Any opinions on the Auto Ordnance semi-auto Tommy Gun?

[jdlii]

Semi auto Thompson

I lusted after one for many years. My dad carried the 1927 model in the So. Pacific during WW II and had nothing but praise for the weapon. He was carrying a Garand when wounded and it was cut in half by a heavy Nambu MG. He said he had swapped off to lead an assault on a pill box because "you can't get close enough to the ground with a drum magazine on a Thompson.

Well, I finally found a deal on an older Auto Ordinance M1 (stick mag only) model that I couldn't pass up! It came with one 30 rd. mag. An original 5 cell mag pouch for 20 rd mags was located and I ordered and modified 5 20 rd mags to fit.

My Thompson runs great! At 50 yds, I can keep all shots in the black on an SR1 repair center and on the B1 silhouette, it is deadly!
At 100 yds, center mass shots on silhouettes are the order of the day.

Yes, it is heavy but, you can empty a mag as fast as you can pull the trigger and keep the shots on paper at 25 and 50 yds. The walnut stocks on my M1 have nice figure in the wood.

Mine has the 16" (16.5") barrel and while the 10.5 inch is really cool, I would rather buy more bullets, primers and powder to keep mine running. With an appropriate HP bullet, I may try to take a doe with it next hunting season. I have a deer stand the routinely presents 20 to 50 yds shot opportunities.

Buy one for the same reason that you have your bike, because it is fun and life is to short. I wish my dad was still alive to shoot it with me!

In memory: James D. Lane, Sgt., 32nd Inf. Div., Co E, post war: DDS, MD & Dad!

 

[imjin138]

Over the years I have owned 3 one I bought in the 1970's and it didn't work correctly, one I bought in the 80's and the first time I fired it it broke, and on after 9-11 and it also broke the first time i fired it. Once I had them all repaired I traded them off. I was hoping some where along the line the quality would get better but no such luck.

 

[Beemerguy53]

I lusted after one for many years. My dad carried the 1927 model in the So. Pacific during WW II and had nothing but praise for the weapon. He was carrying a Garand when wounded and it was cut in half by a heavy Nambu MG. He said he had swapped off to lead an assault on a pill box because "you can't get close enough to the ground with a drum magazine on a Thompson.

Well, I finally found a deal on an older Auto Ordinance M1 (stick mag only) model that I couldn't pass up! It came with one 30 rd. mag. An original 5 cell mag pouch for 20 rd mags was located and I ordered and modified 5 20 rd mags to fit.

My Thompson runs great! At 50 yds, I can keep all shots in the black on an SR1 repair center and on the B1 silhouette, it is deadly!
At 100 yds, center mass shots on silhouettes are the order of the day.

Yes, it is heavy but, you can empty a mag as fast as you can pull the trigger and keep the shots on paper at 25 and 50 yds. The walnut stocks on my M1 have nice figure in the wood.

Mine has the 16" (16.5") barrel and while the 10.5 inch is really cool, I would rather buy more bullets, primers and powder to keep mine running. With an appropriate HP bullet, I may try to take a doe with it next hunting season. I have a deer stand the routinely presents 20 to 50 yds shot opportunities.

Buy one for the same reason that you have your bike, because it is fun and life is to short. I wish my dad was still alive to shoot it with me!

In memory: James D. Lane, Sgt., 32nd Inf. Div., Co E, post war: DDS, MD & Dad!

Thanks for your insight on this topic, and thanks very much to your Dad for his service to our country...

 

[Beemerguy53]

They are junk, rarely is one bought that doesn't need some work. You can find a good bit of information on this forum, there is a specific Thompson section -

Machineboards.com - Thompson Submachine Gun Community Forum

Thanks for your input and the link!

 

[Beemerguy53]

Over the years I have owned 3 one I bought in the 1970's and it didn't work correctly, one I bought in the 80's and the first time I fired it it broke, and on after 9-11 and it also broke the first time i fired it. Once I had them all repaired I traded them off. I was hoping some where along the line the quality would get better but no such luck.

I don't know for sure, but I get the impression that the quality has improved considerably since Kahr took over the company.

 

[retarmyaviator]

I lusted after one for many years. My dad carried the 1927 model in the So. Pacific during WW II and had nothing but praise for the weapon.

Your father most likely carried a Model 1928A1. The military never purchased the Model 1927 which was a semi auto only version of the Model 1921. Many people today confuse the two.

 

[Duke426]

To tell you the truth, I am a little afraid of having a similar experience. Something like this isn't for everyone, and if I buy it and don't like it, I might have to take a bath on it to get rid of it.

Beemerguy53,

I see that your location is Bel Air, MD (or "Blair" as the Balmer Hon's pronounce it). Come a little north and west to Glen Rock, PA (exit 8 off I-83) and rent the Thompson at Freedom Armory. You can decide if it's something you really want to own or just enjoy playing with once in a while.

Duke426

 

[retarmyaviator]

Thanks for your input and the link!

It you decide to sign up with that forum and have any trouble send a PM to me here, I am a moderator on the Thompson forum but use a different user name.

 

[ogilvyspecial]

This is an interesting thread. While I have never had one myself, a close
friend did back in the 80's and both times that he brought it out here
to shoot it the gun didn't want to cooperate, so he offed it a.s.a.p!

I have a few photos around here somewhere that I come across once in awhile of
when he brought it out here. In all but one he is shown trying to get it to function
and in the other he had to pose like he was firing it so I could get a decent photo.

 

[DOEBOY1]

1927 DELUXE TOMMY GUN

I have one shot it, love it, want another one. Mine takes the drum and stick mags the next one I get will take the stick mags only with the horizontal forend grip and bolt on the side. hope the picture down loads I think he's getting it. Just seems to fit his personality.

 

[Deacon KC]

I have one of the Kahr built ones you are looking at with regular length barrel. When I got it, I was worried about it, so I put lapping compound on the rails and bolt and ran it back and forth about 600 times. It runs fine and is decently accurate. If you buy surplus mags, you will need to enlarge the mag latch hole slightly to fit, a 5 minute job with file or Dremel.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Beemerguy53,

I see that your location is Bel Air, MD (or "Blair" as the Balmer Hon's pronounce it). Come a little north and west to Glen Rock, PA (exit 8 off I-83) and rent the Thompson at Freedom Armory. You can decide if it's something you really want to own or just enjoy playing with once in a while.

Duke426

That's great advice, thanks! Freedom Armory is actually not very far from my rifle club in New Freedom PA.

 

[papajohn428]

At the NRA convention in Pittsburgh last year, they had the Deluxe model on display with the DRUM and GOLD PLATED TOO.

Kahr brought the gold one to the NRA Convention in St Louis this year, too. I love the look on this guy's face when he saw it!

 

[zoom6zoom]

Almost bought one some time back. Now when I get the urge, I rent a FA Tommy from one of the ranges in Richmond. Lots cheaper and someone else gets to clean it.

 

[Moonman]

papajohn428,

Thanks for photo of the GOLD PLATED TOMMY.

It's just BEYOND COOL!!!!!!!!!

 

[retarmyaviator]

If you buy surplus mags, you will need to enlarge the mag latch hole slightly to fit, a 5 minute job with file or Dremel.

Noooooooooooo! Change out the magazine catch for an original Thompson catch. This will allow you to use original magazines without modifying them.

This modification ruins collectible magazines. It is not unusual to find $150 plus original early Colt era Thompson magazines that someone has turned into a $5 piece of junk to use with a Kahr Thompson.

For those that do not know, Colt manufactured the first 15,000 Thompsons. Anything from this era is worth far more than similar items manufactured later.

The Thompson forum has a lot of information on how to change this out. This thread is one example -

http://www.machinegunboards.com/for...037&hl=+kahr +catch&fromsearch=1&#entry116037

 

[cmort666]

A friend's father had one. It was unreliable, with a lot of failures to feed. He sent it back. When it came back, it looked like somebody'd taken a Holder file to it. It still wouldn't shoot.

I'd pass unless you got to shoot it beforehand.

 

[jdlii]

Your father most likely carried a Model 1928A1. The military never purchased the Model 1927 which was a semi auto only version of the Model 1921. Many people today confuse the two.

Thanks for clarifying the model! My dad,during the pre Internet days, also mistakenly believed that Singer manufactured Garands. I was finally able to convince him otherwise.

 

[Armyphotog]

I have one of the M1927-A1's with all the trimmings. I love mine, but didn't realize the weight until it arrived. No wonder they are so accurate. It takes a lot to throw a 13 lb. firearm off course. Never had a malfunction, either, but the 50 rd. drum is almost more trouble that it is worth. With all that weight, a 20rd stick is just fine, for me.

 

[KarmannGhia]

I have had a semi auto M1 Thompson (16 in barrel) for several years (it is a Kahr). I like (not love) it and have fun with it, BUT, I have had small internal parts break and have had to replace them. This gun is heavy and it is a real pain to break down. I got it because I love WWII US arms (1911, Garand, Carbine, etc...) I think, I paid approx $800. I plan to keep it, but I would not have spent any more than I did in order to get my hands on one.