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M1 Thompson

John Thompson founded the Auto Ordnance corp. in 1916, and began his development of submachine guns with the purchase of a John Blish patent (1915), that described a delayed blowback automatic firearm. This patent described a delayed blowback breech system in which a sloping metal wedge interlocked the breech block with the gun body. Under high pressure, as when the cartridge fired, the angle of the slope was such that the mating faces jammed solid. As the pressure dropped, the faces were able to slip across each other, the wedge moved up due to the slope, and the breech unlocked. This idea was used in all Thompson submachine guns except for the M1 and M1A1 (those were simply blowback operated).

The first Thompson SMG appeared in 1919. The first serial manufactured model appeared in 1921 and was manufactured by Colt, as well as the latest M1927 and M1928 models. 1928A1 & the M1 series were manufactured by Auto-Ordnance and Savage, and licensed copies were manufactured by B.S.A. in Great Britain.

Currently, Auto-Ordnance (a part of the Kahr company) manufactures semi-auto only Tommy guns with barrels lengthened to 16" (405 mm) for the civilian market.

In general, all Tommy guns may be described as a select-fire, delayed blowback or simply blowback (M1) operated firearms. All Tommy guns feature all-steel, high quality construction. Some barrels are partially ribbed for better cooling.

Tommy guns became famous through the "roaring twenties" in the USA, when, during the Prohibition times, many Tommy guns were used by both Police and criminals to spread death across their enemies. Hollywood made the Tommy gun the sign of the 1920's in the USA, but this gun was also widely used during the WW2 and later in Korean war, and proved itself as a reliable and powerful firearm. The main drawbacks of the Tommy guns were short effective range, heavy weight and high cost of manufacture.

Here is a short listing of Tommy Gun models (according to the Auto-Ordnance web site):
M1921 - First production model. Featured delayed blowback operation, machined steel receivers, charging handle located at the top of the receiver, detachable wooden butt stock and vertical forearm.
M1923 - Unsuccessful attempt to increase effective range by introducing a new, more powerful cartridge, .45 Remington-Thompson.
M1927 - Semi-auto only version of M1921. Barrel with Cutts compensator.
M1928 - Also known as the "Navy model".  This was a select-fire version with a horizontal wooden foregrip (it also was manufactured with a vertical foregrip) and sling swivels. Barrel with Cutts compensator.
M1 - First issued in 1943 as a simplified for war-time production variant of the M1928. Select-fire, simple blowback operated, issued with 20 round "stick" magazines. The charging handle is located at the right side of the receiver. Plain barrel (without ribbing).
M1A1 - Even more simplified M1 (with fixed peep-hole rear sights).

Experience one TODAY at Midwest Gun and Range!

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