Thompson submachine gun
The Thompson submachine gun, also known as the Tommy gun, was an American submachine gun (SMG) that became infamous during the Prohibition era. It was a common sight in gangster films of the time, being used both by criminals and by law enforcement officers. The "Tommy gun" was also known as the "Chicago typewriter" and "Chicago Piano", and was favored for its compact size and high volume of automatic fire.
Service
In the United States, it was used by law enforcement, most prominently the FBI, until 1976 when it was declared obsolete. All Thompsons in U.S. government possession were destroyed, except for a few token museum pieces and training models.
Due to its gangster-era and WWII connections, Thompsons are highly sought-after collector's items. An original 1928 gun in working condition can easily fetch $15,000. Semi-automatic replicas are currently produced by the Auto-Ordnance Company (a division of Kahr Firearms.)
Approx. 1,700,000 of these weapons were produced, 1,387,134 of them being the simplified WWII M1 variant.
Variants
M1921
The original design, it is fashioned more like a sporting weapon. It was quite expensive to make, with high-quality wood furniture and finely-machined parts.
M1927
The semi-auto only version of the M1921.
M1928
Shorter overall than the M1921. Famous through its career with police and criminals and in motion pictures. First type widely used by military forces, with the US Navy and Marine Corps major buyers through the 1930s. With the start of World War II, massive contracts from Britain and France saved the manufacturer from bankruptcy.
M1928A1
This variant entered mass production before Pearl Harbor as on-hand stocks of the M1928 ran out. Changes included a horizontal forearm in place of the distinctive vertical foregrip and provision for a military sling. With new US contracts for Lend-Lease shipments abroad and the needs of American armed forces, two factories supplied M1928A1 Thompsons during the early years of WWII. It was faster and cheaper to manufacture than the M1928. Though the weapon could use both the 50- or the 100-round drums as well as the 20- or 30-round magazines, active service showed the drums were more prone to jamming.
M-1
A result of further simplification to cut costs, the most notable differences from the M1928A1 were the elimination of the slots adjoining the magazine well that allowed use of the drum magazines and of the complicated compensator at the muzzle that limited "rise" when firing. The characteristic cooling fins on the barrel and the Blish lock feature of the bolt also disappeared. The less-expensive and easily-manufactured "stick" magazines were used exclusively in this version, with a new 30-round version joining the familiar 20-round type. It also has a permanently-attached buttstock and was first issued in 1943.
Caliber: .45 ACP
Mass, empty: 4.78 kg
Barrel Length: 267 mm
Rate of Fire: 700 RPM
Capacity: 20/30 rounds box magazine
M-1A1
The flip up and adjustable rear sight was replaced with a fixed peep hole rear sight. Removed were the the Cutts Compensator and fingered fore-grip. The multi-piece firing pin of the M-1 was supplanted by a simplified firing pin machined into the face of the bolt. Utilized a simple blow-back system of operation and the bolt handle was moved to the side.