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LOT 384
Colt Model 1921/1928 U.S. Navy Over Stamp Thompson Submachine Gun, Class III/NFA C&R Fully Transferable Machine Gun, with Case and
Drum and Stick Magazines - Serial no. 12489, 45 ACP cal., 10 1/2 inch fluted bbl., blue finish, walnut stock, walnut grips. This is just a beautiful example of
an exceptionally nice Colt/Auto Ordnance Thompson Model 1921/1928 US Navy over stamp submachine gun. This specific submachine gun was originally
produced in the 1921 configuration, and later, over stamped with “U.S. NAVY/MODEL OF 1928”. This model came into being because of the lagging sales for the
1921 series of SMG and the fact that the U.S. Marine Corps successfully used many of these SMGs in Nicaragua. Based on that the Auto Ordnance company began to remark their inventory with the intent of peaking sales interest to various police and government agencies. Per the records in Herigstad’s Colt Thompson Serial Numbers & Histories, Volume One (page 999), this Thompson was shipped to the Huntsville Police Department of Huntsville, Alabama on July 24, 1936. The basic difference is that the 1928 configuration has a slightly reduced cyclic rate of fire. These Thompson SMGs were probably one of the best SMGs ever manufactured as they have beautifully machined and hand fitted parts. They all have a distinctive deep rich blue metal finish with the bolt remaining in the white and excellent deep dark brown walnut fore grip, pistol grip and buttstock. This specific example still retains the distinctive Thompson features that are so easily recognizable in the gangster and WWII war movies such as the short 10 1/2 inch barrel with circular cooling fins and the patented Auto Ordnance ported compensator on the end, the vertical pistol grip, the detachable buttstock and the fully adjustable Thompson ladder rear sight that is graduated from 100-600 yards. The left side of the receiver is marked “U.S. NAVY/MODEL OF 1921” with the ‘8’ stamped over stamped on “1” in 1921, with the serial number “12489” below the marking block. The left rear portion of the receiver is marked: “THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN,/CALIBER .45 AUTOMATIC COLT CARTRIDGE/MANUFACTURED BY/COLT’S PATENT FIRE ARMS MFG. CO./HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.”, the right side is marked with the five lines of patent dates along with the two line “AUTO-ORDNANCE CORPORATION./NEW YORK U.S.A”. The top of the receiver is marked with “THOMPSON” inside their “bullet” logo. This example comes with an original brass cleaning rod, three 30 round magazines, one 50 round drum magazine, and a reproduction FBI style storage/carrying case.
CONDITION: Very fine with 90% plus of the original
blue finish on the receiver with wear on the edges
and high spots with the replacement barrel being
reblued. The markings are clear and sharp. The
wood components are all in very fine condition
with a nice deep dark brown color overall showing
only minor scrapes on the lower sides of the
pistol grip. Mechanically excellent. The various
accessories are all in excellent condition. The case
is a near mint reproduction. NOTE: This weapon is a
National Firearms Act (NFA), fully transferable Class
3, which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATFE) that
is classified as a “Curios or Relic” as defined in 27
CFR, 478.11. These weapons are still subject to the
provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27
CFR part 478.
Estimate: 40,000 - 60,000
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