Lammerlaw

Three more photos of my IRA Thompson gun

Photos including the two original magazines that came with it.

After a year or two absence I am back! I forgot that I was a member of this site. I am well aware of the secret serial numbers but even so cannot view enough of the one on the back of the barrel to positively ID it - I have tried mirrors and plasticine to get an impression and all I positively know is that all three numbers have rounded tops so will be 8 or 9 in all probability. The bottom section of the receiver did have a different serial number so it was apparent that the guns were disassembled and reassembled when the numbers were being obliterated or shortly after. I say this because the old scratch marks on the bottom and top match so that it would be safe to say that the top and bottom sections of the receiver have been together for the duration of the guns existence. I strongly suspect that most if not all of the IRA Thompsons are the same in that the components got mixed at some time early in their history but in most cases this could be neither proven nor disproven.. Mine comes with two original mags, an unmarked one and one with patent dates to Jan 11 1921.

I can see the serial numbers on the end of the barrel but only the bottom of them and they are three rounded bottom numbers so have to be 6, 8 or 9 - At this stage I am pretty certain that they are 889 I tried to use modelers putty or plasticine to mold the number but can only get the bottom of the digits. The gun is in New Zealand - that little country down the bottom of the South Pacific. There are ten or so Model 1921 Thompsons in New Zealand all ex IRA and one I know of which is not ex IRA. It was described when it was first sold in New Zealand about 1978 as being 'Mint' but the next phrase in its description ';Retains most original blue all over' clearly contradicts the 'mint' description.

I am curious as to what American collectors think of the Model 1921 Thompson I have. It is a three digit serial number and ex IRA which means that the serial number has been chiselled off. Its serial number may be 889. I do realise that if the barrel was removed then the serial number would be easily read but I am not prepared to remove it to find out. Regardless of that point it is the real deal and in very good order - all original and the amount of the original finish can be clearly seen. What would its 'ball park' value in the US be? All parts are original Colt and it has not been deactivated beyond storing separately the firing pin and hammer This is my first post so trial and error here and hopefully I can not only get the post on line but photos as well! [url=http://s1377.photobucket.com/user/nzef1945/media/P11809211_zps585d29a4.jpg.html]http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah41/nzef1945/P11809211_zps585d29a4.jpg [url=http://s1377.photobucket.com/user/nzef1945/media/P11809201_zps48282553.jpg.html]http://i1377.photobucket.com/albums/ah41/nzef1945/P11809201_zps48282553.jpg