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Relative rarity of smooth barrel 1928a1 Savage?


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It would seem that fewer "late feature" Savage 1928a1 guns were made than any of the other 1928a1 variants? Or is this a misperception on my part?

If so, it currently does not seem to have the "desirability" of the finned, ladder sight types. I'm just mainly curious if the production numbers were lowest with the smooth, L-sight types (Savage)?

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How many Thompson 1928A1 (and Model of 1928s, as the serial numbers ran consecutively), were manufactured by Savage?

I read, probably in Franks book, that the smooth barrels replaced their finned predecessors on Savage 1928A1’s from approximately serial number S-500,000; which was the same approximate serial number that the plain ‘L’ sight was introduced to Savage 1928A1 production.

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People want the finned barrel and Lyman ladder sights so it looks like a “gangster gun” and not a cheapened wartime production 1928. Let’s face it, most of the guns you just described, find their way to new finned barrels and rear sight swaps. The only time this isn’t done is if the person is a shooter and doesn’t care, or the gun came from somewhere with some historical significance. 

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12 minutes ago, Got Uzi said:

People want the finned barrel and Lyman ladder sights so it looks like a “gangster gun” and not a cheapened wartime production 1928. Let’s face it, most of the guns you just described, find their way to new finned barrels and rear sight swaps. The only time this isn’t done is if the person is a shooter and doesn’t care, or the gun came from somewhere with some historical significance. 

Excellent point. Once again......

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As time passes folks change what is deemed "desirable".  I've seen this with RDIAS (duds to studs), beltfeds (now less popular), etc.

I'm in the camp of not changing an original gun just so it can look like something else. Given the change to "late" features around 480,000+ serial, and seeing the highest Savage SN around 525,000 (?). It just seems that this variant would be among the rare types for the Thompson series.  Maybe with time these will be deemed more desirable solely based on rarity(?).  Should be interesting to watch.

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4 hours ago, Lewisfan said:

As time passes folks change what is deemed "desirable".  I've seen this with RDIAS (duds to studs), beltfeds (now less popular), etc.

I'm in the camp of not changing an original gun just so it can look like something else. Given the change to "late" features around 480,000+ serial, and seeing the highest Savage SN around 525,000 (?). It just seems that this variant would be among the rare types for the Thompson series.  Maybe with time these will be deemed more desirable solely based on rarity(?).  Should be interesting to watch.

Living on the wrong side of the Atlantic when it comes to being a Thompson Enthusiast, my Thompsons are all deactivated. 

However my goal many years ago in fact decades ago was to have examples of each Model and various modifications, but still not there.

I have my 3 digit serial number Model of 1921, and three Model of 1928's, each with differences in markings. Early serial number NY address with patent dates, NY address with Patent numbers, which I have just acquired. Finally an example with the  Bridgeport address.

Then I have three 1928A1's. First with Lyman adjustable sight, finned barrel and receiver marked 'Tommy Gun'. Next has finned barrel, but with battle sight. Final example has smooth barrel and battle sight.

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Untouched yes the Savage is certainly a variant more rare then the AO version but as GotUzi stated above a lot of people want it to look like the gangster guns in the movies and the Thompson smith's of years would agree as many sights barrels and forends been swapped,some may even think they were upping the value of their Thompson doing so and uninformed buyers that bought them as well.There has been a resurgence of people appreciating the WW2 styling but most of them go M1 for reenactments and such want a gun like grandpas. Are there smooth barrels without comps?I know I usually see comp and smooth barrel L battle sight on the later models.Were there any 1928s( not colt overstamp) that did Not have a compensator?

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I don't know about actual firearms, but I bought an original NOS replacement smooth barrel that is threaded for a comp approximately 30 years ago. It's both marked Savage, and has the alignment witness mark at the chamber end. 30 years ago price was about $100.

FWIW, Karl

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On 1/30/2025 at 8:56 PM, Countryboy77 said:

Untouched yes the Savage is certainly a variant more rare then the AO version but as GotUzi stated above a lot of people want it to look like the gangster guns in the movies and the Thompson smith's of years would agree as many sights barrels and forends been swapped,some may even think they were upping the value of their Thompson doing so and uninformed buyers that bought them as well.There has been a resurgence of people appreciating the WW2 styling but most of them go M1 for reenactments and such want a gun like grandpas. Are there smooth barrels without comps?I know I usually see comp and smooth barrel L battle sight on the later models.Were there any 1928s( not colt overstamp) that did Not have a compensator?

Indeed there were..

real-dads-army-1357414110.jpg

You can find many photos of British soldiers and Home Guard with Savage Model of 1928s, with no compensators, Model of 1928A's. These were shipped to the UK in one of the early orders made by Britain in 1940 if I recall correctly. 

Full story can be found in Tom Davis's book 'Great Britain - The Tommy Gun Story', with more photos of them.

 

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I've heard that most WWII guns if all types had undergone at least one rebuild or at least field repairs during the war or shortly after. As such, most any given Thompson might have a finned or solid barrel as both were used for replacements.

I understand the desires of some to make a 28 look more like a 21 Colt .....my first Thompsona finish was sanded off, polished and blued by the guy who sold it to me. I had it cleaned up a few years ago, bead blasted and refinished in black oxide so at least it looks good.

I also have a late Savage 28A1 that has a smooth comp'ed barrel and "L" rear sight.

Thus particular gun is pictured in more than one of Curtis Earls catalogs and the serial can be read. It's got a non-finned barrel and an L-drum sight and in spite of having several finned and solid USGI barrels on my parts shelf, it's my desire to keep it the  way I bought it and as it was catalogued.

 

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7 hours ago, Countryboy77 said:

Yes but I was told those were COLTS ,not Savage. And they had smooth barrels with comps why woukd they drop the comp and return the fins? See it dont make much sense

What you were told is incorrect, well partly, no doubt a very small number of Colts were already in the UK, or were in the early orders.

However, AOC remaining stock of the original Colt manufactured guns had already been purchased by France &  Sweden. 

The British were busy haggling on price. The story was the British noticed that the compensators were listed as an extra, if my memory serves me correctly for $25 each. So the British placed an order for Model of 1928's without compensators to keep costs down.

I don't have time to type out the full story. But, there is definitive evidence that some Savage 1928A's were purchased and delivered to Britain, (and used by British forces) in Tom's book.

Edited by rpbcps
Typo
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That would mean some early savages didn't have a compensator,but still a finned barrel ,right? I'm going to guess one in original condition would be the rarest Thompson Model next to Colt 1927.I don't think I ever seen one( unless I thought it was a Colt 1921).I woukd imagine they had flip up Lyman sights

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7 hours ago, Countryboy77 said:

That would mean some early savages didn't have a compensator,but still a finned barrel ,right? I'm going to guess one in original condition would be the rarest Thompson Model next to Colt 1927.I don't think I ever seen one( unless I thought it was a Colt 1921).I woukd imagine they had flip up Lyman sights

Yep, finned barrels, Lyman adjustable sights with New York address on receiver. Identical to early Savage Model of 1928's, except they had no compensators.

If I recall correctly, I'm away from home at the moment so unable to refer to relevent text in Tom's book, AOC agreed to include compensator at a much reduced price to the British with their Model of 1928's, after that order was fulfilled.

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There was no US Army Ordnance Department depot maintenance rebuild program for US M1928 variants like there was for the M1s and M1A1s. That's why we don't see '28 WWII issued variants with depot rebuild stamps and parked finishes.   

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On 1/29/2025 at 6:42 AM, Got Uzi said:

People want the finned barrel and Lyman ladder sights so it looks like a “gangster gun” and not a cheapened wartime production 1928. Let’s face it, most of the guns you just described, find their way to new finned barrels and rear sight swaps. The only time this isn’t done is if the person is a shooter and doesn’t care, or the gun came from somewhere with some historical significance. 

I wanted one that looks like the SGT Saunders Thompson!

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