Page 342 - 4093-BOOK1

340
LOT 390
Documented Law Enforcement Shipped Colt
Model 1921/1928 U.S. Navy Overstamp Thompson
Submachine Gun, Class III/NFA C&R Fully
Transferable Machine Gun - Serial no. 8477, 45 ACP
cal., 10 1/2 inch fluted bbl., blue finish, walnut stock.
Originally manufactured by Colt as a Model 1921
Thompson SMG, one of a number stuck in inventory
due to sluggish sales; while today the Thompson is
recognized as an American classic and one of the all-
time finest “heavy metal” SMGs, at the time it was a
novel, untested and expensive weapon, and few were
willing to roll the dice. The U.S. Marine Corps was an
early adopter, and the firm attempted to capitalize on
the connection by adding “U.S. NAVY” markings to their
1921s, updating the features based on USMC feedback,
and overstamping the “1921” to “1928” to match their
newer model. According to Herigstad’s “Colt Thompson
Submachine Gun Serial Numbers and Histories” (page
834), this particular Thompson was shipped to the
Police Department of Charleston, South Carolina, on an
unspecified date, as part of a 3-piece order. It was later
recorded in the inventory of Robert Haines, Warren
Kreisler and TTI Corp of Las Vegas, the last record
being in 1986. Blade front sight on the Cutts-marked
compensator and a folding Lyman rear sight, showing
the signature cooling fins on the barrel, dual pistol
grips and quick-detachable buttstock with a small
“anchor” on the front. The left side of the receiver has
the aforementioned “U.S. NAVY” model markings ahead
of the 5-line address and caliber markings, with the
Thompson “bullet” logo on top and the Auto-Ordnance
address and 6-line patent markings on the right.