TD. Posted November 26, 2024 Report Share Posted November 26, 2024 I have published another book. I have found over my many years in the Thompson community that there are always new owners of General Thompson’s “Trench Broom” that are really at a loss on how to properly field strip and correctly maintain a Thompson submachine gun. There are many manuals and handbooks on the subject, but one manual stands out far above the rest. It was designed for crews that served in armored vehicles during World War II. It is a step-by-step guide, complete with pictures, that teaches the nomenclature, disassembly and assembly, function and most importantly, care and cleaning. This manual was designed and originally printed in 1941 by the Gunnery Department of The Armored Force School in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Its distinctive green cover is well known by Thompson enthusiasts. Unfortunately, it is difficult to find an original copy and expensive when found. Given the increasing number of paper collectors in the Thompson community, this manual is now a collector’s item. While a war time manual, I have added my observations on several pages for civilian owners of what are now very expensive collector items. This manual is also very useful for the Model of 1921 and M1/M1A1 Thompson submachine guns. The original manual has been reduced in size to 8.25” x 6” and is perfect for the work bench or Thompson travel case. As with the original, it is printed in black & white. That keeps the cost down but does not detract from its usefulness. It is a must have for the Thompson submachine gun owner, especially one that only gets his Thompson out of the safe once or twice a year. It is available on Amazon.com with a "Read sample" option that allows you to see some of the inside pages. I would encourage everyone to take a look: Amazon.com: THE ARMORED FORCE SCHOOL - THOMPSON SUB-MACHNE GUN, M1928A1: FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY: 9798340875587: Davis Jr., Tom: Books It is the perfect Christmas gift for those that have and want everything Thompson. I do not have any author copies available right now and probably will not be able to sell directly until next year. That said, Amazon has the best pricing for shipping. This forum is the best. I appreciate everyone's past support. Please let me know what you think of this product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoscoeTurner Posted November 26, 2024 Report Share Posted November 26, 2024 Tom, hope that one goes over well for you, it is a excellent manual for the 1928A1. I have an original I bought from Manion's Auction over forty plus years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Posted November 26, 2024 Report Share Posted November 26, 2024 I became aware of the Fort Knox manual some years ago and have been fortunate enough to add one to my collection. I consider it "the best" I've encountered and "hats off" to the original authors. It is however in a rather large format and I think Tom's reduced size will prove very popular. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Player_To_Be_Named Posted November 27, 2024 Report Share Posted November 27, 2024 Got mine ordered:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stampcollector Posted November 27, 2024 Report Share Posted November 27, 2024 Ordered one last night, Tom D. jr. All good stuff 😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpbcps Posted November 27, 2024 Report Share Posted November 27, 2024 Tom, Well done and good luck with the sales. I was lucky enough to add an original Fort Knox Thompson manual to my collection, thanks to a fellow member on this forum. Only thing that is missing, is your observations..😂 Stay safe Richard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScooterTrash Posted November 28, 2024 Report Share Posted November 28, 2024 Thanks Tom. Ordered, will be here Sunday. Looking forward to it! Are you going to SAR next week? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted December 3, 2024 Report Share Posted December 3, 2024 Tom did a great job with this, and as has been said, this is the best Thompson instructional manual out there. And I have a few to compare it to in order to come to that conclusion, lol. David Albert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD. Posted December 3, 2024 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2024 Thanks David. I have been told it makes a great stocking stuffer! ScooterTrash, No, I will not be attending SAR this week. I am having problems with my right knee so there is no way I could walk the show. That said, I hope you and everyone else finds the treasures you are seeking. Let us know about the Thompson stuff there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD. Posted January 4 Author Report Share Posted January 4 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Henley Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 Ordered one off Amazon today for my Greg Fox case. Looking forward to receiving. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD. Posted January 6 Author Report Share Posted January 6 Robert, Thank you. I believe you will find it very useful. Please let me know what you think of the book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Henley Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 "It has been my experience that machine guns in civilian hands spend most of the time in a safe. The great majority are only fired once, twice, perhaps three times a year - if that. If you are not routinely field stripping or cleaning a weapon, as easy to follow step by step simple guide is invaluable." Completely agree with Tom. Fits right in my Greg Fox police case and always available for easy reference. Great little book. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drmustang66 Posted January 10 Report Share Posted January 10 Fantastic book for reference. Tom did a great job. I highly recommend all of his books and I have a signed copy of each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpbcps Posted January 11 Report Share Posted January 11 (edited) and now available on Amazon.co.uk for those of you on this side of the Atlantic for only £11.50 Edited January 11 by rpbcps Typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SP Sarge Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 Got mine delivered today, nice job Tom! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troll Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 Got one! Looking at your other books> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpbcps Posted April 27 Report Share Posted April 27 (edited) Just been looking through my boxes of paperwork and found my original example of the Armoured Force School Manual, together with Manuals from the Tank Destroyer School and the Air force Technical School. All bought many years ago from a fellow member of the Forum. I wonder what happened to Rocco Pucci?? His name is on the title page too Edited April 27 by rpbcps Added photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD. Posted April 27 Author Report Share Posted April 27 Richard, Simply the best World War II manual in English. It contains everything an owner needs to know about properly maintaining their Thompson gun, step by step. Originals are pretty scarce. Note how the cover often separates from the bottom staple. My reproduction Ft. Knox manuals are priced at $15 at Amazon. I sell them for $12 at the Thompson shows. However, if you buy or order a book, I will throw in a copy for 10 bucks and not charge extra for shipping. All good stuff!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpbcps Posted May 1 Report Share Posted May 1 Tom, Just received the reproduction Ft. Knox manual from Amazon. Congratulations you have done an excellent job reproducing what David said above, is the best Thompson instructional manual out there. Now I'll keep my original safe, and display the reproduction at my next display at the Blyth Battery Museum later this year. I highly recommend this manual to anyone who owns a Thompson, I especially love the picture on page 21, using a nail to help retain the compressed recoil spring when stripping the weapon. I had forgotten that picture,and the one page 22, were in the manual, makes you wonder why we, the British, went to the expense to make an actual tool for this purpose. Thank you for going to all the effort to reproduce such an excellent manual. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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