WH 1928 Thompson at auction

[full auto 45]

FYI - it is not my WH or guns. I do remember talking to this guy at the Louisville gun show in the past years.

Here's a good shot at owning a nice early West Hurley Thompson.

For you WH haters, it's a nice one.

There are several other nice collector guns and accessories. 
https://bids.beckortauctions.com/auctions/47244-davis-lifetime-gun-collection-vintage-military-firearms-and-memorabilia-1-2

[Doug Quaid]

Why do you say "WH haters"?

I have seen people here discussing the typical flaws of WH guns, but not in a hateful way.  Typically it's just part of a discussion on how to fix one of them.

Personally, I'd love to have one for an ammo burner, but they're priced too high.  

[full auto 45]

1 hour ago, Doug Quaid said:

Why do you say "WH haters"?

I have seen people here discussing the typical flaws of WH guns, but not in a hateful way.  Typically it's just part of a discussion on how to fix one of them.

Personally, I'd love to have one for an ammo burner, but they're priced too high.  

There are a few on here that say that the WH is not a "real" Thompson. "If it's not a Colt, it's not a Thompson." 

[Doug Quaid]

I don't think that WH's have significant value as a historic artifact, because they are not associated with any significant historic era.  (Unless you have a real fetish for the 1970s: Charlie's Angels, The Bee Gees, etc.)

But it is a real Thompson in terms of function, it has complete parts compatibility with WWII Thompsons.   

I have a Vector UZI which is pretty much the same thing as a WH.  It has complete parts interchangeability with a factory IMI SMG, but it was made by a small shop and can have some wonkiness that needs correcting.  Mine popped the trunnion welds and rear plate welds, so I had to have it rewelded.  But it runs 100% and is actually VERY accurate, so I am VERY happy with it.

I prefer my Vector to an actual IMI factory SMG, because I can burn as much ammo as I want with it and not damage the collector value.  I already had a squib that ruined the barrel, I just got a new barrel and called it good.

I also have a M16 that was converted from a semi-auto SP1.  Again, I like the fact that I can do anything I please with it without spoiling the collector value.  I did own a NIB M16A2 with department of defense stamps on it, I wouldn't even breathe on it.

I actually originally owned TWO westies, but I sold them because at the time the WH price relative to WWII guns was so high that swapping them out for WWII guns was a no-brainer.   I actually paid more for the WH than I paid for my Savage M1A1.  

Just my 2 cents, YMMV, etc.

Edited July 8 by Doug Quaid

[full auto 45]

Looks like the gun sold today for $27,500 + 7% tax and a 10% buyers fee. Someone got a nice gun. Congrats. 

[Doug Quaid]

That auction had some very enthusiastic bidding.  

With the 10% buyer's premium the buyer laid out $30,250 for the WH 1928.  

Dealer prices for that gun are more like $24k right now.

 

[TSMGguy]

Love my Vector Uzi. Bought it direct from the factory in Utah for $2,700. The .22 conversion kit was another $200 when they became available. It's certainly the best made and finished of all of the Uzis. Here's the Vector story:

The Vector Uzi: History, Evaluation and Test - Small Arms Review

 

[Doug Quaid]

The receiver flats that Group Industries made can be slightly dimensionally out of spec.  And the welds are sometimes bad in the early Vector guns.

But the good news is that it's just a sheet metal tube and anything wrong with a Vector or Group UZI can be easily repaired.  Just make sure that your gunsmith knows how to weld sheet metal that has been heat treated for hardness.  Welding can make it warp.  It's not a beginner job.  

I love my Vector, I have at least 20,000 rounds through it, probably more like 30,000.  I was shooting 500+ rounds per month out of it for years.

In case some of you guys don't know, 98% of transferrable FA UZIs are either IMI semi-auto conversions, registered FA bolts, or Group/Vector guns that were made from south african IMI UZI parts.  The Group/Vector guns were built to 100% "full auto specs", unlike a lot of the conversions.  There are a few actual IMI SMGs floating around, but they are scarce and pricey.