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  • Auction Catalog #67
  • Lot #3394
Lot #3393
Lot #3395

Lot 3394: BSA 1929 Machine gun 45 ACP

Extremely Rare, Historic Fully Automatic Class III/NA BSA-Thompson Serial Number "2" Experimental Model 1929 in 45 ACP

Auction Location: Rock Island, IL

Auction Date: May 1, 2016

Lot 3394: BSA 1929 Machine gun 45 ACP

Extremely Rare, Historic Fully Automatic Class III/NA BSA-Thompson Serial Number "2" Experimental Model 1929 in 45 ACP

Auction Location: Rock Island, IL

Auction Date: May 1, 2016

Estimated Price: $110,000 - $160,000

Extremely Rare, Historic Fully Automatic Class III/NA BSA-Thompson Serial Number "2" Experimental Model 1929 in 45 ACP

Manufacturer: BSA
Model: 1929
Type: Machine gun
Gauge: 45 ACP
Barrel: 12 inch round
Finish: blue
Grip:
Stock: walnut
Item Views: 6576
Serial Number:
Catalog Page: 172
Class: Class III
Description:

This is an exceedingly rare example of a Thompson Model 1929 SMG that was manufactured by the BSA factory in England. This example is serial number "2" out of a estimated 10-15 examples actually manufactured. This SMG was licensed by the Auto-Ordnance Corp. to the BSA Shirley factory and was a redesign of the famous 1928 model intending it to be manufactured in England with the intent of generating sales in Europe and the Far East. It has a somewhat different overall design and configuration based on what the BSA factory felt needed to be corrected. It was also made in several different calibers, namely the standard 45 ACP, 9mm Luger, 9mm Bergman-Bayard, 7.63 Mauser, 7.65 Luger with some also reported in 7.62 Tokarev, obviously with specific countries in mind that used those cartridges. Basically it has just a slightly redesigned upper receiver that retains the original barrel, compensator and forend with the rear of the receiver machined flat on the end. This was to accommodate a completely redesigned trigger housing and stock assembly. This new trigger housing did away with the standard 1921/28 designed pistol grip and instead has a straight trigger housing with the trigger moved towards the rear. It also has a completely new redesigned magazine release and selector switches on the front left side. Based on the redesign of the trigger housing, one of the most visible redesign changes is the use of a British Enfield rifle stock and pistol grip. In this example the Enfield buttstock, is attached to a rear plate on the trigger housing with a vertical pistol grip fitted/added in the pistol grip area on the underside of the stock. Later models did away with the additional pistol grip and just used the standard Enfield stock. It still retains the folding rear Thompson tangent sight and uses the standard stick or drum magazines, (neither one are included with this lot). The left side of the receiver is marked: "MODEL OF 1929/No.2" and farther back it is marked: "B.S.A. THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN./CALIBRE 45 AUTOMATIC COLT CARTRIDGE.". The lower front edge of the trigger housing is marked "SINGLE and FIRE". The right front side of the receiver is marked with: "THOMPSON PATENTS", followed by 9 different Patent numbers.

Rating Definition:

Very fine with 85% plus of the original BSA factory blue finish overall with only minor edge and high spot wear. The lower edges of the receiver show some blue loss from handling and use. The stock and forend are all in excellent condition with a nice machining, medium brown color overall with an oil finish, mixed with some minor handling marks from handling over the years. Mechanically fine. NOTE: This weapon is a National Firearms Act (NFA), Class 3, Fully Automatic Weapon, which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATF) under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 478.



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