*USA, WW2, 1941, .45 Cal Thompson M1928A1 Sub Machine Gun with Magazine and Cutts Compensator, with Violin Carrying Case, US Army Grenade Issuing Mark, Made by Savage Arms, Deactivated*
Serial No: S-437591
A super condition early production (1941) Savage Arms produced Thompson 1928A1 submachine gun.
Marked on the Left: “Thompson Sub Machine Gun”, “Calibre .45 Automatic Cartridge”, “U.S. Model of 1928A1, NO.s-437591”. “GEG” in a circle inspection mark, below a flaming grenade (rare US Army issue grenade mark), next to “RLB” inspection mark.
Marked by sight: “Trade Mark Thompson. Reg. U.S.Pat.Off.” in a bullet.
Marked on sight: “Lyman”.
Marked on right: “Auto-Ordnance Corporation, Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.A.”, “U.S. Patents: 1,131,319; 1,338,866; 1,340,891; 1,340,943; 1,347,754; 1,349,345; 1,352,414; 1,357,208; 1,363,809; 1,403,623; 1,406,546, 1,408,276; 1,817,321”
Marked on Cutts Compensator: Auto-Ordnance Corporation, Pat. Nov. 2. 1926, No 1.605.393, Trade, Cutts (in a diamond) Mark, Pat. July 10 1927, No 1.636.357, with “Trade Mark Thompson. Reg. U.S.Pat.Off.” in a bullet.
Marked under stock: “GEG” in a circle, “No. s-437591”
Marked on Magazine: “Auto-Ordnance Corporation, Bridgeport, Connecticut, Reg. In U.S.A. Pat. Off.”
This is the famous 0.45″ calibre Thompson submachine gun, better known as the ‘Tommy Gun’, synonymous with every gangster movie complete with its original vintage violin carrying case. The Thompson submachine gun, also known as the “Tommy gun,” “Chicago typewriter,” “Chicago piano,” “trench sweeper,” or “trench broom,” is a blowback-operated, selective-fire submachine gun conceived by United States Army Brigadier General John T. Thompson in 1918. Intended to break the stalemate of World War I trench warfare, early models did not see combat due to timing. Production spanned from 1921 to 1945.
This particular variant, the model 1928A1, entered mass production before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Only two factories supplied M1928A1 Thompsons during the early years of World War II – the Savage Arms Company Corporation of Utica, New York for the Auto-Ordnance Corporation and from August 1941 Auto-Ordnance also began making their own. The letters “U.S.” began to appear on the receivers after the Lend-Lease Act was passed in March 1941. On the left hand side of the receiver are the Army Inspector of Ordnance’s initials, as well as the Ordnance Department “flaming bomb” acceptance stamp. Savage guns were marked with the initials GEG, of George E. Goll, Auto-Ordnance’s chief inspector and WW2 Savage Made guns also have the small letter “s” in front of the serial number (Auto Ordnance had the prefix AO before the serial number). This is also marked with the early WW2 US government Inspector stamp of RLB representing, The Army Inspector of Ordnance for the Rochester District, Lt. Colonel Ray L. Bowlin from 1940, until 1942. Though it could use both the 50-round drum and the 20- or 30-round box magazines, active service favored the box magazines as the drums were more prone to jamming, rattled when moving, and were too heavy and bulky on long patrols. Early wartime production variants also had a static rear Lyman site, characteristic finned barrel and Cutts compensator.
This was an expensive gun – at around $202.50 each – more than a years pay for a soldier – so in 1942, following suggestions from Savage Arms, it was replaced by a cheaper and more basic military Tommy Gun, the M1 model.
*Condition*
Fully deactivated, it is in near mint condition and comes with a removable stick magazine. The butt is easily moved and the trigger has movement, the cocking handle does not move. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
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