Assistance With an Addition to my Collection

[Skip Greenwade]

Hello!

I have been collecting militaria and military firearms for over 50 years, but I am new to this Fourm and am hoping for some assistance

First, the backstory...back in the early 80's, my wife bought me a new (at the time) West Hurley, New York 1928 Thompson SMG. (yeah - I know - she's a keeper of the highest order!). In what turned out to be perhaps the only case of Seller's Remorse I've ever had, I sold it in 1985. Fast-forward 40 years and I still regret selling that damned gun and am seriously considering taking the plunge again, only this time around I want a WW2 or earlier example and am trying to decide which model would be best to own.

Like many of you, I don't consider my militaria and guns to be investments in the literal sense of the word. That said, I have seen a lot of my stuff increase in value over the years - especially those things that I was very particular about when making the initial purchase (i.e., placing a priority on condition and quality).

I have been doing research and on-line shopping and am at the point where I think I can at least form an articulate set of questions that may help when the time comes to pull the trigger on a purchase (pun fully intended), so here goes:

Realizing that, at some point, the gun will be sold, I would greatly appreciate some input re: which of the following would be considered the most desirable when that time comes:

1921/28 "Navy Overstamp"

Bridgeport, Connecticut 1928A1

M1A1 version (I know there are different versions within that line, so please feel free to elaborate and fill in any details)

Anything I may have overlooked

Lastly, if anyone has, or knows of, a nice representative example available for sale, I would greatly appreciate a lead or contact information. One that I could have sent directly to me on my C&R FFL (once Uncle Sam and the good folks at the ATF have taken my $200 and given me their blessing) would be a big plus.

Thanks in advance for any help, assistance, or advice

Best,

Skip

Edited November 11, 2025 by RoscoeTurner
Removed color

[Skip Greenwade]

I'm not sure why the background color pops up behind my text - apologies if it hurts anyone's eyes!

Skip

[StrangeRanger]

There's almost a 2:1 difference in the prices of your various options

Are you primarily after a "shooter" or a "collector" or a collectible shooter?

Edited November 11, 2025 by StrangeRanger

[Sig]

54 minutes ago, Skip Greenwade said:

Hello!

I have been collecting militaria and military firearms for over 50 years, but I am new to this Fourm and am hoping for some assistance

First, the backstory...back in the early 80's, my wife bought me a new (at the time) West Hurley, New York 1928 Thompson SMG. (yeah - I know - she's a keeper of the highest order!). In what turned out to be perhaps the only case of Seller's Remorse I've ever had, I sold it in 1985. Fast-forward 40 years and I still regret selling that damned gun and am seriously considering taking the plunge again, only this time around I want a WW2 or earlier example and am trying to decide which model would be best to own.

Like many of you, I don't consider my militaria and guns to be investments in the literal sense of the word. That said, I have seen a lot of my stuff increase in value over the years - especially those things that I was very particular about when making the initial purchase (i.e., placing a priority on condition and quality).

I have been doing research and on-line shopping and am at the point where I think I can at least form an articulate set of questions that may help when the time comes to pull the trigger on a purchase (pun fully intended), so here goes:
Realizing that, at some point, the gun will be sold, I would greatly appreciate some input re: which of the following would be considered the most desirable when that time comes:

1921/28 "Navy Overstamp"

Bridgeport, Connecticut 1928A1

M1A1 version (I know there are different versions within that line, so please feel free to elaborate and fill in any details)

Anything I may have overlooked

Lastly, if anyone has, or knows of, a nice representative example available for sale, I would greatly appreciate a lead or contact information. One that I could have sent directly to me on my C&R FFL (once Uncle Sam and the good folks at the ATF have taken my $200 and given me their blessing) would be a big plus.

Thanks in advance for any help, assistance, or advice

Best,

Skip

Attempted to correct the color as a Moderator, no joy, above my pay grade, I was able to post this clean version for you.

As to your question:  

"Realizing that, at some point, the gun will be sold, I would greatly appreciate some input re: which of the following would be considered the most desirable when that time comes:

My response would be your top choice, it should be the most desirable, for a resale.

"1921/28 "Navy Overstamp"

Your 2nd choice, Bridgeport, Connecticut 1928A1, would still give options to shoot drums, be a more affordable choice compared to the Navy, still be a good resale choice and have much reduced concerns to shoot potentially causing damage to very expensive and hard to find parts for the above Navy.  

The Navy could and can be shot by replacing the upper internals with Military parts, but you still have the original barrel which if damaged from say a squib / bulge would be devastating to find a replacement to match and it will never match again if that happens.

[TD.]

Skip,

Welcome to the Thompson Forum on MachineGunBoards.com. 

May I suggest the first thing you need to do is really understand the product, the type of Thompson submachine gun(s), you are interested in buying. Each one is different and has a learning curve for knowledge that a smart buyer will obtain before spending money. I also suggest joining The American Thompson Association (TATA) and/or the Thompson Collector's Association (TCA) and attending a Show & Shoot to meet people with the same interests and see firsthand examples of the Thompson guns you are interested in obtaining. Both have Shows in Ohio, one around May and the other around August each year. You will find the quarterly newsletters very informative. Since the Show & Shoots are a ways off, I suggest first purchasing Frank Iannamico's, American Thunder, Third Edition. It is the authority on the World War II Thompson guns and provides a great overview on the Colt guns. 

If you still have an interest in the Colt Thompson NAVY Overstamp after digesting Frank's book, I recommend, An Amateur's Guide for the Colt's Thompson Submachine Gun. 

Both books will provide you valuable information and pitfalls to avoid when spending a great deal of money. If you decide on a Colt, I suggest then obtaining a copy of, A Colt Buyer & Collectors Guide. It is a smaller size handy reference book. 

All the above books are available on Amazon.com with a Read sample feature that allows you to see some inside pages. Think Christmas presents! 

StrangeRanger makes an excellent point on deciding what you intend to do with the Thompson submachine gun you ultimately acquire. Another reason to attend the Thompson Show & Shoots. You will see both shooter guns and safe queens on display.

Do not get into a hurry. The search is really the most fun part of machine gun ownership. Find that perfect Thompson before buying. Most enthusiasts will usually own only one; make it the perfect one for you.    

[Skip Greenwade]

Thank you 

15 minutes ago, StrangeRanger said:

There's almost a 2:1 difference in the prices of your various options

Are you primarily after a "shooter" or a "collector" or a collectible shooter?

Primarily a collector, but would like the option of putting a mag through it once in a while. I realize the prices can vary wildly and am blessed/fortunate in that I can afford a nice example - just want to be sure I make a wise choice.

Thanks for your input

Skip

[Skip Greenwade]

12 minutes ago, Sig said:

Attempted to correct the color as a Moderator, no joy, above my pay grade, I was able to post this clean version for you.

As to your question:  

"Realizing that, at some point, the gun will be sold, I would greatly appreciate some input re: which of the following would be considered the most desirable when that time comes:

My response would be your top choice, it should be the most desirable.

 

"1921/28 "Navy Overstamp"

Thanks for cleaning up the original post and for your input! I was a Mod on another Forum and can appreciate your comment and the commitment it takes to fill that role

[dalbert]

The funny thing is I couldn't even edit the original color and highlight.  Not sure why.  lol.  Oh well.

I'm sure the regret of selling in 1985 haunts you.  A replacement can be found, though at probably 24x the original price.

David

 

[Skip Greenwade]

42 minutes ago, dalbert said:

I'm sure the regret of selling in 1985 haunts you.  A replacement can be found, though at probably 24x the original price.

David

 

It does...we bought it from a friend who was a Class III dealer here in Houston at the time, and he didn't even charge me for the transfer - if memory serves, it was less than $1,000.00 all-in.

I sold it for a nice profit, thinking I would just get another one. Then the laws changed and prices for anything transferrable shot up almost overnight

[dalbert]

I bought mine in 1988 in Austin for $1200.

David

[RoscoeTurner]

1 hour ago, dalbert said:

The funny thing is I couldn't even edit the original color and highlight.  Not sure why.  lol.  Oh well.

I'm sure the regret of selling in 1985 haunts you.  A replacement can be found, though at probably 24x the original price.

David

 

Had to copy the message to MS Word to remove the color.  Much easier on the eyes now.

[Skip Greenwade]

4 hours ago, RoscoeTurner said:

Had to copy the message to MS Word to remove the color.  Much easier on the eyes now.

Agreed and thank you!

Skip

[Doug Quaid]

You say that your primary use of the gun is as a collector piece, with the occasional mag run through it.  So you are leaning a lot towards "collector".  

That being the case:

1. You should buy what appeals to your imagination the most and not worry about anything else.

I am more of a shooter than a collector, but I recently bought two new in the box Claridge pistols.  They are a stupid, pointless gun and I have no desire to shoot them.  I have a COP derringer too.   It is a dumb thing.  My brain, for some reason, loves them. I think it has something to do with seeing them in Total Recall and Bladerunner when I was young.

If practicality was the basis of collecting, collecting wouldn't even be a thing, because the 99% of the value of collector items comes from the imagination of the collectors.

Channel your inner 12 year old and don't worry about how good of an investment it is.  You only live once.


2.  If you are going to put the occasional mag through the gun, there is no need to buy an A+++ mint item.  You're going to de-mint it a little by shooting it.

I like guns that are in "A-" or "B+" condition, so I can shoot them without worrying about devaluing them.  And the price is much lower.

American gun collectors put a HUGE premium on condition, so as you approach mint unfired condition, the price goes up rapidly.   Back when I bought my FNC, unfired ones were selling for $2500, but the ones with the original box were selling for $3500.  $1,000 for a cheap plain brown cardboard box with no writing on it.  That's hardcore collector mentality.
 

3. These guns are not really an investment.  Unless you consider an inflation hedge to be an investment.

In 2015, a minty Colt M16A1 was about $25,000.  Now it's around $38,000, give or take.  That's an annualized return of 4.2%.  The average annual U.S. inflation rate from 2015 to 2025 was approximately 3.17%.  So it beat inflation by 1%. 

Look at it another way, $25,000 in 2015 is equal to $34,744 in today's dollars.  So the price went up only about 9% total if inflation is factored in.

A $25,000 investment in the S&P 500 at the start of 2015 would be worth approximately $74,000 today, representing an average annual return of about 13.42%, assuming you reinvested dividends. 

Even if you went back to 1985 when West Hurly Thompsons were selling for $1000, it doesn't beat an S&P 500 index fund.  A $1000 investment in the S&P 500 in 1985 would be worth approximately $89,381 today, assuming all dividends were reinvested.  That's a lot more than WH's are selling for.

To summarize, think of it as a hobby that doubles as a high yield savings account.  That's nothing to be sad about.  This is normal for most collector markets of coins, art, cars, etc.


4. Less expensive guns generally increase in value more than higher priced ones. (But not always!)

From 2015 to now, MAC10s have gone up in price about 100%.  As M16A1s went up about 50%.  This is pretty normal.  As the more desirable guns get priced out of the range of the ham-and-egg buyers, the ham and eggers tend to turn to cheaper guns, and so the pool of buyers for those guns increases.

More buyers = higher prices.

So you shouldn't necessarily expect a nosebleed-priced mint Colt Thompson to increase in value more than a non-mint WW2 M1A1.  It COULD increase more, but the fact that it is more desirable collector piece doesn't automatically mean that it HAS TO.

Also, the higher up you go up the ladder in collector markets, the more weird and dramatic they get.  The private jet auction crowd push prices up and down like crazy.  A mint 1971 hemi cuda convertable that sells for $2 million today might be $1 million or $7 million a year from now.  That's because the volume of sales are so low.  There are maybe 6 cars like that on earth and 15 potential buyers.

So if the best Colt Thompson on earth goes up 50% in one auction, that doesn't really mean anything with respect to the value of a typical condition gun.

Well, that's my 2 cents worth of blah blah on it.

Do a bunch of research, let the world spin a few times.  Check out the prices on gunbroker, dealerNFA, Sturm, NFAsales, machinegunpriceguide and the other sellers. 

The good news is that if you buy the "wrong" gun, you'll be able to sell it easily.  Thompsons are an apex collector gun, there is always a buyer out there at the right price.

Edited November 13, 2025 by Doug Quaid

[Skip Greenwade]

6 hours ago, Doug Quaid said:

You say that your primary use of the gun is as a collector piece, with the occasional mag run through it.  So you are leaning a lot towards "collector".  

That being the case:

1. You should buy what appeals to your imagination the most and not worry about anything else.

I am more of a shooter than a collector, but I recently bought two new in the box Claridge pistols.  They are a stupid, pointless gun and I have no desire to shoot them.  I have a COP derringer too.   It is a dumb thing.  My brain, for some reason, loves them. I think it has something to do with seeing them in Total Recall and Bladerunner when I was young.

If practicality was the basis of collecting, collecting wouldn't even be a thing, because the 99% of the value of collector items comes from the imagination of the collectors.

Channel your inner 12 year old and don't worry about how good of an investment it is.  You only live once.


2.  If you are going to put the occasional mag through the gun, there is no need to buy an A+++ mint item.  You're going to de-mint it a little by shooting it.

I like guns that are in "A-" or "B+" condition, so I can shoot them without worrying about devaluing them.  And the price is much lower.

American gun collectors put a HUGE premium on condition, so as you approach mint unfired condition, the price goes up rapidly.   Back when I bought my FNC, unfired ones were selling for $2500, but the ones with the original box were selling for $3500.  $1,000 for a cheap plain brown cardboard box with no writing on it.  That's hardcore collector mentality.
 

3. These guns are not really an investment.  Unless you consider an inflation hedge to be an investment.

In 2015, a minty Colt M16A1 was about $25,000.  Now it's around $38,000, give or take.  That's an annualized return of 4.2%.  The average annual U.S. inflation rate from 2015 to 2025 was approximately 3.17%.  So it beat inflation by 1%. 

Look at it another way, $25,000 in 2015 is equal to $34,744 in today's dollars.  So the price went up only about 9% total if inflation is factored in.

A $25,000 investment in the S&P 500 at the start of 2015 would be worth approximately $74,000 today, representing an average annual return of about 13.42%, assuming you reinvested dividends. 

Even if you went back to 1985 when West Hurly Thompsons were selling for $1000, it doesn't beat an S&P 500 index fund.  A $1000 investment in the S&P 500 in 1985 would be worth approximately $89,381 today, assuming all dividends were reinvested.  That's a lot more than WH's are selling for.

To summarize, think of it as a hobby that doubles as a high yield savings account.  That's nothing to be sad about.  This is normal for most collector markets of coins, art, cars, etc.


4. Less expensive guns generally increase in value more than higher priced ones. (But not always!)

From 2015 to now, MAC10s have gone up in price about 100%.  As M16A1s went up about 50%.  This is pretty normal.  As the more desirable guns get priced out of the range of the ham-and-egg buyers, the ham and eggers tend to turn to cheaper guns, and so the pool of buyers for those guns increases.

More buyers = higher prices.

So you shouldn't necessarily expect a nosebleed-priced mint Colt Thompson to increase in value more than a non-mint WW2 M1A1.  It COULD increase more, but the fact that it is more desirable collector piece doesn't automatically mean that it HAS TO.

Also, the higher up you go up the ladder in collector markets, the more weird and dramatic they get.  The private jet auction crowd push prices up and down like crazy.  A mint 1971 hemi cuda convertable that sells for $2 million today might be $1 million or $7 million a year from now.  That's because the volume of sales are so low.  There are maybe 6 cars like that on earth and 15 potential buyers.

So if the best Colt Thompson on earth goes up 50% in one auction, that doesn't really mean anything with respect to the value of a typical condition gun.

Well, that's my 2 cents worth of blah blah on it.

Do a bunch of research, let the world spin a few times.  Check out the prices on gunbroker, dealerNFA, Sturm, NFAsales, machinegunpriceguide and the other sellers. 

The good news is that if you buy the "wrong" gun, you'll be able to sell it easily.  Thompsons are an apex collector gun, there is always a buyer out there at the right price.

Hello Doug,

Great post/response...thank you for the detailed rundown and advice!

I can totally relate to the comparisons to "real" Investments like Index Funds. I have a good deal invested in those, and similar, assets and their performance over the years is a big part of the reason I have the disposable income to even consider buying a $30K - $50K price-range "toy". My primary finance guy has known me for decades, so he understands and appreciates my collection. He even went so far as to say he was "excited" for me to buy the Tommy gun (I'm calling it my retirement gift to myself). 

Like your COP derringer and the Claridge pistols, the vast majority of my military firearms just sit in the gun safes, with a very low probability that I will ever shoot them. I generally go after one really solid example of each model gun I want, and will pay a premium for things like a Luger with both mags numbered to the gun, capture/bring-back papers, the "right" accessories, definitive/most desirable manufacturers (i.e., Winchester for my M-1 Garand and M-1 carbine), and condition. While I don't think I can resist the temptation to shoot the Thompson when I first get it, I want an example a notch or two above what I'd consider a true "shooter" example. 

I have been watching a few on GunBroker, and do regular searches see what's out there and what prices are doing and am in no hurry. 

I'm sure when I find "the one", I'll know it - my thanks to you and everyone else who has weighed in with their thoughts.

 

Best,

Skip

 

 

 

 

[Doug Quaid]

I am getting a "collector" vibe from the OP.

I am right in the middle between a shooter and a collector, so I gravitate towards shooter-ish guns, like arsenal rebuilds.

The nice thing about an arsenal rebuilt 1928 or M1 is that you can shoot it all you want without devaluing it.  In the mind of hardcore collectors, the originality of the gun was vaporized when it was rebuilt in 1955 or whenever, so if you eventually have to replace parts on it with NOS USGI parts, nobody will care.   Just like buying an arsenal rebuilt 1911 or Garand.  You'll go broke buying ammo before you really affect the value of the gun.

Also, if you buy guns in that class, they are easy to price.  Assigning collector value to a high end collector gun based on condition and originality can require a lot expertise, but buying a gun like a parkerized RIA rebuilt M1928A1 doesn't.  Just look on gunbroker and see what they are going for.

It's actually kind of hard to get cheated on shooter-type guns.  If you buy a minty RAAD or RIA rebuilt Garand, you know it's worth around $900 or whatever, and how could you get cheated?   There is nothing there to misrepresent, except the bore condition.  And your eyeball works for that.  

Now that I think of it, there are "rewelded" Thompsons out there, and they are sometimes some real turds, and you need to be aware of that if you are buying a shooter grade gun. 

On the other hand, if you are going for a high end gun, consult with the guys on this site, they can help steer you in the right direction.  

When I bought my Thompsons, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing.   I was watching the movie "Public Enemies" and I just decided to buy a 28.  I had zero knowledge of Thompsons at all.  

I wanted a shooter grade WWII 1928, so I figured out what they cost pretty quick.  

There was a guy near me that was selling a Savage Commercial 28 and an M1A1 on gunbroker, and he was so completely fed up with people bidding on his auctions and not paying, and also tire-kickers arguing with him about the originality of the guns, that he sold me both at a very nice discount.

For some reason, the guy was convinced that his parkerized M1A1 was factory original, and so everyone was dogging him about it.  And the collector "wisdom" about what a Savage Commercial should look like was way, way different then than it is now, so everyone was dogging him about that as well.  

So I ended up with an excellent early Savage Commercial and a really minty M1A1 RIA rebuild at a really nice discount.  So thank you, whoever antagonized the poor guy. 

The irony is that he was actually a really nice guy and PAINFULLY honest.  When I picked up the guns, he said, "These come with the 28," and handed me an original FBI case and 6 Colt mags, and an old collector book that turned out to be quite valuable.  Those things were never mentioned as part of the purchase.  That's the kind of guy he was and he still got dog-piled by the collector community.

Usually not knowing anything at all doesn't work out that well. 

One thing that is helpful when buying literally anything is a down payment placed in the seller's hand.  When I go to a car dealership, I say to the salesman, "If you make me a good enough deal, I will buy a car today."  That goes a long way towards getting people to bargain.  A bird in the hand, etc.

Good luck!  Let us know what you get.  

[Doug Quaid]

One more thing:  it's not really correct to say that guns don't outperform the stock market.  Sometimes gun prices go up dramatically over a short period.  

For example, high end WWII Garands shot up in price about 500% between around 2000 to 2010.  I think it's because "Band of Brothers" created a lot of interest in them.

That actually happens all the time, but it's nothing that anyone could bank on unless they have a crystal ball.

I sold a mint, unfired M16A2 complete with defense department stamps on it and 6 months later they were twice the price.   Barf!

Now that I think of it, sometimes parts will shoot up in price all the sudden.  Numrich or whoever will run out of their endless supply and then BOOM.      

Edited November 14, 2025 by Doug Quaid

[Rekraps]

To add to Doug's comments, buying guns as an investment stand-alone is silly. I own stocks, property and "alternate investments" such as my SMG's, car or two and other stuff.  Having a well rounded portfolio is nice and smart. 

1928 could happen again....

[RoscoeTurner]

I just buy the stuff because l like it.

[Merry Ploughboy]

1 hour ago, Doug Quaid said:

One more thing:  it's not really correct to say that guns don't outperform the stock market.  Sometimes gun prices go up dramatically over a short period.  

For example, high end WWII Garands shot up in price about 500% between around 2000 to 2010.  I think it's because "Band of Brothers" created a lot of interest in them.

That actually happens all the time, but it's nothing that anyone could bank on unless they have a crystal ball.

I sold a mint, unfired M16A2 complete with defense department stamps on it and 6 months later they were twice the price.   Barf!

Now that I think of it, sometimes parts will shoot up in price all the sudden.  Numrich or whoever will run out of their endless supply and then BOOM.      

The movie "Dirty Harry" drove the price of Smith & Wesson Model 29 revolvers up overnight.  So-called product placement can be an effective advertising tool.  I am of the perhaps mistaken belief that the movie "Die Hard" influenced the popularity (hence price) of the H&K MP5.

On the other hand, I don't think Olympic Arms got a lot of traction from having their OA93 in the movie "Clear and Present Danger" (or the dozen other movies that have an OA93 in them for that matter).

MHO, YMMV, etc.

[LDog2012]

5 hours ago, Doug Quaid said:

One more thing:  it's not really correct to say that guns don't outperform the stock market.  Sometimes gun prices go up dramatically over a short period.  

For example, high end WWII Garands shot up in price about 500% between around 2000 to 2010.  I think it's because "Band of Brothers" created a lot of interest in them.

That actually happens all the time, but it's nothing that anyone could bank on unless they have a crystal ball.

I sold a mint, unfired M16A2 complete with defense department stamps on it and 6 months later they were twice the price.   Barf!

Now that I think of it, sometimes parts will shoot up in price all the sudden.  Numrich or whoever will run out of their endless supply and then BOOM.      

Doug, your comments are hilarious, not to mention informative and, from my limited experience, very true. I'm new to the Thompson world having bought an M1A1 and '28A1 within the last year. Both are arsenal refinished and in excellent condition as refinished. One reason I bought this particular '28A1 is because I can shoot it a bunch and not devalue it. Not so for my collector grade Garands and Colt 1911A1's. I paid the top of the range for each Thompson, but the same or less than others are offered for today. Hopefully history will repeat itself and they'll appreciate by the rate of inflation.

In my case, I channeled my inner 16 year old and wrote some big checks. Lucky for me my dad isn't around to counteract my impulse to own two of these things. 

Thanks for a great post. 

Larry A.

 

 

 

[Skip Greenwade]

Thanks to all for their insights. I am loving this thread!

[Mk VII]

All Colt-made ones are expensive.  If you break the parts you wipe value off the gun.  For that reason many users substitute WW2 1928 parts for actual shooting.  

The WW2 Savage & AOC Bridgeport guns are cheaper and most, if not all, will have been rebuilt at least once.  Parts situation is much better, tho' supplies are finite.  

The West Hurley ones are least desirable of all due to the numerous engineering problems documented with them.  Problems which can be fixed, for a price.  

[Skip Greenwade]

 

Hello all,

I am beyond pleased to now be able to provide a very positive update to this thread!

I really appreciate everyone’s response to my initial post, both on the thread and via PM; It was a warm welcome for a newbie that none of you knew and with no idea whether I was serious about joining your ranks.

The most helpful PM was from Taliaferro that same day advising that he knew of two “…very nice and very collectible” TSMGs and offering to put me in touch with the owner. He was kind enough to pass along my contact information and shortly afterward I received an e-mail noting the details of both guns, a 1921 and an M1A1, complete with a bunch of photos and thorough descriptions of each. Primarily because my collecting interests center on World War 2 with respect to both guns and memorabilia, I pretty quickly settled on the M1A1 as my choice.

After a few follow-up e-mails, text messages and phone calls, we agreed on a price and sorted out how best to navigate the Form 4 process. Since I have a C&R FFL, we decided on a direct transfer. Because he was in Alaska and I am in Texas, we went with a handwritten, hardcopy/paper form submission. Despite my concern re: the length of time I was led to believe might be involved, I was pleasantly surprised by the actual timeline:

·       The Form 4 package was mailed on 01 December and received by ATF/NFA at their Portland, Oregon office on the 5^th

·       My credit card was charged for the Transfer Tax on 09 December

·       The application was approved and mailed on the 29 and the seller received my copy and that beautiful blue stamp on 06 January.

·       That means the entire process took just over 30 days, even with the holidays, etc. thrown in. With some of the information on the web, to include the official ATF website suggesting it could be as long as 85 days, I am still amazed at how smoothly the entire thing played out.

·       The seller was kind enough to make the trip from Fairbanks to Houston this past Saturday to deliver the gun and what turned out to be a huge assortment of related items. We spent an enjoyable couple of days getting acquainted, talking about the gun (it had been his father’s gun, and he seemed genuinely pleased that it was going to a ‘good home’). We also made a visit to a local range to allow him to shoot it one last time.

Now, for the best part – the gun itself. It’s a Savage contract example in really nice condition, having almost certainly been through the arsenal re-build process. To me, it strikes the perfect balance – nice enough to satisfy the collector in me, while still allowing me to put an occasional magazine through it.

It was part of the 2004 “Thompson – On the Side of Law & Order” exhibition at the National Firearms Museum presented by the Thompson Collectors Association and is pictured and identified by serial number on page 23 of the official exhibit catalog, noted as being loaned by Walter T. “Tom” Woods, who was the President of the TCA at the time and who wrote the introduction to the exhibit in the catalog.

Mr. Woods transferred the gun to his son in 2007; I consider myself fortunate to have been able to purchase the gun from him and to now be a part of this group.

Thanks once again to everyone who replied to this thread and who offered advice and encouragement here and via PM.

Best,

Skip

[LDog2012]

Nice! Thanks for the update.  

[TD.]

Skip Greenwade,

Congratulations! Now you need to join The American Thompson Association (TATA) and attend the Hill family Show & Shoot later this year. We have another TATA and forum member that may chime in when he sees you are from Houston. I lived in the west side of Houston for a number of years. What part of Houston do you reside?