FC Posted September 29, 2018 Report Share Posted September 29, 2018 Oh boy, I finally swallowed hard and bought a 1927 A1 Tommy Gun! 20 round stick mag. $800, no tax, at the PX. I told my wife it's not good to leave me alone! I haven't bought a gun in a long time. Snail drum cheapest price I see is $231, but way cheaper than buying the $1400, same gun, but includes snail drum. I'm not having much luck trying to resize the picture to 10.24 kb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FC Posted September 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2018 This is what it looks like, but the stock is crotch walnut. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=1927+A1+chicago+typewriter&t=h_&iax=images&ia=images&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.athlonoutdoors.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F6%2F2017%2F10%2FAuto-Ordnance-Tommy-Gun-11.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted September 29, 2018 Report Share Posted September 29, 2018 Numrich has 50rd drums shipped for about 200. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted September 29, 2018 Report Share Posted September 29, 2018 Here's a better deal http://www.e-sarcoinc.com/thompson-50-round.aspx Im currently negotiating a trade for a Thompson. Should know by tomorrow. During WW2 my dad was selling Thompson stocks and fore ends on Chicago streets for firewood!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FC Posted September 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2018 No!! Thanks for the links! I took it out shooting for a bit, and it does fine with the flip-up peep sight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted September 30, 2018 Report Share Posted September 30, 2018 My dad was a freight conductor. He had to verify the freight charges were paid for by the shipper or collect from receiver. The Thompson stocks were shipped from a Canadian factory with freight charges to be paid by the USA factory that was to receive the shipment. Word was sent to Chicago that the USA manufacture was refusing the shipment. The Canadians didn't want it back and refused to pay the return freight bill. My dad was instructed to get rid of it as the railroad needed the rail car. When dad asked what to do with the freight he was told I don't care get rid of it. Dad made a deal with a guy with a large horse drawn wagon. They unloaded the stocks then carried it into Chicago and sold it all as firewood. It was sold all you can carry for 15-75 cents, dad said the price was determined by how well the buyer was dressed. Im assuming the USA factory refused the shipment after the govt canceled orders for Thompsons and replaced it with the much cheaper Greasegun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Hess Posted September 30, 2018 Report Share Posted September 30, 2018 That's cool, FC. Note that according to the article in Firearms News recently, the drum mags are kind of iffy for reliability, and there is a super-special what that they have to be loaded or you can break them. Something like load a few, skip a few, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Hess Posted September 30, 2018 Report Share Posted September 30, 2018 Also, "screaming deal!!!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FC Posted September 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2018 Stock is long for me. I'm 67" tall. I'll ponder whether to tackle shorting the stock 1 1/2 inches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted September 30, 2018 Report Share Posted September 30, 2018 2 hours ago, FC said: Stock is long for me. I'm 67" tall. I'll ponder whether to tackle shorting the stock 1 1/2 inches. Before cutting it make sure your eyes can focus on the sights, front sight especially by moving it closer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted September 30, 2018 Report Share Posted September 30, 2018 3 hours ago, Dr.Hess said: Also, "screaming deal!!!" About 200 less than one I saw at a gun shop about 6 months ago. If I remember right they wanted 250 for 50rd drum. Sales clerk said they could order a 100 rd drum. Can't remember the exact price but it was ridiculous, I think it was close to 500. Hard to believe in the late 70's a legal full auto used Thompson ran about 400-600, new about 700 and change. Friend bought one about 77 or 78 with drum mag and several stick mags and various accessories like a Calvary pouch that held two drums, British paratrooper canvas carry case and other stuff I don't recall for 900. It was a used civilian model, no prison, police or military stampings but appeared to be in mint condition. After he died his son his son sold it for over 40 G's a few years ago. I intended to buy a full auto H&R Resing from the same class 3 dealer for 200 but unfortunately my priorities at the time were carburetors, mag wheels, big tires and pussy. I never came back with the $100 deposit and 200 for ATF stamp the dealer wanted up front to begin paperwork. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FC Posted September 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2018 I think back in the 70s most people thought you could not ever buy a machine gun. Also, the economy was just horrible. Still, very cheap! $800, and no tax for the Tommy Gun- yeah, I'm not complaining! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken98k Posted September 30, 2018 Report Share Posted September 30, 2018 Yay! congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted September 30, 2018 Report Share Posted September 30, 2018 9 hours ago, FC said: I think back in the 70s most people thought you could not ever buy a machine gun. Also, the economy was just horrible. Still, very cheap! $800, and no tax for the Tommy Gun- yeah, I'm not complaining! You did very good on the price. Most I've seen at dealers run into the high nines and with sales tax puts it over a grand. I'm still trying to trade for one. Ad still up but he hasn't responded to yesterday's email. Hope he hasn't lost interest in my offer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FC Posted October 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2018 PX had the two one day. I hope you get it. I flipped up the peep sight and hit a bit left. At 75 yards I got about a 3 inch spread. Trigger pull is heavy. I read the barrel is longer than original. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manureman Posted October 1, 2018 Report Share Posted October 1, 2018 Way to go FC ! Great deal and it just doesn’t get any cooler than a Thompson in my book. Been wanting one for years. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted October 2, 2018 Report Share Posted October 2, 2018 On 9/30/2018 at 6:49 PM, FC said: PX had the two one day. I hope you get it. I flipped up the peep sight and hit a bit left. At 75 yards I got about a 3 inch spread. Trigger pull is heavy. I read the barrel is longer than original. The barrel has to be longer than original. The original length would make it a short barreled rifle in ATF's eyes. Looks like my deal died as he won't answer email but his ad it still up on Armslist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FC Posted October 3, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2018 Kahr has a forum for their guns, including Thompsons. There's complaints about the trigger pull, which someone said is 9 lbs., and failure to fire. I had a fire issue once, and yes, the trigger pull is way too hard. Not sure if I can safely improve that. Seems to be no information about that subject. They did say Auto-Ordnance is good about their warranty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Hess Posted October 3, 2018 Report Share Posted October 3, 2018 9 lbs is a bit heavy. But lighter than most double action revolvers. I mean, it's not exactly a long distance precision rifle. I think I'd leave it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted October 3, 2018 Report Share Posted October 3, 2018 Back in the late 70's there was an add on the front page of Shotgun News for several months. As I recall the ad sold parts and instructions on improving the trigger on AO Thompsons. There might be a remedy on YouTube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FC Posted October 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 Nothing I can find anywhere except an opinion not to do it. im going to do the stock with Minwax wipe-on poly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FC Posted October 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 I have a problem, and maybe a solution. I cut the stock a bit, but now the steel buttplate, which is curved a couple of ways, is too small. I think the only decent solution I have is to oxyacetylene weld iron around the border of the original buttplate, then grind it into shape. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Hess Posted October 16, 2018 Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 Make a new buttplate out of some stainless. Or replace the buttplate with a recoil pad like for a rifle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted October 16, 2018 Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 I assume the old plastic grind to fit butt plates may still be available. I did one back in the 70's. Stick the plate into boiling water for about 30-60 seconds then press and bend it to fit curvature of the stock. Finally sand the over size plate to fit. I was also refinishing the butt stock on an old single shot 12 ga so it was easy to belt sand plate and wood together. Do not have the slightest recollection where I got it, most likely from a Shotgun News vendor. Somebody like Brownells or Midway might have something similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FC Posted October 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 The current one is steel, and curves at the top and bottom. I thought about getting brass plate, heating it with the torch, then bending it quickly with a form made from the cut-off portion off the buttstock. It would burn the wood quickly. I'll look again at plastics. Stainless would be nice, but I don't know how it would look after heating it with oxy-acetylene? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.