This is a very nice example of a WW II production M1A1 Thompson Submachine Gun, 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 rare SMG is correctly stamped on top of the rear of the receiver with "US PROPERTY". The war-expedient features included the elimination of the barrel cooling fins, Cutt's compensator, adjustable rear sight and removable buttstock. They also employed a side-mounted cocking handle and a fixed firing pin with a slightly longer bolt which allowed the weapon to be manufactured on an easier and more cost effective basis. This example has the standard Lyman "L" type fixed rear sight, horizontal walnut forearm and fixed walnut buttstock. The right side is marked in two lines "AUTO ORDNANCE CORPORATION/BRIDGEPORT CONNECTICUT U.S.A.". The left side is stamped with a very faint "U.S. Ordnance", Cross-Cannon final acceptance proof at the front and rear of the receiver with a "GHD" inspector stamp in the middle. As noted the top of the receiver is stamped "U.S. PROPERTY". The left side of the receiver is marked "THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN/CALIBER 45 M1A1/NO. 423447", followed by "S-45". The rear, underside of the trigger guard bow/lower frame group is stamped "664349". The side of the trigger housing is correctly marked "AUTO/SINGLE" and "FIRE/SAFE,". This SMG comes with one 30-round stick magazine and a light green KERR No-Buckle type, canvas sling.

Fine with 85% of refurbished matte blued finish overall showing wear and thinning on all the metal surfaces. The wood components are all in very fine condition with a medium brown color overall showing light handling marks and scratches in some areas. NOTE: This weapon is a restricted, National Firearms Act (NFA) Class 3, Fully Automatic Weapon, that is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 478. This weapon is currently registered as being "LIMITED TO USE AS A SALES SAMPLE (Pre-86)" and as such can only be purchased by an FFL, with a Class 2 or Class 3 SOT License.