Frank I.

I have posted this on several forums for maximum exposure. The most common failure on Model 50-55 Reising submachine guns is broken firing pins. There are a lot of smart and skilled individuals in the class III community. The community needs one of these individuals to design and manufacture a Reising SMG firing pin that will last for at least a few thousand rounds. Original steel firing pins are impossible to find; the only new manufacture pins available are those made of titanium. I cannot get one to last more than 500 rounds before the tip breaks off. There have been some semi-successful advancements, like the inertia modification described in the link below. In my experience, the inertia modification works best with original steel firing pins, the titanium pins not so much. The inertia firing pin thread (unfortunately, the photos are gone) https://www.machinegunboards.com/forums/index.php?/topic/8854-paulfs-pictorial-guide-to-how-i-made-my-reising-run-great/ There is another individual on machinegunboards.com who was doing some experimenting I have pasted a link to his thread. On his last post, he had not yet been successful. https://www.machinegunboards.com/forums/index.php?/topic/29557-new-to-me-reising-new-to-me-firing-pins/

I made a video of mine, note the position of the auto-connector lever, it is higher than the one in your video. Image quality is not very good, but I think it is sufficient. Check the hole that the spring for the auto-connector fits, make sure there isn't part of a spring or spring cap inside the hole.

It looks like the auto-connector is installed incorrectly, unless the trigger is pulled, it should be higher as in the lower photo. The tab on the auto-connector bar rides over the top of the leg of the selector lever. Check to see if the auto-connector lever spring is installed OR the trigger is stuck back in the fire position, try very GENTLY tapping it forward with a plastic hammer.

I took my Model 50 Reising out today, and once again it broke yet ANOTHER firing pin. The pin was a modified (inertia) Keystone titanium pin, this one lasted less than 500 rounds, which seems normal. The entire (reduced diameter pin) snapped off right at the base of the pin. I have lost count of how many firing pins I have broken...a LOT I hope Mr. Cort Tompkins is still working toward a solution to this problem.

I assume that the trigger worked ok before disassembly? Try moving the selector, to semi-full-safe, Check all the parts that the triggers actuates, the sear etc. After you figure out the problem, please post what the problem was as a reference to possibly help others facing a similar problem. Good luck

That mag was SPF but thanks for the referral

The 30-06 and .30 carbine caliber Thompsons were both formerly owned by the late Mike Free of PA.

SOLD pending funds 1 NOS USGI WWII 20-round magazine has a scratch on front. Mag came in a crate of Russian lend-lease magazines. Never been in a gun. (blank no manufacturer’s markings) (these were mfg by Sparks-Withington WWII) $75.00 + $10.00 shipping

As I read the old ad I see a carefully worded "Sold as one of the St Valentine's Day guns" Chicago PD didn't have the St Valentine's Guns connected to the shooting, the Berrien County, MI Sheriff's Dept. did/does. Articles https://smallarmsreview.com/machine-gun-forensics-and-the-st-valentines-day-massacre/ http://archive.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=2403

DTD Detroit Transmission Division (of GM)

The Reising I have now, I bought in 1990, I have broken NUMEROUS firing pins, two bolts, had an end cap break in two, and an ejector broke. I have not fired it that much over the years, just about every time I took it out, something broke. I still like shooting it though...

I remember speaking with Mr. Spano on the phone when I was researching my M3 book, he was very courteous and answered all my questions about his Medea grease guns. I remember he told me they were Guide Lamp stamping dies, but the "checkered" pattern on the pistol grip tells me that the dies were probably from Ithaca's post WWII production run. RIP Sir

Reising Dates of Production 1941 Serial Numbers 101-8500 1942 Serial Numbers 8501-73600 1943 Serial Numbers 73601-114317 1950 Serial Numbers K101 to K973 1951 Serial Numbers L101 to L3589 1952 No production 1953 Serial Numbers N111 to N327 1954-1956 No production 1957 Serial Numbers S4700 to S5607* Reisings stored at Quantico MODEL 50: 154 11372 15696 53097 113539 MODEL 55: 13189 15296 62230 62934 62818 Model 60: 1333

I want to do some more testing with pins made from S7 tool steel. If that goes well I'll make up a small batch for sale. First in line to buy!