M1921 & M1928 Colt actuator super trivia

[reconbob]

     I was going through Doug's papers and found a copy of an original Auto-Ordnance (New York)

drawing for a M1928 actuator. It caught my eye because it is signed off by George E Goll.  This drawing is

of interest because it has the thick heavy body - no notes of attaching a separate weight as when they

converted M1921 actuators. But also because the sighting slot in the ball knob is not "teardrop" shaped,

but has the straight sides as seen on the military actuators. So, for all you Colt guys - was this one piece

M1928 actuator ever put into production? The only M1928 actuators I have seen are the two-piece types.

Also, does this mean that way back they recognized that the original teardrop shaped sighting slot created

weak points resulting in one side of the knob breaking off? The width of the Colt M1928 sighting slot is 0.200"

The width of the military M1928A1 sighting slot is 0.300", so there is a noticeable difference.

Bob

Title block of original drawing -

View showing sighting slot in Colt M1928 knob -

View showing "teardrop" shaped sighting slot in M1921 knob -

 

Edited December 28, 2024 by reconbob

[Countryboy77]

That's a VERY Interesting piece of History.Is it a Genuine Auto ordnance era. Or a copy? Very good question if any 1 piece colt 1928 parts out there or perhaps they contracted them out.Too bad there is not a solid date on there.

[Taliaferro]

Bob

 

There are one piece Navy actuators. I sent mine to Doug decades ago and won a bet with him. 
 

Tracie

[Chip]

Tom Davis (TD) does a good job of describing the three variations of the Navy actuators in chapter 13 of his "An Amateur's Guide for the Colt's Thompson Submachine Gun."

This drawing looks to be the third variation without the tear drop.

 

[reconbob]

Yes, I have Tom's book and did not think to look there but I just did. The drawing I have is a copy of an original drawing.

The actuators in Tom's book look to have the 0.300" wide slot vs. the 0.200" slot in the drawing I posted.

Bob

 

 

 

[TD.]

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!!!

 

[Taliaferro]

For readers of The Thompson Encyclopedia. Vol 8 page 70. Shows a company named American Tool Company was making actuators for Navy models in 1927. They also made parts for the Auto Rifle. 
 

Tracie

[Taliaferro]

For readers of The Thompson Encyclopedia. Vol 8 page 70. Shows a company named American Tool Company was making actuators for Navy models in 1927. They also made parts for the Auto Rifle. 
 

Also it is my guess the Y mark is an inspection mark not a company initial. The company initials seems to have come during WWII as a govt requirement. 
 

Tracie

[reconbob]

[TD.]

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!!!