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Thompson M1928A1 question


krautpot
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Hi guys!

I am going to buy new "hardware".

There are some Thompsons coming back from Russia (lend and lease). A renowned seller offers deactivated M1928A1 in two different versions. One with the cooling rips on the barrel, the other one with "flat" barrel. Do you know which of these version was more common?

 

Michael

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Johan Willaert

Both are about equally common on WW2 ETO pictures... Same goes for rear sights, both adjustable and fixed without protective wings...

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The M28 was the earlier "gangster" model with the ribbed cooling fins on the barrel. They take the drum magazine and were seen all the way through the war although they are associated with the early part of the war.

The war mass produced M1a1 had the flat barrel, they are more common.

 

Both of mine came out of a salt mine in Russia, I expect from the same source.

 

Rich

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The smooth barrel on the 28A1 would have been very late in production of the 28 before they switched to the M1 style or a field replacement. As the war started they needed to cut down on production time and cost, hence the reason from a finned barrel to a smooth barrel. And later on to the M1.

 

If it was me get the finned barrel, more period correct. It looks cooler, and to me a smooth barrel on a 28 just looks weird.

 

But the Finned barrel will cost more.

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Johan Willaert

I believe topic starter is referring to the M1928A1 model which came with both finned and smooth barrel

 

Prices in Europe are roughly the samefor either model and absolutely not comparable to prices in the US.

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Johan and Rich, thanks for the quick replies! I think the smooth one will make the race, if it was common in ETO too. The MP with finned barrel looks way cooler, but I dont want to pay 200€ more for it. Question is answerd, thanks a lot! :)

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Try and find a copy of American Thunder II by Frank Iannamico, it is a book that will go a long way in answering your questions about Thompsons. The book is currently out of print but copies do pop up on Ebay occasionally.

 

You may also want to check out Machinegunboards.com which is a Thompson collectors forum.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Poor pics, great Thompson! I will try to make better pictures in the next days. It looks unissued, there are only few storage marks on the wood.

post-3208-0-85783400-1372880443.jpg

post-3208-0-22683100-1372880459.jpg

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I think the smooth barrel looks more military, the earlier finned barrel looks more like the old gangster "Chicago type writer" look also used by civillian police.

 

the smooth barrel has more of a war time production look used by infantry

post-1885-0-51299900-1372890144.jpg

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Well, since that is my photo and my Thompson I can tell you all about that one. :) It is an early Savage 1928A1, approximately mid 1941 production, with a finned barrel. Serial number is S-187,XXX. Yes, it if fully functional.

 

The smooth barrels began to appear on Savage produced Thompsons at about the S-500,000 serial number. These are generally found with the simple L rear sight.

 

 

I think the smooth barrel looks more military, the earlier finned barrel looks more like the old gangster "Chicago type writer" look also used by civillian police.

 

the smooth barrel has more of a war time production look used by infantry

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Is this one a AOC or Savage? The AOC serial numbers begin with AO and Savage with S.

 

The trigger frame will also show two different markings for AOC or Savage. AOC will have "Full Auto" in a single line while Savage has this in a double line.

 

Poor pics, great Thompson! I will try to make better pictures in the next days. It looks unissued, there are only few storage marks on the wood.

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Is this one a AOC or Savage? The AOC serial numbers begin with AO and Savage with S.

 

The trigger frame will also show two different markings for AOC or Savage. AOC will have "Full Auto" in a single line while Savage has this in a double line.

 

Then its a Savage. Serial number 528xxx. By the way, I didnt knew that a Thompson weighs so much. It feels almost as heavy like my massive SAFN 49.

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They are a bit hefty but extremely reliable. With that serial number the smooth barrel and L sight are appropriate.

 

 

 

Then its a Savage. Serial number 528xxx. By the way, I didnt knew that a Thompson weighs so much. It feels almost as heavy like my massive SAFN 49.

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  • 4 months later...

Nice example of the type. Now all you need is a Kerr sling, some 30 rd mags, a mag pouch or bag and an oiler and you'll be good to go!

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Whats wrong with 20rd mags? You get them here for little money, they come along with the 5 cell magazine pouch. It think they are from the same sources in russia and the ucraine.

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There's nothing "wrong" with them at all. The 30rd mags just give the gun a different look...and were used more widely as the war progessed. You will often see pictures of 5 cell pouches with 30 rd sticks protruding from them...this was commonly done. The was a webbing bag made to carry the longer stick mags.

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