This is a very nice example of a late WWII production M1A1 Thompson Submachine Gun manufactured by Auto Ordnance Corp. in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and later imported back to the U.S. as a Sales Sample by Inter American Import Export Co. of Sacramento. The M1A1 was introduced in April 1942 as a war-expedient/simplified version of the M1928 Thompson Submachine Gun. This model lacked 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 which allowed the weapon to be manufactured on an easier and more cost effective basis. This desirable SMG is correctly stamped "U.S/PROPERTY" on top of the rear area of the receiver. It 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 front left side is stamped with a very faint circled "GLG" factory proof mark over a faint "FJA" acceptance proof at the front of the receiver with the "U.S./PROPERTY" markings noted above. The left side of the receiver is marked "THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN/CALIBER 45 M1A1/NO. 808096". The rear, underside of the trigger guard bow/lower frame group is stamped "509945". The side of the trigger housing is correctly marked "FULL AUTO/SINGLE" and "FIRE/SAFE,". This SMG comes with three, 30-round stick magazine and a reproduction canvas magazine pouch. The back side is ink marked "USMC/R.M. Co./Nos 45412/1944".

Very fine as arsenal refurbished with 95% of the gray parkerized type finish with edge and high spot wear overall. The wood components are all in fine plus condition with a nice matching medium brown color and some minor handling marks with light refurbishment scratches on the sides of the buttstock. 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