Thompson Subgun questions

[bernie]

Every since I was a kid and read Sgt. Rock, I have been interested in the Thompson Submachinegun, more specifically the M1 version, but I have never gotten to handle one.

Were any of the version a select fire weapon, i.e. semi auto capability? How did they field strip for cleaning. I realize that this probably varies by model. I know they are not obsolete, and horrible heavy, and probably not the best subgun ever designed, but other than the different models and the changes that were made from version to version, I know absolutely nothing.

Are there any websites dedicated the the "Tommy Gun"?

Thanks for bearing with me.

 

[Northwest Cajun]

Bernie,

Kahr /auto ordance has the name now.
Semi only
http://www.auto-ordnance.com/
It's on my short list of next guns to buy.

Cajun

 

[Mike Irwin]

Best place to find field stripping instructions is probably in an older copy of Smith's Small Arms of the World.

The WW II versions, the M1 and M2, differed quite a bit from the basic 1921/28 models. Not so much that if you could strip an M2 you couldn't strip a 1928, but the M2 didn't have the Blish lock or any of the assorted goodies associated with it.

I've fired examples of the 1921, 1928, and M2. LOTS of fun.

They're heavy and ergonomically they're not great, but they were known for being roboreliable and very highly sought after by troops.

 

[Dr.Rob]

There is a Savage M1 for sale on gunbroker for something like 16k, still it's cheaper than a BAR.

You should be able to get a small arms/ordinance manual for the tommy gun at just about any gun show, or check with Numrich Gun Parts. They have a lot of surlpus manuals.

 

[ACP230]

There are several Thompsons for sale currently on the NFA For Sale board at www.subguns.com.
Small Arms Review regularly runs articles about Thompsons and Shotgun News has also had some recently.
Small Arms Review sells "American Thunder," a book about Thompsons by Frank Iannamico. There are several other books out there but Iannamico's is the most recent I am aware of.

I have shot several Thompsons and had a lot of fun doing so. They tend to climb for me, but more practice could solve that. Thompson mags are easier to load than a lot of other subgun mags. I didn't use a loader and my thumbs didn't hurt after loading several mags. I wish some other subgun designers, including Eugene Reising, had built their guns to use Thompson mags.

 

[DMK]

You can drool over the manuals here:

http://www.biggerhammer.net/manuals/kahr_thompson_semiauto.pdf

http://www.gunmanuals.ch/source03/Thomson-gun.pdf

 

[Quartus]

Yes, there were selective fire versions. In fact, that was the normal configuration.

If you want an excellent history of the development and use of the Tommygun, look for "The Gun That Made The Twenties Roar" by William Helmer. Search online and you'll find a number of places that carry it. Here are a couple: (Caveat - I've not done business with either of these places. THey just turned up on a Google search.)

http://www.rutgersgunbooks.com/Thompson.shtml

http://www.tommygunshop.com/cgi-bin/itemdetail.asp?itmid=539



And here is a VERY intersting note on the authorship of chapter 11

http://www.machinegunbooks.com/cgibin/ikonboard/topic.cgi?forum=1&topic=306