mgvince

Thanks, all who have responded. I got an e-mail back about my offer. The gun is being brokered thru an SOT. The deal on the gun, is that the owner has a serial number matching West Hurley .22lr semi auto Thompson 1927. He wants them both to go together. The original price of the pair is $24,500. I offered $20,500 for just the 1928 with the drum and two stick mags. I have no interest in the .22 and I don't think it is worth that much anyway. Seller has countered with $22,000 for the pair. I guess he really wants them to go together. I was thinking also from some of your responses that the barrel may have been changed. Does that impact the value greatly? I,m thinking that $20,500 may be to high, from what has been posted. My intent on a Thompson purchase was to be below $20,000. Is that a realistic price for a vintage gun. Or am I not being realistic? I anyone is in the Fond du Lac Wisconsin area they might be able to look at it. Should I pass on this and keep looking? I don't think he will come down much from $22,000. I haven't gotten word if the receiver and frame numbers match yet. I'll ask again and stall on the counter offer. I thank you all for your information. If any of the experts wants to, feel free to give me a call. 816-244-0283 Vince

Yes; A purchase would would be on condition of in hand inspection. I read the pinned thread on AC variations. It took a little doing to get it loaded. It looks like most all the ACs had been blasted before finished. All the photos I've seen of them show the same type of finish on the receiver with blued barrels.

I noticed the grip hanger also. All the pics I've seen of them show close or touching the barrel. Is that easily fixed? According to the owner it's all original and no work has been done that he knows of. I've made an offer lower than his asking price, so I'm waiting to hear back. If we settle on a price. I wrote him I would drive to see the gun. About a 9 hour drive. But I have a brother in law an hour from the seller, so I could stay there and drive back later. A $20,000 purchase unseen in person, is a very unnerving thought.

I've asked seller if the numbers match. Waiting on reply. I've made an offer. Will see what he thinks. Any current price that I should work for? My original criteria was '40s vintage, finned barrel and adjustable sights. This one has the "L" sight, but that wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. I just like the look. I know original sights are available.

Looking at this to purchase. What do you think? I will be able to only buy one Thompson. Is this a good one. Thanks all

On AO guns that had the "US" ground off and over stamped "C". Was that done before the receiver was "blued"? Also would it be uncommon for an AO, AC gun to not have the "X"suffix added. I've read thru my Ultimate Thompson, and American Thunder II, books and it seems there was some inconsistency and lack of definitive info on this variation. Would the AC guns be considered to have any more or less value than a "Military" gun?

Dang… I was there Thursday and Friday. Sorry to have missed you guys.

Any other updates on table numbers. I'll be looking for the Thompson display. Hope to find a good deal on a '28A1

Happy birthday! And thanks for making me want a '28 even more.

David Spiewak has a Navy overstamp. And a 1921 now on his site. That navy looks pretty good.

Where does PK put his Diamond K stamp. Just so we can look out for it.

Hummmm........do you have to drill a hole in the floorplate for the tie to pass through ? Off topic , but a good question. How does one tie off a Garand ? Chris No magazines in guns. Just pull the bolt back and slip a zip tie thru the ejection port. For a garand pull back the bolt till it locks. Then zip tie thru trigger guard and around action. Bring your own long zip ties, if you want to carry something around. Last year you had to buy zip ties to put on weapons. Once inside the show, nobody cares if guns are tied.

I'll be there, hope to meet you all. You can carry your M1. You just have to put a zip strip through the mag well, ejection port.

What do you think the reserve is? That sure looks like a nice gun! http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=390481564

Thanks for the replies. Was just wondering, if it could be bought low enough would it be worth it. Have read through American Thunder II. Great book. I have The Ultimate Thompson book also. Good history.

Is this a mess to stay away from? The starting price has come down. Would it be worth having the plating removed and reblued, or parked? Looks like the wood has been varnished . What would be a fair offer for it. Or not worth the expense. http://www.gunbroker...?Item=390103118

The one's I had inquired about were the 1921ACs, completely different guns. Not sure if this is your confusion or not. Cheers! No confusion, just an observation.

I had just sent a price request yesterday, for the three 1928A1s they have listed. Got a reply today. $33,900 each. ???

I'm doing my best not to mess up on a Thompson purchase. I have The Ultimate Thompson book now, and scored a new copy of American Thunder II, off e-bay today. My first MG was an MK 760. It ran good in FA but the semi didn't work very well. I wound up selling it for a killer price at the time. But seeing the prices they go for now I really wish I hadn't. I bought my AC556KF from Kieslers Police supply in Indiana, in '98, for $1800. At the time they had two 1921AC Colts at $6000. each. I couldn't come up with that cash at the time. That's when I got the Thompson bug. I still have my AC. Don't have any plans to sell it. I'm pretty well set on a war time '28 or '28A1. I would like a finned barrel and adjustable Lyman sight. I know the sight is not really what you need on an open bolt MG. But I like the look. It's hard to tell what I should really expect to pay for one. It seems most of what's offered are WH guns. I don't know if auction sites are that good to try to buy from, so I'm trying to network out from SOTs that I know and reputable dealers. I have a C&R so I hope that can help in transfer. The only gun I see that is close to what I want right now is the late war '28A1 I had mentioned on David Spiwak's web site. I hope to see more at Show of Shows. I've been going back to the first posts here and looking at 10 to 20 pages a day. I know the prices posted are not current but there is a lot of good info to see. I thank you all for the replies. I know you get a lot of repetitive questions here. And it's probably hard to say what prices are good or bad. But I want to do the best I can on this purchase. Thanks, Vince

I am looking to buy a 1928 or 1928A1. What prices should I expect to find? I've been watching GB prices and it's hard to tell what might be a realistic price. I see guns listed with up to $25,000 prices that don't ever get bids. Have been watching Subguns and Strum, and have seen similar. What is a real world price that I should be watching for? Not looking for a West Hurly gun. I want a war time AO, or Savage. I've been looking at the late war 1928A1 on David Spiewak's site. He has it listed for $22,995. Its listed as a matching gun with smooth barrel and L'site. Is that what the experts here think it's worth? I want a gun with finned barrel and adjustable sites. Not really concerned about matching numbers, should I be? What is the opinion on parts kits? I see most parts listed on the auction sites and the gun parts retailers. Is it better to get a kit to keep around ? I will be at Show of Shows in Louiville the end of Feb. Could I expect to find anything there? I know this is a lot of questions, but with the kind of money I know I'll have to spend. I need all the advice I can get. It's a scary thought sending that kind of money to an unknown individual on an auction site. I think paying more to a known dealer might be worth it. Thank you for any replies. If any of the advanced collectors want to talk about what I should be looking for, send me an e-mail and we can talk about it Vince Wehner viwehner@sbcglobal.net

Just got Tracie Hills Ultimate Thompson book delivered today. I'll be doing a lot of reading for awhile. That Stembridge gun is not bad. The reserve is $15000. I'll keep looking for something that will need less work. David Spiwak has a nice looking late war parked gun on his site.

Thanks for the replies. I'm will be getting a 1928/A1 gun. I want it to be able to use drums. I've looked at the West Hurley guns and I know that they are ok guns. But I want a AO Bridgeport or Savage gun. There had been a 1928 lend lease gun on GB recently. It didn't sell at $15,000 and had been relished. But then it closed. Someone must have made a deal with the seller. It looked pretty good from the pics, but I'm not informed enough yet to know if it was a decent gun, or what price range is good for a mismatched gun like that. I will keep looking up information. I'm going to the Show Of Shows in Louisville, the end of February. Are there any forum members that go? It would be good to talk to some knowledgeable. There is a SOT in the Kansas City area, that has a 1928A1 Savage that I looked at. It's a sample gun, but great to look at. Gives me some prospective to compare to others. I kind of want to buy from a reputable dealer or someone that is known of buy some trusted people. Sending that kind of money to an unknown person from an auction site is a little unnerving. I have bought P38s and Lugers from GB. But this is different. I have NFA stuff now. AC556, suppressor, SBR. So the NFA process is nothing new to me. And I have a C&R, so hopefully I won't have to do SOT transfers. Any more info that you knowledgeable gentlemen can add will be appreciated. Thanks.

I'm looking to get a Thompson. I've done a lot of reading on this board and other internet sites. A lot to learn. Are the Stembridge guns posted on Gunbroker worth considering? What has bee done to them? Are they still C&R eligible? I'm looking more for a shooter, than a collector gun. But don't want junk either. Thanks, Vince