Just Bought An M1A1 In The UK

[Dazza]

Hi, thanks for letting me join the board.

I bought my 1st Thompson Submachine Gun on Saturday here in England and I love it! It is de-activated to the old spec here pre 1995, it was actually de-activated in 1990 so it cocks, dry fires and can be disassembled. I know little about the guns history and am interested if anybody can help or point me in the right direction. It has matching serial numbers is in the 29XXXX range and is stamped GEG which i think means it was manufactured by Savage. To me it looks in good shape. It has one oddity in that the stock has been a re-patched  block of wood which could mean it's was adapted by the British Army and the returned to it's original state.

I have lots of pictures of it but I'm not sure I should post all of them?

Thanks in advance for any help, much appreciated.

[TD.]

Dazza,

Welcome to the Thompson forum at MachineGunBoards.com. You have a very nice M1A1 deac. Thank you for sharing the picture. 

All questions regarding your M1A1 can be answered by Frank Iannamico's,  American Thunder, Third Edition. It is the current authority for all the World War II Thompson guns. It also provides a great overview of nearly all the Thompson variations. Hardcover, in color and only 40 bucks, it is a steal. Available on Amazon.com. I guarantee you will read it cover to cover! 

[Dazza]

Hi, thanks very much for the reply, I'm genuinely excited about the gun and have been reading lots about all the TSG's

I've found the book you've mentioned above and have found it for $40 unfortunately  they want $75 additional to ship it to the UK. I'll keep looking, Christmas is coming. Thanks again. 

Do you have a link where you saw the book please?

[TD.]

Dazza,

I was thinking Amazon.com in the UK may have it with much cheaper shipping. 

You could also try the publisher: 

American Thunder: Military Thompson Submachine Guns (3rd Edition) - Chipotle Publishing, LLC

I would guess USPS shipping to the UK from the USA would be $25 to $30. 

Good luck!

[Frank Iannamico]

See if you can find the book on eBay, they have very inexpensive shipping rates for overseas orders.

You only have to pay to have it shipped to a distribution center here in the US. and no customs forms to fill out. 

There are 3 editions the latest 3rd edition is a hard cover and has color pictures.

If you can't find one let me know and I will put a copy on eBay for you. 

[Dazza]

Hi all, thanks for the help. I couldn't wait and have just paid about £82 ($104) to pay for the book and shipping, so it get's to me before Christmas, Looking forward to reading it.

[Rekraps]

The stock repair looks very well done! I'm jealous that you guys can buy these guns!

[TD.]

Dazza,

Congratulations. You have bought an excellent book. I know you will immediately jump to Chapter 7 for the M1-M1A1 Thompson guns. When finished reading that chapter two times , I would encourage you to start from the beginning. You will learn quite a bit about the Thompson submachine gun. There are other great books about the Thompson depending on your specific interests, but this is the one I recommend for all that are new to the Thompson community. 

 

[TSMGguy]

Looks like that M1A1 saw British service, or at least the butt stock did, judging from the nature of the repair. Looks like a sling swivel was mounted to the top of the stock and later removed. The inletting was then replaced with a neat plug. Guns so modified were usually set up with the forward swivel mounted to the side of the fore grip.

Nice!

 

[rpbcps]

Dazza,

Welcome, from another British member of the Forum.

Be careful interest in the Thompson, can quickly become an addiction.

See your PM, that I have just sent, some research and history on the M1A1, that I have done for the M1A1 in my collection.

Stay safe

Richard 

Edited December 20, 2024 by rpbcps
Typo

[Dazza]

Hi everybody, thanks for the replies.

TSMGguy the gun has matching serial numbers so I'm hoping it's the way it was originally until the butt stock was adapted.

Thanks for the warm welcome.

[rpbcps]

3 hours ago, TSMGguy said:

Looks like that M1A1 saw British service, or at least the butt stock did, judging from the nature of the repair. Looks like a sling swivel was mounted to the top of the stock and later removed. The inletting was then replaced with a neat plug. Guns so modified were usually set up with the forward swivel mounted to the side of the fore grip.

Nice!

 

Here is a photo of another armourers stock repair on an M1, that I used to own.

[Doug Quaid]

Jolly good show, old top!

If you look on the bottom of the gun right in front of the magazine well, you should see a tiny stamped "s", for Savage.

[Dazza]

7 hours ago, Doug Quaid said:

Jolly good show, old top!

If you look on the bottom of the gun right in front of the magazine well, you should see a tiny stamped "s", for Savage.

I've looked but can't see anything. As I said it's got the GEG stamp it also has 'Full Auto' on two lines not one so I guess it's Savage?

[Dazza]

11 hours ago, Doug Quaid said:

Jolly good show, old top!

If you look on the bottom of the gun right in front of the magazine well, you should see a tiny stamped "s", for Savage.

I've looked but can't see anything. As I said it's got the GEG stamp it also has 'Full Auto' on two lines not one so I guess it's Savage? It appears to be a British Army gun as the Butt Stock has been repaired ref the sling swivel but is not stamped 'US Property' ref the lease program, any idea why please?

Edited December 6, 2024 by Dazza
Spelling mistake

[rpbcps]

Nice addition to your collection.

I am curious about the absence of the 'US Property' marking myself 🧐

[TSMGguy]

1 hour ago, rpbcps said:

Nice addition to your collection.

I am curious about the absence of the 'US Property' marking myself 🧐

As I understand it, not all guns had it.

[rpbcps]

30 minutes ago, TSMGguy said:

As I understand it, not all guns had it.

I am no expert on M1 / M1A1's, but every example I have seen, has had 'US Property' marked on them.

Maybe it was just the ones sent out on Lend lease had it? I was told that the US and A1 was added to Model of 1928 on the TSMGs sent to the UK, once Lend Lease was enacted, to give 'US ownership' of them.

[Dazza]

3 hours ago, rpbcps said:

I am no expert on M1 / M1A1's, but every example I have seen, has had 'US Property' marked on them.

Maybe it was just the ones sent out on Lend lease had it? I was told that the US and A1 was added to Model of 1928 on the TSMGs sent to the UK, once Lend Lease was enacted, to give 'US ownership' of them.

I thought I read that only the 'Lend Lease' ones had 'US Property' stamped on them?

[signal_4]

There are 3 spots marked on your pic where I have seen/should see an “S” stamp. The lower is def a Savage by the orientation of “ full auto”,  on the upper as Quaid stated an “S” or “AOC” should be marked. I’m going for the upper is also Savage because an AOC upper should have different inspector marks stamped about a little before all the serial number, model number marks  Also the font and Thompson logo is a little different between savage and Bridgeport AOC . The book you ordered talks all about this !!!!! 

Edited December 7, 2024 by signal_4

[Dazza]

6 hours ago, signal_4 said:

There are 3 spots marked on your pic where I have seen/should see an “S” stamp. The lower is def a Savage by the orientation of “ full auto”,  on the upper as Quaid stated an “S” or “AOC” should be marked. I’m going for the upper is also Savage because an AOC upper should have different inspector marks stamped about a little before all the serial number, model number marks  Also the font and Thompson logo is a little different between savage and Bridgeport AOC . The book you ordered talks all about this !!!!! 

Thanks for the info. My book arrived this morning but is a Christmas Present so won't be able to read it before Christmas!

I've just checked the gun at the points you've arrowed and it has an 'X' and a 'S' as shown in the picture above the butt stock, does anybody know what it means please?

Edited December 7, 2024 by Dazza
added information

[Doug Quaid]

6 hours ago, Dazza said:

Thanks for the info. My book arrived this morning but is a Christmas Present so won't be able to read it before Christmas!

I've just checked the gun at the points you've arrowed and it has an 'X' and a 'S' as shown in the picture above the butt stock, does anybody know what it means please?

 

I'm thinking that the S is for Savage.  Not sure about the X.

 

[Doug Quaid]

My Savage is very similar to yours.    I took some pictures of it for you to compare.

 

[Doug Quaid]

The square S on my barrel is for "Stevens" as far as I know.

The "RIA" is for Rock Island Arsenal, one of the arsenals in the USA where vast numbers of WWII guns were refurbished (and had their collector value reduced.)

Has the Thompson bullet logo on top in front of the rear sight.

My fore-stock has a big M stamped on it, on the end facing the shooter.  Maybe one of these experts here will know what that is.

Also, the lower serial number matches the upper.

Edited December 7, 2024 by Doug Quaid

[signal_4]

6 hours ago, Dazza said:

Thanks for the info. My book arrived this morning but is a Christmas Present so won't be able to read it before Christmas!

I've just checked the gun at the points you've arrowed and it has an 'X' and a 'S' as shown in the picture above the butt stock, does anybody know what it means please?

I “think” your X has do with British proofing or deactivating.