Known as the ‘Tommy Gun’ this weapon was designed to meet the need of close up fighting in the trenches of World War One. Because the fighting was at close range a pistol cartridge was sufficient and General John Thompson initiated the development of an automatic weapon using the standard 0.45 in cartridge. Designed after the end of World War One all development was aimed at the commercial market. The gang warfare that followed the introduction of prohibition in the USA brought fame and notoriety for the Tommy Gun - glorified by Hollywood in all gangster films. The police were obliged to use the Tommy Gun but the army showed little interest until 1928. The Model 1928 was a complex piece of gunsmithing with a complicated blow back mechanism and unnecessary refinements such as the cuff’s compensator and calibrated rear sight.
Marks and Stamps: (top of compensator) AUTO-ORDNANCE. CORPORATION TRADE CUTTS MARK PAT. NOV.1928 No.1.605.393 PAT. JULY 19.1922 No.1.636.357 Thompson TRADE MARK (Top of receiver) Thompsomn trade mark TOMMY GUN (L side of receiver) US MODEL OF 1928A1 Serial no THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN CALIBRE .45 AUTOMATIC CARTRIDGE (R side of receiver) AUTO-ORDNANCECORPORATION BRIDGEPORT.CONNECTICUT.U.S.A. U.S.PATENTS 1,131,319 1,352,414 1,338,866 1,357,208 1,340,891 1,363,809 1,340,943 1,403,623 1,347,754 1,406,546 1.349.345 1,408,276 1,807,821| Accession Number: 165 | Period of Use: 1928 - present |
| Type: Machine pistol/SMG | War Zones: Second World War; Malaya; Korea; Indo-China |
| Country of Origin: USA | Type Date: 1928 |
| Manufacturer: Auto-Ordnance Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn. | Serial Number: S-214656 |
| Manufacture Date: Unknown | Calibre/Ammunition: 0.45" ACP |
| Weight: 4880g | Length Overall: 857mm |
| Cyclic Rate: 800rpm | Length Barrel: 266mm |
| Deactivation Certificate Number: DA 17236 |