AO 1927a1 with markings under Stock/ Butt plate/ and under Sling Mount? Pics Attached.

[VeroBeech]

I purchased an Auto Ordnance 1927a1 manufactured in 1975 according to the serial number, from a gun show earlier this year. I brought it home and it looked like it was just dripping oil and had some major rusting or discoloration of basically all internal parts. I completely disassembled the upper, lower, the bolt, etc and when trying to clean the butt plate, I noticed the numbers 243 on the inside of the plate under a ton of... corrosion or something? I took a look around the stock to see if there was anything else I missed and sure enough, on the stock under the plate the same numbers were engraved in the wood under where the butt plate would be. Under the sling mount is what looks to be the letters "ULC".

Are these markings from an older Thompson?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks all, in advance!

 

VeroBeech

[Chappy]

I had one in '75 when I was just a kid. Mine had surplus parts in it so I would guess you do also.

Chappy

[Bridgeport28A1]

You have a WW2 stock. ULC is United Last of Lawrence, MA.

 

[VeroBeech]

On 2/16/2025 at 10:50 AM, Bridgeport28A1 said:

You have a WW2 stock. ULC is United Last of Lawrence, MA.

 

Well thats pretty cool and unexpected!!... Thank you for the info!

Is it rare to see that on a 1927? Is the stock a rare item on its own? Did United Last of Lawrence produce firearms for Savage or AO during the war or something? Excuse my ignorance on the subject, but i tried searching to learn more and couldn't find really anything at all about what "United Last" is/was. Any further information is greatly appreciated!!

VeroBeech

[Bridgeport28A1]

I assume Numrich Gun Parts was using surplus WW2 wood for production. United Last was likely a subcontractor with wood working expertise to manufacture Thompson stocks during the war effort.

 

 

[BillyDixon]

united last of lawrence, mass was a long time company that made something call shoe last that shue manufactures used to make shoes, it was a wood template that leather was streatched around then sew together, the shoe compamys used many thousands of these templates, united last was a wood working company, they switched over to making thompson stocks at start of ww2, i grew up nin that area and rember people use to burn old shoe last and defective thompson stocks, the ones with big knot holes, for fire wood,  just sayn

[VeroBeech]

On 2/18/2025 at 8:42 PM, BillyDixon said:

united last of lawrence, mass was a long time company that made something call shoe last that shue manufactures used to make shoes, it was a wood template that leather was streatched around then sew together, the shoe compamys used many thousands of these templates, united last was a wood working company, they switched over to making thompson stocks at start of ww2, i grew up nin that area and rember people use to burn old shoe last and defective thompson stocks, the ones with big knot holes, for fire wood,  just sayn

That is pretty cool that you know that. Do you have any links to more information about them? Do you happen to know if they used walnut?

[BillyDixon]

like i said i grew up in that area, i suggest you google lawrence mass. - shoe manufacturing, - lawrence mass involved in manufacturing in WW2 , i never thought about what wood they used,  more info before WW2 the united last co. also made duck decoys for commerical sale, they sold them to L.L. Bean co and Abercomby fitch  co among others,  just sayn

[TSMGguy]

Walnut only was used for original Thompson stocks and grips. The only guns I've seen that used birch as a substitute standard were M1s, M1 carbines,  and M14s, for later production and spares.  

Edited May 3 by TSMGguy