I am approaching 60 years old....when I about 8 years old my father had one of those Shop Smith wood working machines......He made me an all wood Thompson....Many years later I purchased a 1928 Semi Auto Thompson.......I have half a dozen pictures of my father shooting the Thompson with a grin that you could not erase

@Ava-uq5dh

18 күн бұрын

Oh that's wonderful. Thank you for sharing. It seems this gun has a certain captivating quality! I've found Ian's comment sections, as well as The Chieftain/Nicholas Moran (a former tanker turned historian) often bring out some lovely memories and stories from commenters and I always have such a nice time reading them. My (now 60 year old as well) father was given a Lee Enfield to fire as part of the Scouts (or a similar organisation, I'll have to ask him) when he was 8 and nowadays he's frankly shocked he was allowed to! He couldn't lift it much at all, and almost fell over from the recoil even considering its mass. A funny, though hair raising tale. His father, who encouraged him into it never talked much of the war, nor the Korean war of which he also fought in as a medic, as due to his faith he would not fire upon another man in anger. After his passing we found an enormous NATO flag with all signatory nations stitched onto it, and where he'd been stationed as well as on leave marked, as well as large scrapbooks full of photographs from pre-war going all the way through until the early-mid 50s, detailing our English newspapers about Hitler coming to power, war brewing, and what he could find while overseas in France, Belgium, Germany, and small periods on leave whilst in Korea. Fascinating man with a quiet interest in contemporary events turned modern history that I miss dearly. Sorry for the run on text, few probably want to read such things! But I thought the talk of our forefathers fit.

@davefellhoelter1343

17 күн бұрын

RIP GREATEST Me Too! "I Miss You!" Ya'll Y"ALL!!

@jeffrogge8597

16 күн бұрын

I guess it's been almost 25 hrs since I ran across a brand new replica Thompson M1A1 for $750 in a gunstore downstate. Still kills me that I couldn't buy it; but two small kids and a mortgage came first

@kirkmooneyham

13 күн бұрын

When I was a kid, I actually made myself a Thompson out of wood. It was the "GI version" like the M1A1, of course. I also made a 1911 to go with it. The Thompson got messed up later on, but I still have my 1911, even has a small nail for a front sight. Very cool story you related, thanks for sharing.

I'm certain that Ian has an apartment in the Morphy's warehouse. He's wearing pajama bottoms and hiding a hot cup of cocoa.

@cbroz7492

17 күн бұрын

.most likely...

@spiderenigma2803

17 күн бұрын

he works there organizing the warehouse and gets permission from the seller or buyer to film the guns

@wierdalien1

17 күн бұрын

​@spiderenigma2803 pretty sure he doesn't work there

@bobskool

17 күн бұрын

Cot bed just out of shot

@zenjon7892

17 күн бұрын

Smoking jacket and globe liquor cabinet just outside the shot

I got to use one in Vietnam, it was a real A1, some one just showed up with 2 of them and 12 Magazines one day. He needed some Penicillin for the "Love Flu" and didn't want it on his Medical Records. So being the wise Corpsman I treated him for the prescribed amount of time and got the guns and gear. The Unit Armorer gave them a once over and they became very popular for patrols. They were still serving the Marines when my tour ended in 70.

@AdamBorseti

15 күн бұрын

That's a really good story, thanks for sharing! 👍🏻

@cbroz7492

4 күн бұрын

Medics and supply folks usually got over thusly..plenty of "trade bait"...

Us: "we simplified the Thompson at great expense" The British about to invent the sten: "haha, toob"

@genghiskhan6809

18 күн бұрын

US later in 1943 after inventing the M3 grease gun: hehe toob.

@MDzmitry

18 күн бұрын

The toob brotherhood The brothertoob?

@Tojoblindeye

18 күн бұрын

​ Fifteen bucks of freedom

@sharonrigs7999

18 күн бұрын

Soviets on PPS.....Da

@sharonrigs7999

18 күн бұрын

The ANZACs were also in the toob cult with the incredible Owen. Arguably, the best WW2 SMG. They were vastly preferred over the F1 in Vietnam.

I know this channel was originally for obscure weapons, but I really enjoy the episodes on much more common weapons too.

@ICECAPPEDSKY

17 күн бұрын

Sometimes it’s also common knowledge guns made by a very rare manufacturer. The channel has been around forever and never fails to educate and entertain

@TheBlinkMIDF

17 күн бұрын

Definitely, especially the M14 episode. I found that very informative with regards to how it was received in real life after having seen it games my whole life.

@qw3rty629

17 күн бұрын

ill never forget the comment on an older thompson video "Welcome back to forgotten weapons" "This is one of the most iconic submachine guns"

@TehIdiotOne

16 күн бұрын

@@ICECAPPEDSKY Also at some point you're going to run out of "Forgotten" or "Rare" weapons, so you kinda have to go to less obscure ones.

My grandfather (Beds & Herts Regiment) joined up in 1939 and was issued a Thompson. His only confirmed kill with it was as the pointman, creeping along a wooded road in France. A battered and bruised lone German officer stumbled out of the bushes and rapidly fired off his sidearm at point blank range. He somehow missed my grandad and his men, and the Thompson dropped him. Grandad said he emptied his entire mag into the German, then puked his guts out immediately while getting a pat on the back from his guys.

The rear sight is actually riveted in place, not spot welded. I own an M1 Thompson. It's a nice firing weapon. I actually have 3 bolts for my gun. The one shown here is the "shiny" bolt, and I have a shiny bolt, a blue bolt, and an M1A1 fixed firing pin bolt. I usually run it with the blue bolt and the hammer system which it came with when I bought it. I keep a couple spare barrels too just in case something tragic happens, and a lot of spare parts. Never needed them though. My dad carried an M1 Thompson in WWII. I have pictures of that, it's cool history.

@scottcallahan3470

17 күн бұрын

Thank you for clarification of the rear sight mounting. It is also my understanding that the cross bolt reinforcement of the stock was an A1 feature. Scott

@Dolphinvet

17 күн бұрын

@@scottcallahan3470 I believe that's correct on the cross bolt. My Thompson was a GI smuggle back. It was amnesty registered in '64 and someone put a 1928 bbl on it with Cutts compensator and the entire weapon was chromed. I had it rebuilt with the correct M1 bbl, stripped and put back into dark blue instead of a parkerized finish. My original lower had a cross bolt. No idea why someone would have thought a bright chrome finish on an M1 Thompson would look cool. The trigger and selector switches had been gold plated. Very strange to see on a military gun.

@recoilrob324

17 күн бұрын

@@Dolphinvet Back in the day....shiny was thought of as an improvement....hence the chrome Lugers, P38's and such that we used to see. You've got to admit that producing a chromed Thompson out of the case at the range would draw some attention...both good and bad.

@user-gl5yk5ys5b

16 күн бұрын

generally speaking, "shiny" thompson parts are just nickel steel

@user-gl5yk5ys5b

16 күн бұрын

@@Dolphinvet the stock cross bolt was introduced in mid-1943 on the M1A1 model.

Beware the “I needs my money, see?” To “Buy war bonds” pipeline

@angusmillerable

18 күн бұрын

"I need my money to buy war bonds."

@tomaspabon2484

17 күн бұрын

​@@angusmillerablePatriotic Gangster shakes down small businesses to buy war bonds, read all about it

according to my dad, this was my great-grandfathers favorite gun in ww2, he fought on Okinawa. Pretty crazy how if he didnt make it back i wouldn't be typing this comment right now

@goforbroke4428

17 күн бұрын

You owe your life to the Thompson submachine gun.

@benn454

17 күн бұрын

@@goforbroke4428 Just like Brandon Herrera owes his life to the M3 Grease Gun.

@rymanjones3

17 күн бұрын

@@goforbroke4428 thats what i was thinking, its pretty crazy. I heard a story that he was on patrol or something like that, and he spotted a machine gun nest and saw that they saw him, and thinking quickly he acted like he didn’t see them and waved behind him and said “cmon boys!” and kept going tricking them into waiting for the men to come behind him that weren’t there. He then snuck up above them and rolled a grenade into the position. Pretty awesome. He also had marksman badges and stuff and some purple hearts, one he earned in close quarters knife combat where he got his hand sliced open. I think he also carried a flamethrower at one point which is pretty crazy considering what the japs did if they caught someone with one. He brought back tons of pictures, two rifles, an officers sword + binos w/ case + revolver, and a katana that a family had given him as a gift I suppose while he dined with them. Pretty crazy stuff. We’ve got one of the rifles, its an early war Type 99 Arisaka with all matching serial numbers, anti aircraft sight ladder, and the dust cover all intact. I don’t even know how he managed to do it lol.

@1SilverDollar

17 күн бұрын

800 rounds per minute saved your family line.

@mfreund15448

17 күн бұрын

The Atom Bomb saved many family lineages.

“Part sinner part saint.” “The Thompson truly was the gun that made the Twenties roar.” -*Ahoy*

@nomadmarauder-dw9re

18 күн бұрын

I read the book by that title.

@kurtarnold4050

17 күн бұрын

It was also called the Chicago typewriter

Cool. My M1A1 started life as an M1. It then had an A1 crudely stamped on it when it was converted to M1A1

Years ago, I saw a set of a Thompson and a 1911 that were made to be sold as a package. I remember it being $1000. The day after the show, I was wondering if I should have bought that set. Now, I wish I would have.

@Tunechi_Lee

17 күн бұрын

You mean like 50 years ago?

@rodgersmith1573

16 күн бұрын

@@Tunechi_Lee 50 bucks says he's referring to a semi-auto 16" barrel Auto Ordnance, which is what makes the most sense. You're thinking he's referring to an open bolt MG? Highly unlikely. Even 50 years ago.

@gagekieffer772

15 күн бұрын

​@@rodgersmith1573 I mean you could still register machine guns back 50 years ago in the 1970's. It could have been a surplus Thompson that got into the civilian sector.

@zippymufo9765

13 сағат бұрын

​@@gagekieffer772Even in the 70's a thousand dollars was ridiculously low for a full auto Thompson.

Praise Ian for including SMG in the title. Otherwise I would have thought he was talking about the M1 rifle, or M1 Carbine, or M1 helmet, or the M1 bayonet, or iconic the M1 latex condom.

@vksasdgaming9472

18 күн бұрын

You forgot M1 main battle tank.

@Kataquan

18 күн бұрын

And the ever lovable M1 Flamethrower

@SnoopReddogg

18 күн бұрын

Very disappointed there was zero helmet content...

@bigpoppa1234

18 күн бұрын

And the rocket launcher.

@WindHaze10

18 күн бұрын

Lets not forget the venerable M1 howitzer of 240mm

I’ve had a thing for the M1 Thompson ever since I saw Clint Eastwood carrying one around in Kelly’s Heroes. I first saw the movie when I was a kid, and 40+ years later the film (and gun) is still one of my favs.

Just told my wife who asked what I’m watching - The Bob Ross of Machine guns!

@sethwallace4878

15 күн бұрын

That is hilarious dude…I never thought about it like that 😂🤙

The stamped / engraved markings on the side of the Thompson are so iconic

In the 1960’s, surplus dealers were selling these for only $59.50 each. Pretty cheap until you have to ante up $200.00 for the Tax Stamp!

@tanfosbery1153

14 күн бұрын

$200 even then seems pretty good value to be able to own a full auto Thompson

When Fuddblasters did their episode on the Thompson and mentioned the Savage simplified version was the best one, I had to look through your old archive of Thompson videos for more info. Thanks for this video.

"Savage's Engineer" sound pretty based on a CV!

the Thompson might be the only gun that have a bad guy and good guy variant.

@vksasdgaming9472

17 күн бұрын

Bad guy variant has drum magazine and front handle. It is used to do prohibition drive-by.

@gibbypeen5826

17 күн бұрын

I feel like i only see the silver berettas used by bad guys in movies lol

I had completely forgotten about the oiler pads on old-school Tommy-guns! With their relatively long and illustrious career, it's easy to forget they're interwar guns. The simplified iteration is still so massively intensive in terms of requisite tooling and machine-hours, Savage's optimistic projection of 125k/mo. production boggles the mind.

I have seen period photos of M1928A1s with the L shape rear sight, no fins on the barrel, and no cuts compensator, or some combination of those features. It just goes to show how Savage and Auto Ordnance were trying to ease production difficulties.

Ahh my uncle Billy carried on in Saipan. He said they were coveted because they could shot through brush decently due to the fat 230grain 45acp. He was stationed as a mortarman in Iceland at the start of the War. Of of few Marines that had a theater badge from both sides. His name was William Authur Ryan from South Boston. He then served in Korea with the Army. He was the toughest SOB I have ever met

@kingkarlito

18 күн бұрын

"they were coveted because they could shot through brush decently due to the fat 230grain 45acp" as opposed to what other period round in US service? Literally everything else they had access to was way more energy than 45acp at the time, unless you are comparing them to officers that might have a 32acp pistol specifically because they would never need to fire it.

@seibertsmiths

18 күн бұрын

Shoot through the brush? What rounds did the .45acp have a leg up on in terms of that spurious data point? Sounds like the very beginning of some fudd lore.

@donwyoming1936

18 күн бұрын

The 45 is not renowned for being able to shoot through anything. Big, fat, slow bullet tends to get hung up pretty easily. When it comes to shooting through brush, we've found the faster the rifling twist, the better the bullet resists twigs & limbs. So, the 30-06 was probably the most effective in the jungle for several reasons.

@tls29

18 күн бұрын

You guys, he's passing on what his believe uncle, one of the greatest generation, told him. There are lots of things that military men believed that weren't necessarily true (just look at .30 Carbine) but give him a break. Respect and appreciation to the uncle.

@seibertsmiths

18 күн бұрын

@@tls29 we can respect his actions while pointing out what he said to his family members and ultimately what that family member is now spreading.. doesn't make any sense

I have fired two M1A1’s, I love handling them. Still wish I could lay hands on a 28A1, though…

And in video games the common mistake referring to the m1 or m1a1 Thompsons as m1928 Thompson

@Sabretoothsquirrel

18 күн бұрын

And in video games if there is a drum mag they rarely slide in from the side like Ian described. They just get shoved up in there.

@stardust_2339

18 күн бұрын

​@@pallas_weptBut are military designations copyrighted?

@KhrisMiddletonFitnessOfficial

18 күн бұрын

@@pallas_weptAbsolutely false and nonsensical.

@worldbiggestfan1

17 күн бұрын

And the Thompson was use by nco

@alliele-cl9ob

14 күн бұрын

The m1928 version of Thompson has a forward grip, 50 round drum mag, different barrel and a top bolt

The M1 Thompson was made with my personal every day mantra in mind "Good enough is good enough"

Now I just see there was a gap between M1928A1 and M1A1 in Thompson's playlist.

My father trained with both versions in WW2, and once told me that the early ones were heavy and jam-prone, and the later box magazine guns were appreciated for lightness, but the front pistol grip was missed. He told me that he was expected to use full auto only in a dire emergency, and then in three round bursts. He also said that fired as a carbine, it was surprisingly accurate and controllable. He was later issued a Sten and told me of slam fires, and several accidental discharges....troops would climb onto a vehicle, snag the charging handle on webbing or netting, then draw it back enough to fire the weapon. They were told that a Sten cost 2 pounds to manufacture....

it is funny how complicated even the simplified Thompson is for being just an open bolt simple blowback gun

Never enough thompson info/videos, will watch every single time Ian Salute from VA!

I love this channel. It combines my two great loves, history and firearms engineering. It can't get any better than that. Life is good!

Legend has it that the Thompson program was the last time the us government cared about indiscriminate spending and wasting taxpayer money.

@jeffrogge8597

18 күн бұрын

😂😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😂

@wyattpeterson6286

17 күн бұрын

I believe that.

@loetzcollector466

17 күн бұрын

NASA has entered the chat

@bebo4807

17 күн бұрын

And you actually give a fuck about taxpayer money? You have no idea about how most of taxes are spent. And this coming from someone who spends half his money on crap Chinese shit from Walmart.

@alexsis1778

17 күн бұрын

As Ian said, the reduced cost was just a nice side effect. They really just wanted more guns which is generally the goal of wartime simplifications.

These are always my favorite videos where you get to see the evolution of the same gun throughout its different revisions. I always like seeing how they simplify parts along the the way.

It is amazing how quickly they got things approved and done!

my brother-in-law was a Huey Cobra pilot in the very early 70s and he won a WW2 era Thompson in a poker game - they were valued because the 45 ACP round was relatively low velocity, so jungle vegetation wouldn't deflect the round (unlike a M16) and it had immediate stopping power

FINALLY, someone posting some well rounded information on the Thompson instead of just sh*tposts about how "bad" it was... it was a product of its time and got the job done with flying colors.

Fantastic review of an iconic weapon! thank you very much Ian......greatly appreciated.

The rear sight isn’t welded, but riveted

@dennisyoung4631

17 күн бұрын

Thought so. Those spots *did* look riveted.

Nice, i just re watched some of the old Thompson videos... Ian bless me with another one

I was wondering about the differences between the M1 and M1A1 just yesterday. Great timing!

Wow, you finally found one. Thanks for showing it to us!

My father carried a Thompson while he was a corporal in Yugoslav navy.

Thank you Ian! Always fascinating and informative! Cheers, Petr

I don't even like the Thompson but, when Ian speaks, I listen.

Can't get enough of the Thompson.

Maybe outdated by today's standards, but, honestly... Anything that spits out 45ACP in full auto is scary

@shawnr771

18 күн бұрын

The US Special Operations rolled out .458 Beowulf uppers for the M16/M4 for close quarters operation.

@Fox-86

18 күн бұрын

​@@shawnr771 I think you're mixing up 458 socom with 50 beowulf

@CAepicreviews

18 күн бұрын

@@shawnr771 .458 Socom, 'Beowulf' is .50 Beowulf (12.7x42mm)

Great video!!!! Thank you so much for explaining it in detail 👍👍👍👍👍

Excellent, thank you sir. I do hope you get the chance to review the West Hurley Thompsons. They get some grief, but they are an additional chapter to the Thompson story.

Love it! The fact the military used this big ass hunck of metal is amazing.

Tremendous!! Thank you.

Imagine if during Prohibition and Great Depression instead of expensive Thompson, the STEN or "Greese Gun" had hit the streets en masse?

Great video Gun Jesus, your wisdom is infinite, for I have learned previously unknown knowledge of the Thompson. I thank you sir.

Fascinating, thank you 👍

Having a m1928a1 myself, they shoot nice and controllable with cutts compensator. Would be interested to see the difference without. I also know the cyclic rate changes with each variation.

Besides cost reduction technically reducing the number of parts increases the reliability.

Great video and very informative.

A few decades ago, LA County Sheriffs had some M1A1s with Cutts Compensator and the QD buttstock. Dunno if they were hybrids, or simply had the grooves machined into the lowers. They also had some M1928s. The Cutts on the M1A1s, bosted controllability, even when firing the standard 3 - 5 round burst, but added a noticeable amount of muzzle blast.

Reaches under the table and comes out with my holy grail of guns

I love the naked engineering of the selector switches. To me, they actually look beautiful. The minimum for function is marvellous.

I know Vic Marrow from "Combat" had one.

I picked up an original at the scene of a find of PIRA weapons in Londonderry in 1976, and passed it on to the relevant laboratory (DRC), but not before examining all of the internals out of curiosity. A very interesting gun, particularly the H! Far too heavy, though, I thought, for an assault weapon; strictly a spray and pray for a gangster.

I think Savage is one of the unsung heroes of WW2 production. They made a million Lee Enfields between 1941 and 1944.

Thanks again Ian

Yep, I remember that series.

Very nice video, Appreciate it!!!!

I had a Lee Enfield No. 4 made by Savage, it was in good shape and quite well made. The coolest part was it was marked as U.S. property.

Not being new to firearms, but being new to the enter workings of a Tommy gun. So to speak, man, this was an awesome video, thank you.

Very interesting!! Thanks for sharing.

Several years ago on a trip to Front Sight Range in Nevada had a choice of firing an M16, Uzi, or Thompson. Ran 3 mags through the Thompson. Fun time.

Still want the Chicago typewriter. That series on the other 3 was my favorite set of videos you've done

I have here Thompson M1 with number in range 117XX made by Savage and it has not cover for rear sights. Safe and semi auto controls are like from M1928.

Hell yeah man very informative

Savage Arms in Utica, NY. My hometown for the win!

@causewaykayak

17 күн бұрын

We have an Utica in North Wales, UK . Wonder if there's a historic link ??

@tltc191

17 күн бұрын

@@causewaykayak I was always told it was named after the Utica of the Carthage Empire. Neighboring cities to Utica, NY include Rome, Amsterdam and Syracuse. Some of the adjacent smaller villages include Paris and Poland.

@causewaykayak

17 күн бұрын

Thanks for the information. I see Utica hosts North American Festival of Wales from time to time. A lot of places in N Wales have middle eastern place names. Its from a time when Religious Revival was married to political protest. I guess it was a way if asserting independence of allegiances. Place names are very interesting . Thanks again for the trouble you took to reply

Thanks Ian for a great review of this version of the Thompson as well as the others. Although I have some excellent firearms in my collection my 1928 Thompson is the favorite.

Thanks again

Thanks that was very interesting

Cool to finally see the one pattern of m1 we couldn’t get those years ago. I remember watching that series a few times!

One of the most iconic firearms of all time, especially with the drum mag in place. These were the icon firearm of mobsters in Hollywood movies.

Man, if you took off the stock and changed the pistol grip, this gun would look modern, if not futuristic. It's crazy how ahead of it's time, and how almost art deco this gun looks.

Nice completion for the Tmopson series. Looking at all of them is just like traveling from Hiram Maxim and Colt Era with some fine machining details amd wood parts down to Sten or PPS period like "let es just bend some sheet of metal and weld some barrel on it". This is also clear end point of maximum of "forced evoltuon" for this gun's type, which never could achieve a level of simplicity and manfucturability of the guns like Greas Gun etc

I love this man so much

Combination of Sgt Rock, Audie Murphy and Vic Morris made the Thompson on my dreams. Had the Mattel green camo model as a child in the 60's. Finally achieved my bucket list and have a 1928A1!

@Dan-hs6rt

2 күн бұрын

Maybe, hopefully, you meant to say "Vic Morrow"?

I fired a Thompson SMG once, but I don't know if it was an M1 or and M1A1. What I do know is that it was so old and used that when the rounds came out of the barrel, they were already starting to tumble, so instead of nice, round bullet holes in the target, you had silhouettes of the rounds going thru the target sideways. I was also surprised at how much the Thompson didn't kick. I have a 1911 and was expecting a good kick in automatic, but the weight of the Thompson really damped the kick of the 45 round.

I own both a 28 and M1A1, the M1A1 is a vast improvement in function to the Thompson. Also, anyone who says that the Thompson was hard to shoot either never shot one or has short arms (the buttstock is kind of long).

If you can find one, look up the Volunteer Firearms reproductions of these. Semi-auto only, patterned halfway between the 1928 and the M1, but with a really funky mag-well. They were all made by some guys my Dad worked with at Oak Ridge in the early '60s, in their garage machine shop. Nice variant, not a lot were made, but still quite functional. --Dan

Just when we all thought we knew something, here comes Ian! Good video, learned a lot, thank you once again. All of your content is Very Enjoyable mainly due to you integrating politics, economics and history all in one - giving us a good feel for why things happened as they did.

This version is the one my father carried for a while in WW2 before it was replaced by the M3 Grease gun. My dad said he was very unhappy with having to trade in the Thompson for the M3.

Ian also has a whole series on the Thompson SMGs in the Forgotten Weapons archive.

I remember hearing about when the Swedish UN battalion in Bosnia Herzegovina finding Thompson machine guns in their original packaging. They promptly set about making one an inert weapon for display usage and torching the rest of the seized weapons. The story says that US gun collectors got word of the find and tried to purchase some of the weapons but got the answer that they were already destroyed.

M1 soldier, M1 jeep, m1 rations, M1 uniform shirt….. M1 fighter plane,M1 latrine . Not at all confusing there uncle Sam!?!

@cosaqueexiste9647

18 күн бұрын

"Hey give me the submachine gun, we have to go around in the car"

@janwacawik7432

18 күн бұрын

Gotta be that dude and point out that aircraft didn't use the M designation.

@BlackCat-tc2tv

18 күн бұрын

“We’re under attack! Throw on your M1, grab your M1, and jump in the M1!” “What about my M1!?” “Sure, bring that too!”

@1nfamy124

18 күн бұрын

I smelled it when you said that word 💀

@todorkolev7565

18 күн бұрын

if you need a model name to tell the difference between a latrine and a Jeep...

Its crazy to think how close they were of an actual assault rifle, before they came to be. A lot of little things (and materials) had to improve until US army ended up using m16. And even that needed a lot of improvement at it's first iteration.

Per my late grandfather, in the Marine Corp, 1927, main land China in a letter back to family in the US, the Thompson submachine gun was a light 15 pounds that they carried on patrol.

With the M1 being able to be put on safe with the bolt forward it also prevents the gun from chambering a round if dropped.

Hey Ian, you should do a variety episode on the many BB guns throughout history! Would love to see some uncommon examples alongside the classics that were the first shooters of many.

My uncle used the Thompson through his WW2 service life. 3rd Infantry division, company L, 15th infantry. N Africa through Germany/Austria.

Great video, thanks Ian and everyone at Forgotten Weapons. It seems the bolt change between the M1 and M1A1 was significant in simplifying manufacture but didn't really affect the performance of the gun in literally any way (except *possibly* making it slightly safer), while maintaining full parts compatibility. With that in mind it's a little surprising to me that any effort was made to convert the M1s to A1s; I imagine the only reason to do so would be to replace a damaged bolt. Is there something I'm missing here? Is it literally the case that conversion to A1 mostly only occurred when the bolt needed replacing?

Superb!

Wow, this is amazing. You would think that a gun in developement gets more tiny parts and more complex during the process, not otherwise but it is exactly like that. Going from complex and unnecessary to simple and robust. It blows my mind how simple the interiors of the m1a1 are.

Ian finally found an m1 pattern thompson his last thompson video was quite a long time ago

Great video. I'd like to know what the the production cost savings versus the government purchase savings were for the upgrades.