MauserMatt Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 I don't post here very often as I don't have an FA Thompson quite yet.. My uncle wants me to have his Bridgeport M1 one day so I'll probably inherit that one. It's the gun I've always dreamt about... I'm about to finish up my tour here in Afghanistan and we "came across" this Thompson... And we HAD to take it out to the range. Had to order some mags, but other than that, needed a little cleaning and she shoots like a champ... I REALLY wish I knew the story of this thing.... How the heck did it end up HERE of all places?! Anyway, here's the pics. It is an M1 marked receiver with an M1A1 fixed firing pin bolt... It also has an S marking on the bottom right behind the front grip mount on the receiver. Wish we could take this US PROPERTY back home!!!!! :banghead: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/MauserMatt/Afghanistan/DSC02691.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/MauserMatt/Afghanistan/DSC02692.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/MauserMatt/Afghanistan/DSC02693.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/MauserMatt/Afghanistan/DSC02694.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/MauserMatt/Afghanistan/DSC02696.jpg I think one of the guys is in contact with the museum at our base back home. We MIGHT be able to get this thing home that way at the very least. So we'll have some fun with it while we got it... Thankfully the unit that I'm in has no problem ordering 45 ammo.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newtommygunner Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 I'd be interested in the story on where and how it was found in Afganistan. Very interesting!! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUTTERRATT Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 That is bad ass. If only it could talk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gio Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 First thanks for yor service to our country. Enjoyed the pics,if that gun could talk. Think positive one day you may afford to own a 28 you have youth and things may work out. I waited until I was retired before getting into Thompson's and know can't afford what I would like to have. Get home safe Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Hammer Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 That's a pretty rugged piece of equipment isn't it? They made 'em to last. One of the most battle weary Thompson's I've seen, thanks and bring it on home! Mike Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGunny Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Incredible old warhorse! Imagine the places that thing has seen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulF Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 That is TOO cool. I hope you relieved some badguy of that beauty. I can't believe just how beat it is and that it still runs! What a story it could tell if only it could talk. Did they actually have ammo for it? Or was this just a piece that got stashed somewhere years ago and forgotten? Thanks for sharing. Be safe over there and get back home soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james m Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Thanks for posting the pictures. I've heard all sorts of stories of unusual firearms finds in Afghanistan. I believe some guys turned up a cache of Springfield Trapdoor rifles. How they would have ended up there is anyones guess. Are you at liberty to say what became of this Thompson? Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MauserMatt Posted January 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 Thanks guys. Wish I could get this thing home to preserve its history.. A sergeant major is in possession of it as of now and looking to try to get it back to our local WWII museum on Camp Blanding, Florida. I sure hope he can get it there... Yes, it was relieved from a bad guy. I don't know the story of how... But I know that's where it came from. No idea if he had ammo or mags cause the SGM had to buy some of his own for us to take it out to the range. If I can, I'll keep y'all up to date as to whether or not we'll be able to get it home to that museum. This peice of US PROPERTY needs to come home. I think it's done it's duty... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMGguy Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 Thanks goodness for a dry climate. Can you imagine what the thing would look like had it been in SE Asia all of this time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnshooter Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 Thanks goodness for a dry climate. Can you imagine what the thing would look like had it been in SE Asia all of this time? Another JCE 95% original? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mk VII Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 A 'well-used' one. Wonder what the barrel is like. Do they stock .45 in theater? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimFromFL Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 As expected it still shoots. Typical Thompson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riderboy Posted January 27, 2011 Report Share Posted January 27, 2011 Wow, first of all, thanks for your service. What a cool story. Do you guys think a 1928A1 would have held up as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usmc1488 Posted January 29, 2011 Report Share Posted January 29, 2011 I don't post here very often as I don't have an FA Thompson quite yet.. My uncle wants me to have his Bridgeport M1 one day so I'll probably inherit that one. It's the gun I've always dreamt about... I'm about to finish up my tour here in Afghanistan and we "came across" this Thompson... And we HAD to take it out to the range. Had to order some mags, but other than that, needed a little cleaning and she shoots like a champ... I REALLY wish I knew the story of this thing.... How the heck did it end up HERE of all places?! Anyway, here's the pics. It is an M1 marked receiver with an M1A1 fixed firing pin bolt... It also has an S marking on the bottom right behind the front grip mount on the receiver. Wish we could take this US PROPERTY back home!!!!! :banghead: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/MauserMatt/Afghanistan/DSC02691.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/MauserMatt/Afghanistan/DSC02692.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/MauserMatt/Afghanistan/DSC02693.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/MauserMatt/Afghanistan/DSC02694.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/MauserMatt/Afghanistan/DSC02696.jpg I think one of the guys is in contact with the museum at our base back home. We MIGHT be able to get this thing home that way at the very least. So we'll have some fun with it while we got it... Thankfully the unit that I'm in has no problem ordering 45 ammo.... Number one, stay a hard target and dont drop your guard until your home. Number two, regardless of origin if you found this durring a patrol, found after a fire fight, or was in the enemies hands it can be declared a war trophy. Go to your admin shop and inquire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usmc1488 Posted January 29, 2011 Report Share Posted January 29, 2011 A 'well-used' one. Wonder what the barrel is like. Do they stock .45 in theater? Yes we have 45 in theatre. My team still used 1911's. As far as Navy and Marine Corps in concerend some Recon teams, Force, Seals, and the trigger pullers of MARSOC still cary 1911's. I had to trade 1000 rds of 45 for a one for one swap for 7.62x39. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giantpanda4 Posted January 29, 2011 Report Share Posted January 29, 2011 I got a nephew there in (Bagram AFB) Afganastan too... he loves to shoot my Thompson. Where are you located? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MauserMatt Posted January 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 As usmc1488 stated, 45 is out there. Depends on your unit of course. Mine happens to have a couple of Remington Rand 1911s that we issued out from the arms room.... Which, let me just say they still shoot SWEET too... And usmc, I'll have to do that, but are "war trophies" still allowed?? Even full auto ones? There's got to be a strict criteria for it.... giantpanda, as of now the Thompson is not in my possession. I think one of our Sergeant Major's is going to try to get it home so he has it. As I'm the battalion Small Arms Repair guy, I get to go to most of the ranges we have here on base. And the SGM being a gun nut himself, brings the Thompson out every once in a while... I just got lucky that day he brought it out. Wish I had a faster internet connection or I'd upload a video of us shooting it too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 (edited) Thank you for your service and be safe. Great to see that ol warhorse back in US hands. If you cant get it home, hope you can at least give to a proper military funeral!!! Edited January 30, 2011 by Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 (edited) If you have photos of other interesting captured weapons, they may be neat to look at. Edited January 30, 2011 by Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giantpanda4 Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 Thank you Matt! -Be safe there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bug Posted February 8, 2011 Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 Here is an early (40K range) Savage 28 found just outside of Baghdad a few year back. It ran just fine. They were able to get it stateside for their unit museum. Bob D http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/mgbug/BUSH0138.jpg http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/mgbug/BUSH0139.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubguy Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 Thanks for posting the pic and info & for your service! Hope you can get it back to the museum too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpw43 Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Looks like one I was in Kosovo in 2000. I helped the armorer take it apart as he hadn't ever seen one up close and personal. It was badly pitted, and I believe the unit shipped it back to Vilseck Germany for their unit to display. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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