Pics of my Thompson SMG dummy M1928A1

[ida34]

I got the kit a couple of years ago. My son can't use his M1 Garand for reenacting until he is 18 so he wanted the dummy receiver for his birthday. It arrived today and we put it all together. It feels great. I wish I could afford a real one. The one with the vertical fore grip is one that is hanging on the wall of the local FBI office. They called down to the Detroit Federal Armory and asked if they had any more Thompsons. They did, so they sent an agent down to get it. It was complete with the FBI case and magazines including a drum magazine. They cleaned it up and put it on the wall. They still have Thompsons. I wish I could get ahold of one.

Chuck

 

[Yarb]

Can you own a thompson if you register yourself as a collector, the gun is antique, or something like that?

I only ask because once a year on a farm in VA my Dad and some of his Vietnam era Army buddies used to get together, and one of the guys had one of these. I got to shoot it once at a 55gallon drum and I was really impressed . Lots of recoil..

I'm obviously guessing, and I'm sure you know more bout it than me, but I bet they are expensive if/when you find them.

 

[Fat Jack]

It's possible to buy new Thompson SMG's, although they are semi-automatic. Price starts around $1400. I've been considering buying one my self. Love the way they look and feel.

 

[ida34]

Full autos are legal if you can find one that was NFA registered before 1986. The ones that are transferable to any private citizen have to have been made before 1986. A lot of vet bring backs were registered during an amnesty in 1968. Full autos made after 1986 can be only owned by class 3 FFL dealers under certain circumstances. Of course the military and police are exempt. One interesting note. The NFA register is still having stuff added to it but that stuff is for local police only. Federal law enforcement and military do not have there stuff on the NFA registry. If a police department still had a thompson from years ago those could be transfered to a private citizen since they are Pre 1086. The FBI thompsons were not on the registry so they must be destroyed. A sheriff here in Michigan found he had a pre 86 M16A1. He auctioned it off and when he was done he made enough money to buy new rifles for the whole swat teem. The transferable full autos are not growing. There are only so many to go around so they are quite a bit of money. Thompsons run $17000 and up. Most are more like $24000.

Hopefully the one you were shooting was one of the pre 86 registered ones. Some unregistered vet bring backs occasionally surface when the vet dies and the family goes through stuff but they can not be registered and must be turned in for destruction as there is no legal way to register it. The only exception is a museum can get it and add it to the registry but it still can not be transfered at all. I don't agree and I hate to see these pieces of history getting destroyed. I have seen pictures of bins of historic firearms being destroyed by the BATFE. I would hate to be on that detail.

By the way, if you can find a transferable you can afford you would have to submit paperwork and get approved by the BATFE. You would also have to pay a $200 tax and sometimes you would have to pay this twice if you are getting it from someone from another state. Some states outlaw any full autos so you would have to be in a FA friendly state. I think VA is FA friendly.

 

[kendelrio]

I have seen pictures of bins of historic firearms being destroyed by the BATFE. I would hate to be on that detail.

I can see it now......

Ummm Kendelrio, weren't there 50 Thompsons to be destroyed???? How come I'm only counting 12?


Uhhhhhhhhh
LOOK SIR- OSAMA!!!!!

***kendelrio running into the sunset***

 

[ida34]

You have got to remember to throw a couple of engine blocks in so the metal content comes out right. I am glad I am no in charge of melting down the weapons. From time to time we get a call to pick up a weapon for destruction that a widow has found and wants to get rid of. One time I went out to do a pickup per the Cpl. When I showed up the lady had an old shotgun, an M1 Garand, and a government property M1911A1. If I had not had the Cpl in the mix I would have told her to hold on to the M1 and the M1911A1 and I would be back after my shift to pick those up.

 

[kendelrio]

If I had not had the Cpl in the mix I would have told her to hold on to the M1 and the M1911A1 and I would be back after my shift to pick those up.

I **knew** there was a reason I liked you.....

 

[joeypushjr1]

be carefull about how your talking we cant talk guns on here.. so keep it focused on the dummy gun .... we dont need any of yall getting in touble with admin.....

 

[Yarb]

Wow, I had no idea that it was that valuable. That's amazing.

I just remember looking at the drum (as an 18-20yr old) and watching him load it and thinking how the bullets were huge! Now I know they are 45 ACP rounds.

Anyway, neat post and neat dummy gun!

 

[Wild Horse Hans]

If you are looking for something just for display, look at airsoft guns. 1 to 1 scale replicas and many of them are made from a lot of metal.
I have the Thompson as well as an M-60 and they are much cheaper than real steel. they are electric powered air cylinder type, full auto, and shoot 6mm plastic BBs about 200 feet and 350FPS
Hans