Description
Physical description
Thompson Model 1928 SMG, fitted with Cutts compensator, hand-carved replacement vertical foregrip
Label
The Thompson submachine-gun was developed as a result of efforts by retired US General, John T Thompson to produce a lightweight automatic rifle. Thompson wished to exploit a locking mechanism for firearms patented by John B Blish. This invention employed a sliding wedge in the bolt of the weapon to exploit the 'metallic adhesion' of certain metals under high pressure, retarding the rearward motion of the bolt until pressure in the barrel had dropped to a safe level. Thompson's plans to build rifles never came to fruition, but an adaptation of the system to produce a 'Submachine-gun' (the name was apparently coined by Thompson himself) firing .45 inch pistol cartridges was more successful. The early production (by Colt, under license from Thompson's Auto Ordnance Corporation) and marketing of the Thompson met with many difficulties, although it gained notoriety during the 1920s through its use by law enforcement agencies and gangsters. With a new European war looming, the failing Auto Ordnance Corporation was acquired by Russell Maguire, who arranged for production to be undertaken by the Savage Arms Corporation. Thus, from 1939 the Thompson was available to meet urgent demands by both the British and, later, the US and armed forces for submachine-guns. By 1941 demand was such that Auto Ordnance began production itself, in parallel with Savage. However, the gun was expensive to produce and, after being produced in simplified form, was superseded by more modern designs. This example, built by the Savage Arms Corporation, is one of many thousands purchased for use by the British armed forces. It later came into the hands of the National Organization of Cypriot Fighters (EOKA), from home it was seized by the Cyprus Police Force in 1957 during the Cyprus Emergency. The orignal wooden fore-grip has been replaced with a hand-carved substitute.
History note
Seized by the Cyprus Police during the Cyprus Emergency. The butt bears an inscription which could be a Cyprus Police evidence number.
Stamped on left side of receiver
MODEL OF 1928 over No. S-134114 & THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN CALIBRE .45 AUTOMATIC CARTRIDGE
Stamped on left side of receiver
W inside a crown mark
Stamped on right side of receiver
AUTO-ORDNANCE CORPORATION BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, U.S.A [& patent nos.]
Stamped on top of receiver
Thompson "bullet" trade mark
Scratched on right of butt
L410/57
Stamped on left of butt and rear grip
104/59