21NAVY

His remaining Brother Don's phone number is 760-375-9096. He would be in charge of Gordon's funeral

When I bought my Thompson and first pieces of accessories that always go with it, Gordon was the first to help. He introduced me to virtually all of the important players, and I was honored to be with him at the tables with him and Murray at a few SAR shows. I was honored to have him and Murray sit at our patio overlooking Phoenix from Camelback mountain and listen to tales of J Curtis Earl et al. He was a great help to me. To all of you on the boards here, he brought me here. I share his intensity for history and we were working on something that I will finish eventually and present here. Thanks to D. Albert and SIG and Chuck and and Glen and TD and GI Jive and OCM and Lansky and Jim351 for all your help too. I never would have made it here if not for Gordon. He will be missed. He deserves a couple low passes down the runway..

This episode is re-airing tonight (3-15-15) a couple times. Everyone has probably seen it but me, but I just happened across it in the guide.

Can you elaborate a bit on each? I found a 20's 38 super nickeled but it appears it was post factory:( Very nice pieces., Thanks for sharing.

I think he forgot to write 4,500 words detailing the pitting in the frame. Not really sure why a 28 model would be worth that, but the effort in typing all that was breathtaking.

Was visiting with TD a couple days ago about the proof stamps my 28 has. It has Birmingham Arsenal proofs on the receiver and the lower grip frame. Sort of an oddity. The Thompson came to me in a case and had 3 Wallace pins. The bumper sticker and one other pin I acquired later.

Nice happy family you have there Jim...

Thanks Darryl!

The guy I got the catalog from got it and some other stuff from a guy down in FL I think that had made some Commercial type low budget Thompson videos at a range. Big guy maybe with a beard. At least that's where Terry Williams and I figured it came from. Can't remember his name, maybe someone will know. He had that catalog for years and it never sold.

2009 I believe. Paid a whopping 75 dollars for it.. I love those old Commercials, figured it would make a fun mate to the Thompson. I had looked and looked and Chuck Olsen called and found this one. I'm just glad he even remembered I was looking. I had wanted one with a nicer finish but they are hard to find and this one had the funky notches in the handgrip so I couldn't pass it up.

I had been looking for quite a long time, and luckily Chuck Olsen remembered I was looking for one and ran across this one.

Googling them didn't return anything but I didn't really know where to look.. it's C128279 it's hard to tell in the pictures but the top grip screw was removed to make the marks across the diamond, so it seems somewhat intentional perhaps. I had been looking for one in much nicer condition because my Thompson is quite a bit better than the 1911, but those 1921's are scarce and I didn't want to let it go.

Found a 1921 Colt Commercial sibling for the Colt Thompson. S/N C1282XX. Has 6 interesting hash marks on the top diamond of the right hand grip panel so it looks like it might have some history. Guy I got it from said it was in an old shoulder rig but it got lost. Ran some reduced loads I run in the Thompson thru it and it ran like a top.

Does anybody know how many of these exist? I think a couple more may have come to light since I found this one. maybe 6 now?

I was looking thru an obscure odd website of military and civilian publications and manuals. On about the 50th page of the website I came across a photo of the catalog. the photo was turned vertical and wasn't very good, so I called the guy and asked the million dollar question about the flap on the drum case. Thanks to David and Sig for putting out such a good edition on the paper products. He gave the correct answer and without seeming interested too much, I asked to pay for it and have it shipped. After it arrived, Along the bottom of the Catalog in pencil were the words "return to Payne" I got ahold of David Albert and he examined the writing and compared it to letters Auto-Ordinance Chief Engineer Oscar Payne had hand written to Bill Helmer. David determined that the writing was indeed Payne's as Mr. Payne had a rather interesting way of writing his "P" The document was never offered for sale as an original or advertised as having any writing on it. They guy just though it was an old catalog.

Ran across a 1921 Colt Commercial 1911. Had been looking for quite awhile but only 2000 were produced and were a transition gun, so they are a bit hard to find. I picked this up for a good price and it has kind of an interesting Gangster look to it. It has 6 diagonal hash marks cut into the top diamond of the right grip. It's been carried and has some holster wear from a shoulder rig that the guy lost after he acquired the pistol. The Thompson is a Navy overstamp S/N 3684 Known as the George Wallace Gun. Terry Williams got it out of the Montgomery AL PD yeas ago, and Wallace kept the Thompson in the Governor's mansion during the race riots in the 60's. It's wearing Savage parts because I shot it recently but has all correct Colt parts and a pristine 3 digit Colt L Drum and 4 patent date mags. The Thompson Catalog is an original and has Oscar Payne's handwriting across the bottom of it.

Thanks OCM, Thats a very interesting site. Thanks for the post and suggestions.

Thanks! I'll check it out..

Hey folks- Working on a 20's gangster era display for my Colt Thompson, and need to aquire a 1921 Colt Commercial Government model 1911 .45. Rough S/N range of the 2000 or so made in 1921 was C127000 to C129000. Would prefer all correct 90%+ finish, but would entertain whatever may be out there. I've procured the era correct ammunition, and am picking up a nice 1907 Winchester .351 to go along with the display. I've visited with David and Roscoe who were gracious enough to steer me in a couple directions and allow me to post this up. If anyone has any ideas or leads let me know. Merry Christmas to all.

Champaign Co Sheriff's Dept, Urbana OH. featured on pg 70 of Tracie's Thompson, The American Legend.

That's the little known .750 "Express Magnum" Thompson, developed by the precursor of Homeland Security. It fired 500 grain stellite tipped Exo-skeleton piercing bullets. What was James Arness shooting?

Thanks Dave! Happy new year..

Anybody have a guess on year of MFG for Inland Div. S/N 5340404? there was no date under the Inland Div. marking on the barrel. My guess is maybe 43, but that's a guess. Thanks all.

The date has not been set, apparently another venue other than Buckeye has been chosen, and the dates haven't been worked out. I spoke to Gordon Herigstad tonight and he said could be late march, April or early May. I'll post as I learn more.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!, Especially you Roscoe, I love your analogies. Eat, go shoot, repeat..