However, without the foresight and fortitude of John Thompson the gun would never have been conceived.
![thompson center serial number dates thompson center serial number dates](http://p-38.info/BTH12/images/bth12-4.jpg)
Auto-Ordnance’s Chief engineer, Theodore Eickoff, with the help of his staff, perfected the design into a working weapon. While the famous submachine gun bears Thompson’s name, the weapon was actually designed by Oscar Payne, an employee of Auto-Ordnance. 45 ACP caliber machine gun, that was to become the famous Thompson Submachine Gun. Thompson formed the original Auto-Ordnance Corporation in 1916 with the intent of developing a semi-automatic military rifle dubbed the Auto-Rifle. Adding to the confusion are the more recently manufactured full-auto Thompson guns that were produced by the modern Auto-Ordnance Corporation formerly of West Hurley, New York.įormer U.S. There is however, a lot of confusion on actual manufacturers and other aspects of the guns, especially when the Auto-Ordnance name is mentioned. Even non-enthusiasts are familiar the Thompson. The Thompson Submachine Gun is probably one of the most recognized submachine guns in the world. More detailed information on each variation of these guns will be forthcoming in future articles. This article is a basic guide on how to identify a particular model and manufacturer of a Thompson Submachine Gun. Thompsons manufactured by the Auto-Ordnance Corporation, West Hurley, New York from 1975 to 1986. Thompsons manufactured by the Auto-Ordnance Corporation, Bridgeport, Connecticut from 1941 to 1944. Thompsons manufactured by the Savage Arms Corporation from 1940 to 1944. Thompsons manufactured by Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company from 1921 to 1922. There are four basic categories of the 19 Thompson Submachine Guns all were marked with the Auto-Ordnance Corporation name regardless of who manufactured them. This is part one of a two part series of articles on how to identify a Thompson Submachine by the markings on their receivers. Better yet, if you have Thompson articles you want to see, email me at and I will bug Frank about it- Dan In the meantime, please enjoy this series- I have to go email Frank about what his next one will be.
![thompson center serial number dates thompson center serial number dates](https://pictures.abebooks.com/inventory/17700124958.jpg)
There were 1919 Thompsons, 1923 Thompsons, 9mm and 30 caliber Thompsons, and all sorts of others, which are well covered in Tracie Hill’s book “ Thompson: The American Legend”. These first two parts cover identifying the Thompsons you are apt to run across in the normal course of being a collector. Hahahahahaha! We plan to chain him to his computer and get a whole series on this. He has also submitted a series of articles on the Identification of the Thompsons- and he thinks it will be a two part series. “ American Thunder: The Military Thompson Submachineguns” is available from Small Arms Review, we published it. Frank Iannamico has recently finished what is the definitive work on the Military Thompsons.