Manufactured on contract for the United States Government, the Thompson 1928A1 is one of the signature American weapons of World War II, being deployed in every theater of the war, both in American hands and among numerous Allied units via equipment sharing and Lend-Lease supplies. The 1928A1 is still very close in overall configuration to the original Roaring 20s/Great Depression "Chicago Typewriter" of gang warfare fame, retaining a number of options that would be eliminated from later production to lower cost and speed production. A number are believed to have been released to civilian and law enforcement buyers as surplus, being replaced by the simplified M1 and M1A1 Thompsons as well as the M3 "Grease Gun". In the police role, the Thompson could be used as a standard submachine gun or as a straight-pull manually repeating riot gun/less-lethal weapon by using a special magazine sized for the 45 Peters-Thompson Shot Cartridge; these magazines are difficult to find today, and one is included with this lot. This example bears a property tag reading "PROPERTY/CITY OF LOS ALTOS/1780" on the trigger housing behind the grip; originally a rural community in northern California before the growth of Silicon Valley, Los Altos is now home to the 11th most expensive ZIP code in America, as well as the location where Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak famously put together the first Apple I computers in Jobs' garage. A blade front sight is installed on the Cutts-marked compensator, with a fixed peep rear sight on the receiver. The barrel retains the cooling fins, with the A1 pattern straight handguard, and the receiver has the "U.S MODEL OF 1928A1" nomenclature, "GEG" and "RLB" inspector marks, and appropriate slotting for a drum magazine. The trigger housing is numbered to match the receiver, with a quick detachable stock marked "WB" and "crossed cannons", dual selector and safety switches, and ribbed pistol grip. The internals are the proper 1928 pattern, including the brass Blish Lock and felt-padded oiler. Included with the lot is one "U" marked Auto-Ordnance "L" 50-round drum magazine, the aforementioned stick magazines for shot cartridges, and a tan canvas drum carrier and SMG pouch.

Very fine, with 85% of the original finish, showing mild wear and handling marks overall, plus some thinning of the parkerization on the receiver. The wood is in very fine condition, with numerous scattered mild scuffs and dings. The canvas accessories show staining and wear appropriate to age and use, with minimal wear and solid stitching. The drum magazine has been refinished, with pitting concentrated on the guide rails and winding key, and the shot magazine is very good with mild wear. Mechanically excellent. NOTE: This weapon is 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.