with handguns — autoloaders or re- volvers — because the American mil- itary at one time or the other used no less than three very different .45 ACP submachine guns. The “Thompson” is the most famous of those. It may surprise readers to know
These are two versions of “grease guns.” Left is M3 and right is M3A1. Note the cocking lever on the side of the M3 and the extra hole in the bolt by which the M3A1 is cocked by the shooter’s finger.
the following: The Auto-Ordnance Corporation holding the patent rights to General Thompson’s design initially had no production facilities at all. Therefore, they contracted with Colt to produce 15,000 of their Model 1921 select-fire .45 ACP sub- machine guns. Despite movie por- trayals of the “Roaring 20s,” sales were so slow that some of the first 15,000 still hadn’t been sold by 1939. Then World War II started and that saved the “Thompson” from being a historical obscurity. In 1939 the US Government fi-
nally decided to buy some Thompson submachine guns. The paltry order was for about 950. Still not having a factory, Auto-Ordnance tried to get Colt
to make them again but
The M3 “grease gun” has such a slow rate of fire that it is easy even for kids to control. Duke looks on as this young fellow tries his M3.
that
Although this Colt US Model 1917 .45 ACP revolver was developed due to the US Army’s handgun shortage in World War I, many thousands were pulled from storage and issued in World War II.
outfit was too busy, so Savage Arms Company took on the contract. By this time the “Thompson” had evolved into the Model 1928. As such the sub-gun could take either 50- or 100-round drum magazines or 20- or 30-round stick magazines. Barrel lengths were 10.5" with machined fins that were supposed to help with cooling, a Cutts Compensator at the muzzle to help hold it down during full-auto fire, and a very finely made adjustable Lyman rear peep sight. The buttstock was quick detachable. The government asked for, and got some alterations such as smooth in- stead of finned barrels. That changed the model to 1928A1. This may also surprise readers.
In 1940, the US
Government was paying Auto-Ord- nance Corporation $202.50 for each “Thompson” submachine gun. Because of the many man-hours
at machines required to build these submachine guns, Savage’s engineers redesigned it. This annoyed the Au- to-Ordnance Corporation but great- ly pleased the US Government be- cause it reduced price to a mere $44 each. Gone were the Cutts Compen- sator, the intricate adjustable Lyman sight and the ability to affix drum magazines. The new name was M1 and production of them started in 1942. A few changes were made later that year such as giving the rear-sight protective wings and so the name be- came M1A1.
These are two versions of the basic Thompson submachine gun as used by the American armed forces. Top is M1 version adopted in 1942. Bottom is US Model 1928A1 adopted in 1939. Both are fitted with 30-round stick magazines.
28
Typical M1 Thompson Here’s a description of a typical
M1 Thompson (and M1A1 for the most part). It has a simple, bent piece
AMERICAN HANDGUNNER • 2011 SPECIAL EDITION
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