[70], The Model 1921 (M1921) was the first major production model. Our M1 Thompson model is a .45 caliber semi-automatic replica of the most famous American submachine gun of World War II. [29] Thompson gained financial backing from the businessman Thomas F. Ryan and proceeded to found a company, which he named the Auto-Ordnance Company, in 1916, for the purpose of developing his new "auto rifle". During WW2 at least 1.5 million Thompson SMGs were made and used widely by Allied Forces. Brochures, Custom Product Flyers and Manuals, 11.5 lbs. Bannan, James F. and Hill, Tracie L. (1989). [67] For these reasons, the 20-round and later 30-round box magazines soon proved most popular with military users of the M1928A1, and drum compatibility was not included in the design of the wartime M1 and M1A1 models. Thompsons(!) The Annihilator prototypes first were fed from a 20-round box magazine, but later, the 50- and 100-round drum magazine models were developed. We offer the same attention to craftsmanship today that made the original so highly regarded. The only tools needed are a hammer (for removing and reinstalling the two existing Ruger trigger group pins), a screwdriver, and a punch. [32] The concept had already been developed by German troops using their own Bergmann MP 18 (the world's first submachine gun) in concert with their Sturmtruppen tactics.[33]. The gun, in a government approved semiautomatic conversion or clone, can legally be owned by hunters and sport shooters. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 2. There were two main experimental models of the Thompson. Though the M3 was considerably cheaper to produce, at the end of World War II, the Thompson, with a total wartime production of over 1.5 million, outnumbered the M3/M3A1 submachine guns in service by nearly three to one. His youth was much like that of a military brat, living from post to post, yet by the age of 16 he had . The "Tommy's" Thompson | An Official Journal Of The NRA In wartime, it helped carry soldiers. The Model 1927A5 is a semi-automatic, .45 ACP pistol version of the Thompson originally produced by Auto-Ordnance in West Hurley from the 1970s until the early 1990s or late 1980s. With the full backing of Thompson, who had been instrumental in the original development of the .45 ACP and had overseen the development of the U.S. Model of 1911 pistol, the design team. They used the Thompson extensively in jungle patrols and ambushes, where it was prized for its firepower, though it was criticized for its hefty weight and poor reliability. Nationalist China acquired a substantial number of Thompson guns for use against Japanese land forces. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. This replica is great.The look of it is amazing and the weight is as realistic as can be.I love this item and am honored to have a piece of history with me. Brand New. This model gained fame from its use by criminals during Prohibition, and was nicknamed "tommy gun" by the media. Tommy Guns are prohibited in CT, MD, NY. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. This is a classic replica of the submachine gun made famous by prohibition gangsters. These were produced in small quantities and have a different appearance than the classic style. The rear sight almost doubles the 10/22s sight radius, increasing accuracy potential; I was bouncing tin cans at 100 yards. The look and feel are authentic, right down to the side bolt action. See our article on the site about how to age them well. The box magazine tripped the bolt open lock when empty, facilitating magazine changes. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. An original Colt Model 1921 A or AC, Model 1927 A or AC, Model 1928 Navy A or AC, properly registered in working condition with original components can easily fetch from US$25,000 to $45,000+ depending on condition and accessories. Lightweight aluminum receiver (TM1C), One 30 round stick magazine / One 10 round stick magazine (TM110S), Walnut fixed stock and horizontal foregrip. 13 in 1995. Some experimental calibers aside from the standard .45 ACP (11.4x23mm) were the .22LR, .32 ACP, .38 ACP, and 9mm.[35]. The U.S. Postal Service Loved This Historic Machine Gun It was made popular by television shows from the 1960s and was often envisioned around the world as a "gangster's" gun primarily used by criminals. after construction of a federal road in Sergipe was disrupted by armed Cangaeiros in December 1937. The 20-round Type XX magazines had their peep-holes welded shut to keep sand out and the 50-round Type L drums were discontinued. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Caleb Giddings, Marketing Manager at Taurus, introduces the all-new TaurusTX 22 Compact. Changes included a horizontal forend, in place of the distinctive vertical foregrip ("pistol grip"), and a provision for a military sling. A metal sling mount was fitted to the left side of the wooden buttstock. The Squad Leaders buttstock, pistol grip and fore-end are American walnut. It had an extended receiver with a recoil buffer and was fed from 20-round magazines. Ive owned all of the Ruger 10/22 variations, said Scott, who has more than 30 years of experience in the automotive and motorcycle industries. It was produced from 1942 to 1943 by United Defense Supply Corp. for possible issue as a replacement for the Thompson submachine gun and was used by agents of the Office of Strategic . The modularity and clever design of the Stemple Takedown Gun is perhaps best illustrated by the STG-M1A and STG-1928 (these are the same gun with either a horizontal or vertical front grip). The T2 submachine gun was Auto-Ordnance's entry into the ongoing competition to replace the classic Thompson submachine gun with something more economical to produce. In New Guinea, the Thompson was the only submachine gun available to the Australian Army for most of the vital Kokoda Track campaign in 1942. The Thompson was soon found to have limited effect in heavy jungle cover, where the low-velocity .45 bullet would not penetrate most small-diameter trees or protective armor vests. Plus, Thompsons were extremely expensive for the time. Thompson ad The Thompson submachine gun needs no introduction to most firearm enthusiasts. With the start of World War II, major contracts from several countries saved the manufacturer from bankruptcy. .45, M1, with horizontal fore-end, L-shaped rear peep sight, side-mounted charging handle and stick magazine that causes many of us to hyperventilate whenever we see it in movies such as The Longest Day, Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers. Indeed, after a brief full-automatic familiarization course with it many years ago during Officer Candidate School, I remember being impressed with its 650-r.p.m. Built to modern engineering standards, the Thompson M1 is a reliable and highly accurate representation of its legendary WWII ancestors. [25] Thompsons had also been widely used throughout China, where several Chinese warlords and their military factions running various parts of the fragmented country made purchases of the weapon, and subsequently produced many local copies. Thompson submachine gun, byname Tommy gun, submachine gun patented in 1920 by its American designer, John T. Thompson. A notable variant of the Model 1928 with an aluminum receiver and tenite grip, buttstock, and forend, was made by Savage.[73]. Thompson requested Payne to develop a method of reducing the cyclic rate of fire. The famous Thompson Submachine Gun was designed by John Thompson in 1918 making its mark in popular imagination in use with both Gangsters and Law Enforcers during the Prohibition era. However, their relatively low rate of fire and their overall size (typically more than 5 feet [150 cm] long with bayonet attached) made them unsuitable for the close-quarters combat seen in the trenches of the Western Front. A magazine lock lever is located on the left side of the receiver just ahead of the triggerguard, and when the lever is rotated completely downward to the vertical position, the magazine is locked in place. It was made famous by gangsters during the Prohibition era of the 1920s and 1930s, and its $200 price tag was also the reason for the $200 tax stamp required under the National Firearms Act of 1934. It tended not to rattle, and could be inserted with the bolt safely closed. It was made by modifying an existing Model 1921, including replacing certain parts. It has since been replaced with the Kahr Arms TA5 Pistol, which features a 10.5" barrel and steel receiver, unlike the 1927A5's 13" barrel and aluminum receiver. Original U.S. WWII Thompson SMG Five Cell 20 Round Magazine Pouch: WWII Dated & Marked. The plain Thompson (without the attachment) was designated No. Wartime production variants had a fixed rear sight without the triangular sight guard wings and a non-ribbed barrel, both like those found on the M1/M1A1. Many of the infantry rifles employed during World War I boasted superb accuracy at long range. The bolt handle is positioned at the top of the receiver and the knurled knob has a cutout so it doesn't obscure the sights. The original selective-fire Thompson variants are no longer produced, although numerous semi-automatic civilian versions are still being produced by the manufacturer Auto-Ordnance. The Thompson Submachine Gun: Model Of 1919 [31], In 1928, Federal Laboratories took over distribution of the weapon from Thompson's Auto Ordnance Corporation. After the Fall of France in June 1940, Britain needed every weapon the could get and placed an open order for Thompson submachine guns. Still, it was nowhere near as common as the media portrays. Thompson sub-machine gun > WW2 Weapons Most of the design issues had been resolved by 1918; however, the war ended two days before prototypes could be shipped to Europe. I took it to the range and people started saying I want one. So I began thinking, how can I create something for under $300 so the average guy could own a Tommy gun, because I think every man should have one.. They are made from original 1928A1 guns of various appearance (with or without Cutt's compensator, ribbed or smooth barrels, adjustable or fixed sights), that were imported Lend-Lease guns from Russia. [27], Thompson submachine guns were used by both sides during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. I think Gen. Thompson would approve. The new-for-2023 lineup includes ultralight hunting stocks and a VGA 2-pound adjustable vertical-grip stock. Three days later I emerged from my shop with the prototype. The remainder found their way to the Irish Republican Army by way of Liverpool, England, and were used in the last month of the Irish War of Independence (191921). But alas, the National Firearms Act of 1934 has made private ownership of full-automatic Thompson M1s next to impossible. The first test of the Thompson in Ireland was performed by Irish Republican Army unit commander Tom Barry, of the West Cork Brigade, in the presence of IRA leader Michael Collins. The Ruger 10/22 Takedown: Worlds Best Survival Gun? The magazine was either a circular drum that held 50 or 100 rounds or a box that held 20 or 30 rounds. After the Ordnance Department's official adoption of the M3 submachine gun, Thompson production was scheduled to be concluded in July of 1943. Army Ordnance approved adoption (as the M1) in April 1942. Thompson M1 will not accept drum magazines. Amongst the replica submachine guns and assault rifles made by Denix that we will be stocking are: NOTE: Images used of SMG and Assault Rifles until we have sales stock are of Denix guns that have been given aged and worn finishes for film and TV use. Submachine Guns: History & Notable Models - Pew Pew Tactical [80]:Part 1.86[81]. There are disciplines in government approved sport shooting rulebooks that allow this type to be used, therefore the gun can be bought by sport shooters, too. In World War 2 the Tommy Gun as it was often known, was popular with soldiers as a relatively compact automatic weapon with a hard hitting .45 round. If you've ever shot an original "Tommy Gun" or owned one of Auto-Ordnance's M1927A1 semiautos, it could be argued that the best reason to own one that fires .22LR is that it doesn't require a fortune to shoot. The M1A1, standardized in October 1942 as the United States Submachine Gun, Cal. Contrary to public opinion, the Thompson submachine gun was not only used by Prohibition-era gangsters. This categorization also legally allows it to have 1921 or 1928 style foregrip equipped, unlike other "pistol style" Thompson variants, without an AOW (Any Other Weapon) Tax Stamp. He envisioned it as being a fully automatic rifle in order to replace the bolt-action service rifles then in use (such as the American M1903 Springfield). All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. For the Korean TV series, see. As a long gun, it can be bought by hunters (even if it cannot be used to actually hunt for legal reasons). They shipped their remaining stocks to arm the forces of Lon Nol's Khmer Republic in 1975. The U.S. Army adopted the Thompson submachine gun in 1928. These models retain a similar appearance to the original models, but have various modifications in order to comply with US firearm laws. M1A1 .45 Caliber Thompson Submachine Gun and Manual Assembly is so simple, even I was able to transform my 10/22 into a Thompson M1 in less than an hour. The new 9mm suppressor can mount easily to any pistol barrel threaded x28 inches and doesn't compromise on sound suppression, gas blowback or recoil. These were basic, open-bolt, blowback designs. Brigadier general John T. Thompson was the original developer of the Thompson submachine gun, who spent most of his career in the ordnance department of the U.S. Army. Military Police were fond of it, as were paratroopers, who "borrowed" Thompsons from members of mortar squads for use on patrols behind enemy lines. The TaurusTX 22 Compact delivers class-leading reliability, capacity, and shootability in a 22 LR platform, and it's cut for a slide-mounted mini red dot. While other weapons had been developed shortly prior with similar objectives in mind, the Thompson was the first weapon to be labeled and marketed as a "submachine gun". It was also depicted in Hollywood films during this era, most notably regarding the St Valentine's Day Massacre. [53] In the U.S. Army, many Pacific War jungle patrols were originally equipped with Thompsons in the early phases of the New Guinea and Guadalcanal campaigns, but soon began employing the Browning Automatic Rifle in its place as a point defense weapon. Fifteen thousand were produced by Colt for Auto-Ordnance. No ATF Form 4473 is required, as the purchasers existing 10/22 action and barrel are used (the slip-on receiver doesnt hide the rifles serial number). We are excited to be stocking a great range of Denix replica submachine guns and assault rifles starting in 2021. This really is a museum-quality. During the Troubles (19691998), the Thompson was again used by the Irish Republican paramilitaries. A Look Back at the Thompson Submachine Gun They were then captured and used by the Khmer Rouge. In the 1930s, Taiyuan Arsenal (a Chinese weapons manufacturer) produced copies of the Thompson for Yan Xishan, then warlord of Shanxi province. I also added a Thompson sling to make it look like the Thompson Nicolas Cage carried in Windtalkers. [69], A .3006 variant was intended as a rival to the M1918 BAR. It weighed almost 10 pounds (4.5 kg) empty and fired .45-calibre ammunition. The frame and receiver are milled from solid steel or aluminum, the wood is genuine American walnut, and the overall finish is a blued steel or black anodized aluminum. During the Korean War, US troops were surprised to encounter communist Chinese troops armed with Thompsons (amongst other captured US-made Nationalist Chinese and American firearms), especially during unexpected night-time assaults which became a prominent Chinese combat tactic in the conflict. by R. Blake Stevens Collector Grade Publications (2004). John Taliaferro Thompson was born on Dec. 31, 1860, in Newport, Ky., to a military family. Under federal regulations, these changes make the Model 1927A1 legally a rifle and remove it from the federal registry requirements of the National Firearms Act. The real challenge was the lower-velocity benchrest loads that don't break 1,000 feet per second (fps). The guns were also shipped to various hardware stores in the region. Ruger 10/22 Thompson Submachine Gun Conversion Kit An example known as the "Calibre .30 Short Rifle" was based on the M1921/27 variants. The Ultimate Guide To Pistol Caliber Carbines (PCCs) & Submachine Guns Ammunition was manufactured in Australia or obtained from adjacent American troops. [77] The original Model 1927 is classified as a machine gun under the National Firearms Act of 1934 (a) by being "readily convertible" by swapping parts and (b) by a 1982 BATF ruling making all open bolt semi-automatic firearms manufactured after the date of this ruling classified as machine guns. [28] Thompson intended for the weapon to provide a high volume of automatic, man-portable fire for use in trench warfarea role for which the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) had been determined ill-suited. The reinforced stock and protective sight wings were standard. This functional non-firing replica is a Collectors Armoury exclusive product. cyclic rate of fire and handling qualities. The submachine gun is not grandfathered like in the U.S., only the owner. 21AC, at the original price of $200. Thompson Mag Thompson 45 ACP 20-Round Steel Blue - MidwayUSA Colt M1921AC Thompson with a 100-round drum magazine. The Best of both worlds: After nearly 4 years of waiting, Dan Wesson's DWX is here. Incredible Thompson Submachine Gun Collection :: Guns.com Build your custom Tommy Gun. The Thompson M1 was used victoriously in battles throughout the world, ensuring its place for eternity as a legend among military firearms. In addition, the Soviet Union received M1928A1s, included as standard equipment with the M3 light tanks obtained through Lend-Lease. Original U.S. WWII Thompson SMG Five Cell 20 Round Magazine Pouch: Unmarked. The . Only the fully automatic version is a prohibited weapon. [66] The M1928A1 Thompson drum magazine was rather fragile, and cartridges tended to rattle inside it, producing unwanted noise. Everything else comes with the kit, including simple 10-step instructions and socket wrenches for tightening the replacement screws. The slots adjoining the magazine well allowing the use of a drum magazine were removed. It featured an aluminum receiver to reduce weight. There are other benefits to owning a Standard Manufacturing Model 1922, as well. From $59.95. The .38 Smith & Wesson Special, designed in 1898, rocked the handgun realm with its ballistic performance making it a cartridge for the history books. Magazines are held in place by an extension that fits into a cutout in the rifle so that there's no chance they'll loosen. The Viet Cong liked the weapon and used both captured models as well as manufacturing their own copies in small jungle workshops.[61]. They are also famously associated with the US Army in WW2 including many famous Airborne and special units. "The Tommy Gun in Jungle Warfare: The Use and Usefulness of the Thompson Submachine Gun for Australian Soldiers on the Kokoda Trail, New Guinea, 1942,", Rice, Glenn E. "$210K for Bonnie & Clyde Tommy Gun, shotgun", The Ultimate Thompson Book by Tracie L. Hill, sfn error: no target: CITEREFSmith1969p461 (, As mentioned in a notorious reportage on the death of outlaw, sfn error: no target: CITEREFSmith1969p516 (, "Thompson Submachine Gun: Principles of Operation 1943", running various parts of the fragmented country, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Front de Libration de la Cte des Somalis, List of U.S. Army weapons by supply catalog designation, "Diario de la Guerra de Honduras: 30 de enero-30 de abril 1924, Mario Rivas", "Forgotten History of Thompson SMG in Secret Police and Army of Soviet Russia", "Silah Report Podcast V33: Iranian Submachine Guns (19411979)", "SOMALIA: Weapons We Used, Weapons We Captured", "Surveying the Battlefield: Illicit Arms In Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia", "Full Power/Full Auto: The Thompson Goes Metric And the MP5 Goes American", "Digital Resources: The Sandino Rebellion Digital Historical Archive, Nicaragua, 19271934", "Development of the Thompson Submachine Gun", "An Official Journal Of The NRA | Guns of the Battle of Blair Mountain", " : - ", "St. Valentine's Day Massacre: Tale of two guns", "Thompson Submachine Gun: The Tommy Gun Goes to War", "12 Viet Cong Homemade Thompson Submachine Gun", "Thompson "Tommy Gun" SMG .30 Carbine Version -", M1 Vs M1A1 Thompson Submachine Gun Cyclic rate, "Submachine guns of UK BSA Thompson 1926 Thompson 1928A1 Lanchester Sten and Sterling", List of Restricted and Prohibited Firearms, "Handvuurwapens van de Belgische Rijkswacht", "MEMRIA E IDENTIDADE NA TRAJETRIA DOS RFOS DE PAU DE COLHER: ACONTECIMENTOS, PESSOAS, LUGARES", "Police Small Arms Arsenals in the Northern Central American Triangle", http://www.ilcassetto.it/notizia.php?tid=148, ":: Revista Militar::-Revistas As Indstrias Militares e As Armas de Fogo", " , ( 1)", "Viet Cong Weaponry: 14 Small Arms From the Vietnam War", "The American "Tommy Gun" In The Pak-Afghan Region Report", "La fusillade de Loyada: Quelle balle a tu? When the trigger is depressed, the bolt is released, traveling forward to chamber and simultaneously fire the first and subsequent rounds until either the trigger is released or the ammunition is exhausted. This is a very nice replica ! The British Army criticized "the [magazine's] excessive weight, [and] the rattling sound they made" and shipped thousands back to the U.S. in exchange for 20-round box magazines. If you know nothing about the 1928 Thompson other than what it looks like you will like this replica. Colonel Thompson's Submachine Gun and How it Changed the World For example, the receiver is made from aluminum, which means that there is considerable weight savings as compared to a similarly configured .45-caliber Tommy Gun. The New York City Police Department was the largest purchaser of the M1919. [54], The Army introduced the U.S. M3 and M3A1 submachine guns in 1943 with plans to produce the latter in numbers sufficient to cancel future orders for the Thompson, while gradually withdrawing it from the first-line service. "Tommy Gun" redirects here. It's about half the scale of a real Thompson Model 1921 submachine gun that it mimics. This is a very nice replica that is a great conversation and display piece. from United States [58] Later by Indonesian infiltrators during the 1965 IndonesiaMalaysia confrontation.[59]. .45, M1. Jun 16. The Thompson, popularly nicknamed the "Tommy Gun", is an American submachine gun that was designed by John Talliaferro Thompson and produced by the Auto-Ordnance Corporation. Late M1s had triangular guard wings added to the rear L sight, which were standardized on the M1A1. Predictably, Standard's 1922 worked with standard and high-velocity loads. In the field, some soldiers would tape two "XX" magazines together, in what would be known as "jungle style", to quicken magazine changes. The Model 1927A3 is a semi-automatic, .22 caliber version of the Thompson produced by Auto-Ordnance in West Hurley. There are several U.S. made automatic and semi-automatic variants, copies, or replicas. Many variations have been noted within this model. [26], The Thompson was widely adopted by the U.S. armed forces during World War II, and was also used extensively by other Allied troops during the war. The "Tommy's" Thompson. The original Model 1928s were Model 1921s with weight added to the actuator, which slowed down the cyclic rate of fire, a United States Navy requirement. They began producing copies of the Thompson in small quantities for use by their armies and militias. The United Defense M42, sometimes known as the Marlin for the company that did the actual manufacturing, was an American submachine gun used during World War II. Bill Vanderpool. The bandits violently opposed any attempts to build roads near their territory.[45]. [26] This was the weapon Brigadier General Thompson demonstrated at Camp Perry in 1920. Reloading an empty drum with cartridges was a difficult and involved process in which the 50 rounds would be inserted and then the magazine wound up until a minimum of 9 to 11 loud "clicks" were heard before seating the magazine into the weapon. By the spring of 1942, cost-reduction design changes had brought this down to $70. The Thompson submachine gun is one of the most iconic American guns ever produced. Stocky's Owner Don Bitz walks David Faubion through the company's new rifle stocks for 2023. "The FBI and the Thompson Submachine Gun". The trigger was good but heavier than expected at 5.2 pounds. (Scott can do it in 10 minutes.) It is now effectively impossible for a firearm of this type to be legally possessed by a member of the general public, except in certified deactivated condition or where specifically manufactured as a semi-automatic in caliber .22LR. First issued in 1943, the M1 uses a simple blowback operation, with the charging handle moved to the side. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Certain M1s had issues with high rate of fire climbing up to ~800 RPM. [51] Thompsons were also given to the Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Australian Navy. Police say they will try and work out how four machine guns came to be buried at Lake Hume. The flip-up adjustable Lyman rear sight was replaced with a fixed L sight. It fired the more powerful .45 RemingtonThompson cartridge which fired a heavier 250gr (0.57oz; 16g) bullet at muzzle velocities of about 1,450ft/s (440m/s) and energy about 1,170ftlb (1,590J), with greater range than the .45 ACP. According to historian Peter Hart, "The Thompson remained a key part of both the Official IRA and Provisional IRA arsenals until well into the 1970s when it was superseded by the Armalite and the AK-47. Where to Buy A Tommy Gun - 2023 - USA Gun Shop Now, you're ready to fire. The Rugers front sight is retained, and the rear sight is a .040-inch peep held by two screws that allow for slight windage adjustments; elevation is set for 25 yards. A fully automatic firearm that has been converted to semi-automatic fire, such as the Model 1927, is prohibited by the Firearms Act 1988, as is any centre-fire purpose-made semi-automatic weapon, such as the Model 1927A1. These guns were used during the Yugoslav Wars in the 1990s. General Thompson's gun was about to face its greatest challenge. .45, M1A1, could be produced in half the time of the M1928A1, and at a much lower cost. Since rimfire ammunition varies greatly in pressures and velocities, building a gun that effectively cycles a range of ammunition deserves credit be given to engineering, especially when having to work another firearm's appearance and ergonomics. The 1928A1 LTD is a civilian semi-automatic conversion by Luxembourg Defense Technology (LuxDefTec) in Luxembourg. Mar 17. On these guns, the model number "1921" on the receiver was updated by stamping an "8" over the last "1". [56], During the Greek Civil War, the Thompson submachine gun was used by both sides. [68] However, it was turned down without testing due to logistical problems. However, users complained that it was limited in capacity. Thompson submachine gun for Sale - International Military Antiques I was skeptical at first, because it's so inexpensive. Payne then replaced the actuator with one that was heavier, and replaced the recoil spring with one that was stiffer; the changes reduced the rate of fire from 800 to the 600rpm of the U.S. Navy Model 1928. Opens in a new window or tab. Omissions? Chris Johnson, FN Senior Product Manager, walks us through two new FN striker-fired pistols at SHOT Show 2023: the FN 510 Tactical, chambered in 10mm Auto, and the FN 545 Tactical, chambered in .45 ACP. Auto-Ordnance's contract price for the M1 Thompson was $42.94 each. 562,511 were made. In the Malayan Campaign, the Burma Campaign and the Pacific Theater, Lend-Lease-issue Thompsons were used by the British Army, Indian Army, Australian Army infantry and other Commonwealth forces. The British had used improvised bolts or wood screws to reinforce M1928 stocks. August 8, 2018. [52] The U.S. Marines also used the Thompson as a limited-issue weapon, especially during their later island assaults. Instead, the weapon, popularly dubbed the Tommy gun, became infamous during the U.S.