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LOT 377
Excellent Documented Law Enforcement Shipped Early Production “Mirror” Low Three Digit Serial Number 202 Colt Model 1921AC Thompson Submachine Gun, Class III/NFA C&R Fully Transferable Machine Gun, with FBI Case and Accessories - Serial no. 202, 45 ACP cal., 10 1/2 inch fluted bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. One of the most famous sub-machine guns in the world, the Thompson SMG rates as
one of the truly signature American weapons. While advancements
in manufacturing techniques and materials would allow later designs
to match or exceed the Thompson’s performance, none of them have managed to do the job with the same level of style and craftsmanship. The Thompson, a product of old-school hand craftsmanship, is virtually synonymous with the Roaring 20s and the Great Depression, being found
310 on both sides of the law during the “gangland” era of American history,
and also serving on all Allied fronts of World War II, where it stood tall among its more cost-effective stamped steel substitutes. The records
in Herigstad’s “Colt Thompson Submachine Gun” (page 55) show an unexplained double shipment, with the first record showing 202 as one of two shipped to the Minister of War in Bogata, Columbia on 28 April 1921, and the second record showing shipment in a 32-piece order to
the Pennsylvania State Police in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on 24 October 1921; a similar “double booking” shows in the other serial number noted for Colombia, and the items may have been returned and resold. Both listings show the item as a Model 1921A, with later records showing it in the 1921AC configuration as it is with the Cutts compensator. A property ticket for the Penn. State Police is present on the right side of the foregrip, which has been modified with the addition of a sling swivel added to the index finger position. Cutts compensator mounted blade front sight and
folding Lyman rear sight, with the model, serial number and manufacturer information on the left side of the frame and the Auto-Ordnance patents on the right. The trigger group is numbered to match the receiver, with checkered controls and a grooved pistol grip. Early fire select markings associated with early Colt manufacturing (reference page 5 of Cox’s book, “The Thompson Submachine Gun” for another example pictured). The internals are 1921 specification, including the oiler and Blish Lock, with
a bright polished bolt. As noted, the foregrip is labeled “PENNA. STATE POLICE/PROPERTY TICKET NO./002046”, with a detachable Remington burled walnut buttstock bearing a small “anchor” stamp on the front. Includes a New York “L” 50-round drum magazine, a period nickel oiler in the buttstock compartment, a black leatherette FBI transport hard case, four period 20-round stick magazines, period cleaning rod, and assorted papers/correspondence.