This is a World War II production M1A1 Thompson Submachine Gun that was manufactured by the Auto Ordnance Corp. in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The M1A1 was introduced in April 1942 as a war-expedient/simplified version of the M1928 Thompson Submachine Gun. This example is a fairly early production model as it has a five digit serial number. The war expedient features included the elimination of the barrel cooling fins, Cutt's compensator, adjustable rear sight and removable butt stock. They also employed a side-mounted cocking handle and a fixed firing pin with a slightly longer bolt which allowed the weapon to be easier/cheaper to manufacture. This example has the standard Lyman "L" type fixed rear sight, horizontal walnut forearm and fixed walnut butt stock. The left side of the receiver is stamped in two places with the U.S. inspectors initials: "RLB" and a single small cross-cannon ordnance final acceptance proof with the rear of the receiver marked: "THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN/CALIBER 45 M1A1/NO. 21833" in three lines below the rear sight. The right rear side of the receiver is stamped: "AUTO ORDNANCE CORPORATION/BRIDGEPORT CONNECTICUT U.S.A." The lower frame group is correctly marked: "AUTO/SINGLE" and "FIRE/SAFE," and the original serial number "172146" stamped on the trigger guard bow, indicating the receiver and trigger housing serial numbers do not match. This SMG comes with two 30-round magazines.

Fine as arsenal refurbished with 90% of the light gray parkerized finish still remaining overall. The wood components are all very fine with a medium brown color overall showing only minor handling marks on the sides. The lower sling swivel slot has been nicely filled in with a matching piece of walnut. NOTE: This item is restricted as a National Firearms Act (NFA), fully transferable Class 3, which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATFE) that is classified as a "Curios or Relic" as defined in 27 CFR, 478.11. These weapons are still subject to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 478.