a distinguished and knowledgable gentleman passing through noticed that 416’s barrel had the thicker fins associated with the military or wartime barrels and therefore could not have been the original barrel. The proud and noble ‘21A was delighted after all these years to have someone take notice of this one blemish on its otherwise perfect appearance. But the best was yet to come. The proud and noble ‘21A heard the distinguished gentleman say “Wait, I think I may have something interesting outside in my automobile.†After a quick dash outside, what appeared but the original properly serial numbered barrel which had accompanied the proud and noble ‘21A when it left the Colt factory on May 12, 1921. Can you imagine not only the pure delight and joy of our noble ‘21A when it was reunited with its original barrel but the amazement of the mere humans charged with its proper care and feeding. Perhaps someday someone will calculate the odds of a barrel removed from a Thompson some 60 years ago not being trashed and floating through gun shows and collectors hands until it finds its way home. Now, ladies and gentlemen – you have the rest of the story. Obviously, your thoughts, comments or observations are solicited. http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i32/dxdunner/1921A%20Barrel%20Discovery/DSC_1479aa.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i32/dxdunner/1921A%20Barrel%20Discovery/DSC_1480a.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i32/dxdunner/1921A%20Barrel%20Discovery/DSC_1484a.jpg http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i32/dxdunner/1921A%20Barrel%20Discovery/DSC_1482a.jpg

That's all so true We are just the Trustees of all that which we think we "own".

TD: I've spoken to Gordon and he indicated to me that he might visit the Gun Room in late July of this year. However I've never had the pleasure of meeting him in person.

Norm: Sorry, there is not a single post sample and only a very few pre samples.