Frank I.

No, I don't have that info... BUT H&R Sale M55s 1A, 0001, 114310, M50s: 206, 654, S4855, S4948, S5017, S4764 S5100, S5102, X17, (.45) X15 (9MM) M65 X16 Reising Submachine Gun Dates of Production From records submitted to ATF 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 Former Marine Reisings in storage at the Quantico Marine base (2019) MODEL 50: 154 11372 15696 53097 113539 MODEL 55: 13189 15296 44531 62230 62934 62818 Model 60: 1333

I have documentation from H&R verifying that Reising submachine guns with an S serial number prefix were manufactured by H&R in 1957. In addition, there were six S-prefixed serial number Reisings (S4855, S4948, S5017, S4764 S5100, S5102) sold at H&R's 1985 asset reduction sale approved by the bankruptcy court. Despite popular internet lore, there was no bankruptcy auction. The asset reduction (gun) sale was approved so H&R could keep its factory operating. In addition to the Reisings, there were 29 H&R M14s, and 60 U.S. marked H&R M16A1s. There is a lot of H&R history in my 2nd edition M14 book. After H&R went out of business, Numrich bought Reising parts and they did assemble guns from those parts, which did include receivers. A 1988 SGN ad listed them for $695.00.

I got lucky a few months ago, there was a M3A1 barrel assembly on GB for a "buy it now" price of $125.00, I bought it. After it arrived, I discovered that the barrel was one of the rare Vietnam-era chromium-lined barrels, mounted in a Guide subcontractor DTD (Detroit Transmission Division) barrel collar. I had one before, but reluctantly sold it. Oddly, M3 and M3A1 parts are getting somewhat hard to find, except for the magazines. At SAR West 2025 just about every vendor had GG mags on their tables, as low as $25.00 NIW. Many were post-war, Vietnam era Parkerized finish, made by Jahn (J marked)

While pursuing tables at SAR West 2025 I saw two Savage milled grip mounts with broken retaining tabs, the seller had no details. I always thought that perhaps a carry sling attached to the front swivel put stress on the grip mount? And thus the introduction of the front grip barrel band, primarily for the later riveted grip mount.

Not sure if this was posted before...

A few years ago, Phil invited me to the NRA headquarters in VA to give a presentation on the M14 rifle. Afterward, we went out to dinner. While BSing I just happened to mention that I had just bought a silencer on a form 4, he asked if I had mailed the paperwork in yet. I said no, and I had the forms with me. I gave them to him, and it was approved in two days! This was back when form 4 transfers were taking 6 months. The approved forms came from DC, not Martinsburg, WVA. Phil and Mark Keefe were also helpful during research for my M14 book The Last Steel Warrior, by sharing vintage photos and taking guns off the museum's display for me to photograph. RIP Phil, it was a privilege to know you! Frank I.

What I have seen happen over the years; a gun gets posted at a higher than normal selling price, and gets sold rather fast, that now becomes the "new" benchmark price. Most recently, auction results have had a similar effect. "The prices you balk at today, you will be glad to pay tomorrow."

Marlin marked barrel collars are fairly common, I would think an Guide Lamp-subcontractor or Ithaca marked barrel, would be desirable for either one of those M3A1 mfg. The page below are Guide Lamp WWII sub-contractors in 1943.

The springs aren't attached to anything inside the receiver tube it should pull right out.

M3A1 barrel sells for $576.00 on GB, standard issue (not a Vietnam era chromium-lined barrel) Original USGI M3A1 Grease Gun Barrel .45 ACP Stamped Marlin #5653435 PENNY! - NFA Parts & Accessories at GunBroker.com : 1144905892

Articles https://smallarmsreview.com/machine-gun-forensics-and-the-st-valentines-day-massacre/ https://archive.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=2403

Does anyone know who won the bid on the 30-06 and .30 carbine caliber Thompsons?

And some good deals... Nice 20 rd Thompson mags $25.00 and 30 Rd for $26.00, lots of grease gun mags new in the wrap for $25.00.

I found a few elusive M3 - M3A1 items at the SAR West show HARD to find ITHACA (ITG) marked magazines (thanks to First Sargent and Auto Rotate who found them). I have looked for an ITG marked mag since John Bosio showed me one at the TATA meet a few years ago. Ithaca had a contract to manufacture 70,000 M3A1s in the 1950s, by the time production got under way the Korean War ended and the contract was cancelled after 33,000 M3A1s were made. The 2nd find was the 77-coil 15.5" long M3-M3A1 recoil springs that were designed to replace the original 1943 design that were 13.5" -.75" in length. No doubt the springs were redesigned to prevent damage to the rear of the receiver caused by the bolt hitting the back plate. The only revision to the original with the 15.5" springs I have seen was date 1966, but the package the springs I found was dated 1952.

Mike wouldn't fire the 30-06 or the .30 carbine Thompson. He also had 5 or 6 RARE German FG42s, but would never shoot them. Most of the guns he shot were post-May samples He had 98 machine guns, mostly Thompsons, WWII German, and HK

When I was researching the Model 76 book, I went to S&W to get some background info. No one that I spoke with even knew that S&W ever made a submachine gun. Most of the '76 prototypes are in storage upstairs at the Springfield Armory museum. In the video the S&W rep says that it was called the Model 76 because of the cost of manufacture. That statement is incorrect; the Model 76 nomenclature was just a simply a production control number. However, the factory suggested retail price was $76.50, they were available from Demain Police Supply in N.C. for $73.44.

From the late Mike Free's former collection. 30-06 and .30 carbine calibers and Colt TSMG serial number 221

Made for M1-M1A, was part of the M1A1 "upgrade" to lower cost and expedite production. Since the M1-M1A1 had no provision for a drum magazine, the raised area (bump) on the catch to secure the drum was not needed. Other transitional "upgrades" were... Riveted grip mount, "pin" type safety and selector levers, stamped sling swivels, bolt with fixed firing pin.

No perfectly round...

Mine, that eats firing pins, is a 1957 production S-prefix Model 50. The original firing pin lasted for a long time, but that isn't the case any longer. I have had no luck with the aftermarket titanium pins.

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