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LOT 1355
Extremely Rare Well-Documented Experimental Prototype Auto-Ordnance .30
Carbine Caliber Thompson U.S. Light Rifle Trials Submachine Gun, Serial Number
“2”, Class III/NFA C&R Fully Transferable Machine Gun, as Featured in “Thompson:
The American Legend” - Serial no. 2, 30 M1 Carbine cal., 14 1/2 inch round bbl., blue
finish, walnut stock. Developed c. 1940-1941, this is one of two Auto-Ordnance designs
that were prepared in response to an October 1940 U.S. Ordnance Department request
that set off a series of trials and evaluations that culminated in the adoption of the
Winchester-designed M1 Carbine. Essentially a “personal defense weapon (PDW)” before
the term was formally coined, the “lightweight semi-automatic rifle” described by the
request was intended for troops too close to the action for a pistol to be a suitable
defense, but whose tasks would make a full sized rifle a burden; evolutions in warfare
meant that the static front line was no sure defense for a man hauling ammunition or
performing equipment maintenance, as a paratrooper insertion, motorized breakthrough
or night infiltration could bring the fight directly to them.
Collector’s Fact
Two Auto-Ordnance designs that were prepared in
response to an October 1940 Ordnance Department
request which ultimately resulted in the adoption of
the Winchester-designed M1 Carbine.
One of the prepared
models is pictured and
described in M1 Carbine:
Design, Development &
Production by Ruth
312