This is a very unique example of a late commercial manufacture fully automatic Class III/NFA Model 1928 Thompson Submachine Gun manufactured by the Auto-Ordnance Corporation of Bridgeport Conn. This example is configured as a Model 1928 Thompson with the late features of the parkerized metal finish with a horizontal forend, that still retains the earlier Lyman adjustable rear sight, finned barrel with the Cutts marked compensator, and a detachable buttstock. Additionally there is no serial number on the rear, underside area of the trigger housing. Interestingly it is also not marked on the side of the receiver with any model number, instead it is just marked: "THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN/CALIBER .45 AUTOMATIC CARTRIDGE" and on the left side with the standard "AUTO-ORDNANCE CORPORATION/BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT U.S.A.", and six lines of various patent dates on the right side. When registered the Class III/NFA paper work instead just used the last patent date "1817321" as the serial number. The front of the receiver has no U.S. Government inspection markings, and the top is stamped with the "Bullet" Logo/Trademark of the Thompson Company along with "TOMMY GUN" along the edge of the receiver, both indicative of a commercial receiver. The "Tommy Gun" marking is seen in limited quantities, and suspected as being a way to keep competing manufacturers from treating the popular "Tommy Gun" name for the Thompson as a generic term; by physically including the name on some of their output, a much stronger defense could be made of their branding. We surmise that this may have been one of the late last WWII Bridgeport receiver manufactured at the end of the war that was eventually acquired by the Auto-Ordnance Corp in West Hurley N.Y. that was assembled with some of the last wartime production parts and new production commercial parts into a commercial Model 1928 type SMG. The exact cause of the lack of markings is unknown; such absences are sometimes seen on items intended purely for internal use, like tool room models or test items, and sometimes attributed to sticky-fingered employees liberating company stock (aka a "lunch box gun") for later home assembly. This very unusual weapon has an all walnut buttstock, horizontal foregrip and pistol grip. It includes four 30 round stick magazines (two US Cartridge Co and 2 Seymour), a brass cleaning rod, a reproduction canvas sling, a small canvas parts bag, canvas muzzle cover, cleaning brush, a U.S. Army instruction manual as issued by the Armor School, Ft. Knox, KY, dated 1941, a spare recoil spring and guide, and a buttstock oiler.

Very fine with 90% plus of a light gray parkerized finish overall that shows edge and high spot wear overall with light thinning on the sides of the receiver. The markings are clear and sharp. The wood components are all in very fine condition with a nice medium brown color on all three, with minimal handling marks on the sides in a couple areas. The various components are all in very fine condition. 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.