Zombie M1A1 at Poulin’s

[HHSix]

Hi all,

First post from a wannabe TSMG’er.  I saw an M1A1 on the Poulin site with a receiver that is so badly pitted it looks like it is back from the dead.  I’m thinking this might be a reasonable low end entry into the TSMG owner ranks.  Any thoughts on how/if it could improved/refinished?  The pits appear deeper than the engraving.  Is it even legal to try to buff or grind the surface if it could obliterate markings, and could it legally be reengraved?  I don’t think there could be any original finish from the looks of it.  Also concerned it could be a re-weld.  I’m tempted to ask Jeff Zimba if he can see evidence of welds but not sure if that’s allowed.  

Also welcoming any recommendations on finding a reasonable Bridgeport M1/M1A1 (is 25k reasonable?) or a Westy (under 20k?) if anyone knows anyone possibly selling. 

Thanks for reading.

[ron_brock]

https://bid.poulinauctions.com/item.aspx?i=52741720
 

I would for sure inspect in person, or ask lots of questions prior to bidding.  It’s a shooter, hopefully. With respect to finish or restoration, probably no finish, if it matters, and restoration would be an extensive process and you will likely have more into it than a decent gun.  

[Chappy]

For me, I would never take a chance on that gun. When I first saw it I thought it was the worste welding I had ever seen on the front, nose of the receiver. If that is not a crappy welding job and is trully pitting then good luck.

[Maine-iac]

Holy cow, that's a rough one! I might be able to reach out to Zimba, we've talked before on occasion.

Might be able to swing down and take a look at it. 

Edited June 3, 2024 by Maine-iac

[Maine-iac]

Here's some in person footage I was able to obtain from a friend at Poulins. 

[inertord]

Beer goggles wouldn’t help that gun ? 

Edited June 3, 2024 by inertord

[Maine-iac]

36 minutes ago, inertord said:

Beer goggles wouldn’t help that gun ? 

I'm sure it'll still go for $12,000, before the 22% house premium, and the 5.5% sales tax. 

[Rabbit57]

Hello HHSix,
My advice is to keep saving your money. A couple of reasons for this,
1-After you pick this gun up, it will begin to bug you. As time goes by, you will say to yourself, if I had just waited a while longer, and saved a bit more money...  

2-The other issue will be when you decide to sell this one and upgrade, you will have to listen to all of these guys putting your gun down. Nobody likes this! 

The best advice I got when I started searching for a Thompson was to enjoy the search, and get exactly what I wanted. It took me awhile, but the whole time I was searching, I was learning, and I have no regrets. 
Good luck, this forum is a great place to start. The guys on this forum have literarily written the books on the subject.

Mark 

[StrangeRanger]

Run, don't walk, away from that one.

There are MUCH better M1/M1A1 Thompsons available within your stated price range. Just shop around a bit. Forget GB but keep an eye on GunSpot, Dealer NFA, Chester County, David Spiwak, Ohio Ordnance, Urban Armory, Only the Best, Gary's Bunker, NFA Sales etc.  One of them will show up with the M1A1 you really want

Edited June 3, 2024 by StrangeRanger
fat fingers

[Motorcar]

Quote

Estimated at18,000.00 - 24,000.00 USD

You have got to be joking.

[HHSix]

Thanks all!  I’ll keep looking and saving.  I overbid on my 1919 from Poulin’s a while ago and feel like I missed out on a Westy M1 that I bid on last Nov that went for 17k - but I think their listed sale price doesn’t include premium & tax. So maybe that wasn’t such a good deal after all.  

I appreciate the advice.  Thanks.

[Merry Ploughboy]

A little Bondo, buff job, rattle can paint - Rock and Roll!

[Maine-iac]

Yeah, if you were to bid right now and win, you'd be paying $12,112.50 after premium and taxes. So, that said, you'd be in it another few grand in new parts to clean it up and make it reliable/ presentable. Unless you want to rock the look

[Chappy]

9 hours ago, inertord said:

Beer goggles wouldn’t help that gun ? 

She was ridden hard and put away wet.

[Chappy]

23 hours ago, Maine-iac said:

'm sure it'll still go for $12,000, before the 22% house premium, and the 5.5% sales tax. 

What did P.T. Barnum say,.... A fool is born every minute. WIthout some sort of story of courageous battle in the Pacific or lost on the sands of Omaha Beach,... it seems like the red headed step child of a piece of dog dirt.

Edited June 4, 2024 by Chappy

[Chappy]

8 hours ago, Rabbit57 said:

Hello HHSix,
My advice is to keep saving your money. A couple of reasons for this,
1-After you pick this gun up, it will begin to bug you. As time goes by, you will say to yourself, if I had just waited a while longer, and saved a bit more money...  

2-The other issue will be when you decide to sell this one and upgrade, you will have to listen to all of these guys putting your gun down. Nobody likes this! 

The best advice I got when I started searching for a Thompson was to enjoy the search, and get exactly what I wanted. It took me awhile, but the whole time I was searching, I was learning, and I have no regrets. 
Good luck, this forum is a great place to start. The guys on this forum have literarily written the books on the subject.

Mark 

Mark, good advice. I could have used it along the way. I bought some crap but not this particular crap.

[Chappy]

HHSix

I sent you a PM and it went through, I think, 4 times

Really,... not a stalker!

Chappy

[bug]

Perhaps Rusty_Restore could save it...

[Merry Ploughboy]

59 minutes ago, bug said:

Perhaps Rusty_Restore could save it...

I was thinking Bondo and a rattle can paint job.

[Chappy]

3 hours ago, bug said:

Perhaps Rusty_Restore could save it...

He is quite the miracle worker but this piece would need to be raised from the dead and only ONE can do that.

[Doug Quaid]

 

On 6/3/2024 at 8:45 PM, HHSix said:

Thanks all!  I’ll keep looking and saving.  I overbid on my 1919 from Poulin’s a while ago and feel like I missed out on a Westy M1 that I bid on last Nov that went for 17k - but I think their listed sale price doesn’t include premium & tax. So maybe that wasn’t such a good deal after all.  

I appreciate the advice.  Thanks.

If you are agreeable to a westie, you might want to see it run before you buy it.  Thompsons are generally super reliable guns, so it should run 100%. 

westies are known to have dimensional problems and they sometimes need gunsmithing in order to run well.

There is really no downside to stretching your budget a little in order to get exactly what you want.  Because if you ever change your mind and want to get rid of your Thompson, you'll probably make a profit.

When I first got started in buying machine guns, instead of buying what I really wanted, I let the sticker shock of the high prices dictate what I bought.  Then I ended up selling all of it and buying what I really wanted in the first place.  Tip-toeing into the marketplace like that was just a big waste of my time.

The M1/M1A1 is a good choice.  It's a fantastic gun with a ton of history.

If you can manage $25k, try to find a nice minty USGI M1 or M1A1.   

 

[colt21a]

I have a friend in town who has a original unmessed with mint cond M1,{SECOND OWNER GUN SINCE 1945} I THINK 30 G HE WOULD LET IT GO. and ITS WORTH IT SINCE ANOTHER FRIEND went there 2 years ago with $25 g cash in hand for inspection.and he turned him down.and he says the gun was worth $30 g easy. but he had a Colt 21ac in the works at the same time, so limited himself on the offer.even nicer than this one which sold years ago.

 

[Outsider]

Run away from that gun!

Even keep an eye on here. My last Thompson I got was from this website and was a M1A1 shooter for not much more that what that thing will cost you.

[HHSix]

Wow I thought this thread was dead and didn’t check back until now.  Thanks all for continuing to share!  No problem on the repeat IMs Chappy - it was advice worth reading again.  Colt21 thanks for the suggestion.  I’m leaning toward a shooter M1/M1A1 though - hopefully one that could pass for GI but wouldn’t break any hearts if I threaded the muzzle for blanks for reenacting.  I wouldn’t dare do that to a minty original.  Which brings me back to the zombie gun.  But you are right, what sells for less now sells for less later, and if it’s a reweld and fails, that’s more cost that will take time to recover.  I’ll keep watching and waiting I guess.  Thanks again.

[TD.]

HHSix,

Welcome to the Thompson forum. 

If you are new to the Thompson community, I recommend you purchase a book by forum member Frank Iannamico, American Thunder III or 3rd Edition. Frank covers most of the Thompson variations (and there are many) and much much more. This book is the authority on the World War II Thompson guns. If you interested in WWII reenacting, I believe this book will answer all your questions and provide enough information for a purchase decision. And yes, at 40 bucks on Amazon.com, it will appreciate in value when it goes out of print.