arrgh1934

Just for clarification - I was the member who purchased the barrel from Ron/Colt 21 a. I did so with the understanding it would come also with a correct stock and hardware. At the time being quite naïve within the Thompson community ,I paid $3500 for Rons barrel and stock. Thanks to the assistance of a couple members of this board ,I quickly learned that the above barrel referenced had wrong number of fins and was clearly a reproduction. The stock did not have matching butt plate numbers and other issues. Very naïve of me to purchase these items essentially site un seen -however ,he being a respected member of the community I thought it was acceptable to proceed. Upon explanation Ron graciously excepted the items back with a full refund -but it took a few weeks. I looked at my PMs with Ron this morning regarding that transaction-lots of BS.This experience taught me to trust my own research and establish contacts within the community that truly want to preserve the Thompson legacy.

Doug and I talked regularly. He seemed proud of the fact that his reproduction actuator was so precise- it broke like the originals. However if I recall correctly, he replaced very few. It sounded like he did a relatively large run which afforded him replacement if damage occurred. Doug also indicated that it was more important for him to build an exact reproduction just as the original. Doug also relayed that whenever he replaced an actuator it was rare that the customer didnt order a number of other items so he always felt it was win-win. I for one have no problem with an actuator that is exact,as opposed to one thats been beefed up. Those of us who own 21s have a tremendous investment and a broken reproduction actuator is a fraction of the value of our overall equipment. I shoot one of my Thompsons a lot with Dougs actuator. If I havent broken it by now I doubt that Ill live to see the day. If I do Ill chalk it up to Dougs precision. Ben, thank you so much for lending your expertise to our hobby. I can only hope that I live long enough and run enough rounds through my Thompson to break the ears on both Dougs and your reproduction actuators.

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Sorry,try this number for Doug. (310)457-6400.

Doug Richardson: (818)627-6388

I have put thousands of rounds through two 21 Colts using Dougs actuators.I have not yet had any problems with breakage, but know of others who have.Doug made them to EXACT specifications from original blueprints.They break like the originals due to design.4140 steel will likely not solve Colts inherent design flaw.They break because Doug was at the time unwilling to compromise.These actuators are perfect in every way-so perfect they function and sometimes fail just like the originals.Yes,you can cut down a later actuator,but for appox. 450 bucks i will shoot it till it may break and switch it out with another.Spoke with him the other day,picked up two more(4 should last a lifetime)not confident he has many left

Doug Richardson still has 1921 reproduction actuators, just talked with him last week.

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I will take both patent date mags. Please send PM with address. Thank you

I have 2 Kahr L drums recently purchased .The rivets that secure the name plate are too wide making the drum impossible to load into gun. Essentially these drums are too wide.They look great but mine are totally non functional . Hopefully they will take them back.The Crosby repros sound much better!

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The idea that Gordon did a disservice to the “Thompson Community” is absurd and disappointing.Few people have given more in the way of research and documentation of the Thompson than Gordon, Several days prior to his passing he was still working on additional leads to the serial number of a 27ac found defaced by our P.D. in the 30s,It now resides in the new Chiefs office behind glass. I promised him I would some day get the permission to remove barrel and will do so this Winter. As for the parts case, I have the original with original contents ,cleaning rod and police case all documented and used in Gordon’s reproductions. I hope this Winter to publish Gordon’s written account how the case was reproduced and several clues differentiateing the original from the reproduction. It’s much easier than most know. Gordon gave most of us more credit than we deserved by not marking the cases. As far as his legacy is concerned it doesn’t need to be trashed here, He was a great guy and deserves respect. You know well if he were here today and you needed anything especially info on a 21,he would drop everything and help,

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I own the original parts case with original contents of which Gordon used to reproduce his cases. The differences are extremely subtle between original and reproduction. Few would identify any difference . Mr. Hills book attempts to show the difference,but photos do not adequately depict significant aspects to tell one from the other.Gordon agreed that all his cases were virtually identical relative to clasp construction and hinge spot weld placement. Having been able to view several original boxes in relation to Gordon's reproduction,it was clear the originals displayed much less consistency,where Gordon's boxes are all identical.