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TD. last won the day on December 23 2024
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About TD.
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Thompson: Colt's, West Hurley's & More
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Very nice. I have no doubt the barrel is original given the Wedding Band for the 29th fin. A butt stock is a bolt-on part. Expensive? Yes, but can be found. NO 129 does not need a perfect butt stock to make it complete again. If I hit the lottery....
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You may want to remove the butt plate and stock slide and see if all three of the assembly numbers match. If matching numbers exist on all three pieces, you will have a desirable butt stock for sale. There are no differences between butt stocks on Thompsons sold to various military's around the world and those sold commercially in the USA to law enforcement organizations when the Thompson guns left the factory. Of course, the military end users were generally much rougher on butt stocks than police officers (but exceptions do exist). Good luck!
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Robert, Thank you. I believe you will find it very useful. Please let me know what you think of the book.
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I would reach out to Richard at APEX Gun Parts. He may have one or two not advertised. Or may have a shipment of cut receiver parts arriving soon. I have found Richard to be very helpful.
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Thompson stuck during disassembly
TD. replied to kruuth's topic in Thompson Submachine Gun Message Board
kruuth, How about an update. I am sure we all can learn something. There is a lot of talent on this forum that I know would be willing to help. -
I appreciate all the online and offline comments for this new book. As stated above, it is one of the best World War II Thompson instruction manuals. The small size makes it perfect for the work bench or travel case. Again, thank you for all of your support.
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Thompson stuck during disassembly
TD. replied to kruuth's topic in Thompson Submachine Gun Message Board
The fire control levers are both supposed to be pointing forward: FIRE and FULL AUTO. After depressing the frame latch, did you pull the trigger as you were removing the frame from the receiver? -
The "unfired, still in the grease" part is concerning to me. You need to go and look at this gun in person. What jumped out at me while reviewing the pictures was the front sight pin. It appears to be flattened on the right side. I do like the two-tone look between the receiver and barrel but believe the barrel may have been replaced. If so, the story being told by the seller as "unfired, still in the grease" falls apart. The word Russia mentioned with the sale of anything Thompson is always a red flag for me. I have seen plenty of well-used Thompson parts that were supposedly "new" in the crate Lend-Lease Thompson guns when cut up as parts kits. Again, go look at it in-person. All that said, it would probably make a great shooter grade Thompson submachine gun.
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M1921 & M1928 Colt actuator super trivia
TD. replied to reconbob's topic in Thompson Submachine Gun Message Board
Great new information Tracie. Thank you for sharing. You may have solved the mystery of the "Y" marked Colt actuator. While Colt did manufacture spare parts for the Thompson submachine gun as late as 1939, I always heard they were very tired of the Thompson gun (and associated bad publicity). Using the original machinery to make new parts for Auto-Ordnance was probably pretty easy and profitable. If I remember correctly, Savage Arms had to get this machinery from Colt's in early 1940 and it caused a slight delay in production. it would be no surprise that Auto-Ordnance would reach out to a former Auto Rifle contractor in 1927 to perfect the "new" 1928 NAVY actuator. First the insert for the two-piece actuator and later the one piece actuator - both with the pear or tear drop design between the cocking ears. This could easily have extended in the 1930s to the "Y" marked actuators. I think your correct about the "Y" mark being an inspector mark. I have noted it in different locations on the back of these 3rd variation actuators. Another piece of the puzzle found in the Encyclopedia series. All good stuff!!! -
I believe the picture of the engraved Colt posted by Countryboy77, above, is NO 1361, known as the Midas Thompson. It was once owned by J. Curtis Earl. Shown below is another picture.
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M1921 & M1928 Colt actuator super trivia
TD. replied to reconbob's topic in Thompson Submachine Gun Message Board
Chip/Bob, Thanks for referencing my book. It wasn't too long ago that many in the Thompson community believed the original two-piece NAVY actuators were the only correct actuators for the Colt guns. My Amateur's Guide book resolved that misinformation. I recently repeated this actuator information in my latest book, A Colt Thompson Buyer and Collectors Guide. Yes, there are 3 types or variations and all are correct. I make a point in the Amateur's Guide book to show 3 Colt NAVYs in the 12,000 serial number range with the three different actuator types. The third variation with the "U" slot or similar to the Auto-Ordnance drawing posted by Bob is the last variation. It is the one with the letter "Y" on the rear of the actuator. During my early research, I was told by several knowledgeable people the "Y" marked actuators were from the World War II era. Fortunately, I still had a few connections at the Armemuseum in Sweden from my earlier story, Colt Thompsons in Swedish Service (first published in, The Ultimate Thompson Book, now in The Thompson Encyclopedia series, both by Tracie). Not surprising was all the surviving Swedish Colt's at the museum had the "U" shaped actuators with the "Y" mark at the back of the actuator body. It is quite possible the letter "Y" is a subcontractors mark, but that is just conjecture at this point. Thank for sharing Bob. All good stuff!!! -
Numbered C Drum From Colt Era Value Needed
TD. replied to Grease Gunner's topic in Thompson Submachine Gun Message Board
I don't think a West Hurley C drum is worth anywhere near $600/$650 other than to an uniformed buyer. Most do not work unless overhauled by the Drum Doctor years ago. I would consider most West Hurley C drums as display pieces. A much better deal is a Thompson C drum from Numrich Arms or the Gun Parts Corporation. For the most part, these C drums work. The price has risen some of late but there is a return policy if the buyer is not completely satisfied. There is also a discount for dealers. https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/1478210b -
Happy Holidays to Everyone
TD. replied to Old Sensei's topic in Thompson Submachine Gun Message Board
A very Merry Christmas to everyone. A special thank you to David and Andy for maintaining this wonderful place on the Internet. I am so looking forward to 2025! -
Countryboy77, Very few Savage Arms manufactured Thompson submachine guns are what collectors' term: Savage Commercial Thompsons. The first criteria when inspecting a Savage is to look for military markings. The "W" or Woolwich mark inside the Crown immediately indicates S-71043 is a British military procured Thompson gun. Period. No more discussion is necessary. If you look closely at the right receiver nose on the second set of pictures posted, you see the British Broad Arrow mark and the markings from an inspector at the Enfield Depot. See below picture crop. Again, S-71043 has a British military pedigree. It was on a ship headed to Great Britian in early 1941. - "Savage Commercial Thompson" is a collector term coined by long ago machine gun dealer Roger Cox. It is not an official Auto-Ordnance designation. The criteria for a Savage Commercial Thompson are the lack of all military markings and a documented sale to a customer (to date, always a law enforcement organization) in the early 1940s. Some Savage Thompson submachine guns scream "Commercial" but no documentation exists. Usually a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request will provide the documentation necessary to prove a commercial sale to a law enforcement organization. There are those in the Thompson community that use the collector term Commercial on a regular basis without knowing the criteria. There is no difference in the parts used on a Savage Commercial or one sold for military service. Each were pulled from the same production line, perhaps on the same day. The difference is the sale, military or commercial, to the end user. Unfortunately, using the Commercial term based only on parts it is confusing to new members wanting to learn the different variations. I write extensively about the Savage Commercial Thompson in my third book, A Thompson Compendium. It is the authority on the subject. I would guess over the last 15 years, and with the help from many on this forum, I have collected the most complete database of known Savage Commercials in the USA. And my research continues.
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forindooruseonly, I thought it was a Model of 1928 Thompson submachine gun purchased under the Cash & Carry program by the British Ministry of Supply (MoS) in early 1941. While not a Savage Commercial, it is a great example of a wartime Tommy Gun used by allied forces. You are very fortunate. I know everyone on this forum is jealous! Congratulations. I am pressed for time at the moment but know you will receive a lot of comments from the forum members. I have answered your PM. Thank you for sharing.