Sponsor Special: Airsoft Tommy Gun

There is no denying that the Thompson Submachine Gun is one of the most iconic weapons of the Second World War. However, for display purposes it can be a little expensive and those semi-automatic versions are a lot of fun to shoot but don’t quite look right.

A good alternative is the newly made Airsoft versions, which our friends at International Military Antiques offer. This weekend’s special is the Airsoft Tommy Gun.

New Made Item: This is an AEG (Airsoft Electric Gun) that shoots .20 gram Plastic BBs at 400-430-465 fps (feet per second). This model manufactured by Cybergun and imported by Palco Sports is a very accurate replica and is constructed of metal and plastic. The weight and feel are true to the US WW2 issue Thompson M1A1. The battery is stored in the stock for balance and realism.

The Thompson submachine gun is an American submachine gun, invented by John T. Thompson in 1919 that became infamous during the Prohibition era. It was a common sight of the time, being used by both law enforcement officers and criminals.[1] The Thompson was also known informally as: the “Tommy Gun,” the “Trench Broom,” the “Trench Sweeper,” the “Chicago Piano,” the “Chicago Typewriter,” and the “Chopper.” The Thompson was favored by soldiers, criminals and police alike for its ergonomics, compactness, large .45 ACP cartridge, and high volume of automatic fire and among civilian collectors for its historical significance. This replica is true to the original and comes complete with horizontal foregrip, side cocking indicator and smooth barrel. The SMG also boasts an adjustable rear sight, steel gears, a metal gearbox, and a high-cap stick magazine. The rifle is powered by the included NiMH battery and includes a charger. The rifle can go from semi automatic to full automatic with the flip of a switch!

A Thompson M1A1 is a must have for any collection of WW 2 small arms. IMA offers numerous Thompson accessories, including slings, bandoleers, carriers, and much more!

Thompson M1A1 Features:

Model # 71015
Full original Thompson Logos and Trademarks
Individual unique Serial Number
Full Metal Frame Construction
Full metal body with simulated wood grain finish
Gearbox: Fully Upgradeable Metal Gearbox
Full metal gear box with reinforced steel gears and metal bushings
Accurate Replica very close in feel to an original
Adjustable Hop-Up
Type of fire: Semi & Full Auto
NiMH Stick Battery Included
Standard Wall Charger Included
Velocity 430+ fps (0.2 g BB)
Stick Magazine Included
Package Includes: Gun, Magazine, Battery, Charger & Cleaning Rod

 

IMA-USA: Airsoft Thompson M1A1 AEG: U.S. WW2 SMG w/ Stick Magazine

Vintage Ad Campaign

Just a little something to show how much the acceptance of guns has changed in this nation. The above ad campaign obviously pre-dated the 1934 National Firearms Act. It is interesting to note that Auto-Ordnance Corporation was even located in New York City.

Sponsor Special: Original WWII Thompson M1928 Display SMG

Tommy’s got his gun, or rather you can get Tommy’s Gun, or actually you can get a Tommy Gun. Oh never mind.

The point is that this week International Military Antiques brought out what can only be called a true “must have” display submachine gun, a World War II Thompson M-1928. Built on original parts and reassembled with a fantastic non-functioning new made anodized aluminum display receiver, this one looks like it is ready to sweep the beaches of the South Pacific or jump into Normandy.

Perfect for display, this gun is built up from original World War II era parts that include the detachable walnut butt stock, complete lower frame assembly, walnut pistol grip, Lyman L sight, finned barrel, Cutts compensator and walnut horizontal fore grip. The display gun comes with a 20 round magazine.

This product was only recently added to IMA’s stock, and we don’t think it will stick around long, so jump on these while you can.

Original World War II Thompson M1928 Display SMG at IMA-USA.com

Did Australia Destroy Firearms Used in The Pacific?

(UPDATED: Weapons Confiscated were from the film The Great Raid)

As news continues to (barely) flow about the reported ban on the importation of vintage M1 rifles from South Korea news has surfaced that many other vintage World War II era equipment was recently destroyed in Australia.

At the Historicon Convention, historian consultant Dale Dye reportedly related his troubles with the Australian government. Apparently Dye had imported scads of World War II era rifles, Thompson submachine guns and other firearms from Korea to use in filming The Pacific, which aired earlier this year on HBO. When the time came to leave Australia the government confiscated all of them, and had the firearms cut up into scrap metal!

And we thought the American gun buybacks were bad news for collectors!

Updated: We spoke with Dale Dye, who clarified:

“It wasn’t The Pacific but it was the film The Great Raid, which was also filmed in Australia. I was told that after production wrapped the Australian government confiscated the firearms and these were ‘dealt with.’ I told that to mean destroyed. That’s what I was told, but I can’t confirm for a fact that the guns were in fact destroyed. As for the weapons used in The Pacific, those did in fact come home with us.”

Who Guards the Guards: Sheriff’s Office Sells Tommy Gun for $20,000

The Citizen’s Voice of Luzerne County in Pennsylvania is reporting that the acting sheriff has come under fire for “keeping poor records of gun possessed” by the department. This comes after it was found that the former sheriff had agreed to sell a Thompson submachine gun in 2009 for $20,000. The paper didn’t say whether the buyer could legally own a fully automatic weapon or whether it was a semi-automatic version, although it was described as being an “antique” suggesting it was fully automatic.

Let’s see if the mainstream media picks up on this story.