The Thompson submachine gun, also known informally as the "Tommy Gun", was designed by US General John Thompson in 1918.
The Thompson submachine gun's nicknames, apart from Tommy Gun, also included the 'Chicago typewriter' because of the hammering sound when fired.
The Tommy Gun was intended to replace the unwieldy rifle in First World War trenches, but production didn't start until just before the conflict ended. The first cases of the new rifle arrived on the docks for shipment on November 11, 1918; the same day the war ended.
In 1919 General Thompson had the company he founded, Auto-Ordnance Company, modify the gun for civilian use. The gun was classified as a submachine gun, meaning a small, fully automatic, hand-held gun that fires pistol ammunition. The first model, called the M1921, was produced in 1921.
The Colt Patent Firearms Company made 15,000 Model 1921A Thompson submachine guns for Auto-Ordinance at a cost of $38.25 each in 1921.
The model 1921 were used during the Irish Civil War (1922-23) after being supplied by US sympathizers of independence. The Irish freedom fighters were not impressed by the fact they could only kill about 32 percent of those they fired at.
The US postal service was an early customer – staff used the guns to fend off robbers.
The Tommy Gun's ease of use also made it the weapon of choice for Prohibition-era gangsters. The round magazine made them awkward to hide so mobsters carried them in violin cases.
Al Capone hitman Sam Hunt kept his Tommy Gun among his golf clubs, earning himself the nickname Golf Bag.
One Tommy Gun believed to have been owned by Bonnie and Clyde sold at auction on January 21, 2012, in Kansas City for $130,000 (£84,000).
The US military began using the Tommy Gun in 1938 and used it throughout World War II. It was later used during the Korean War and later during the Vietnam War.
The Queen Mother held a Tommy Gun during the Second World War and remarked on how light it was.
A fully automatic Thompson submachine gun can fire up to 900 rounds per minute.
Although the original fully automatic Thompsons are no longer produced, numerous semi-automatic civilian versions are still being manufactured by Auto-Ordnance.
More than 2.7 million Thompson submachine guns are thought to have been made.
Source Daily Mail
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| Thompson 1921 SMG. By Hmaag |
The Thompson submachine gun's nicknames, apart from Tommy Gun, also included the 'Chicago typewriter' because of the hammering sound when fired.
The Tommy Gun was intended to replace the unwieldy rifle in First World War trenches, but production didn't start until just before the conflict ended. The first cases of the new rifle arrived on the docks for shipment on November 11, 1918; the same day the war ended.
In 1919 General Thompson had the company he founded, Auto-Ordnance Company, modify the gun for civilian use. The gun was classified as a submachine gun, meaning a small, fully automatic, hand-held gun that fires pistol ammunition. The first model, called the M1921, was produced in 1921.
 |
| General John T. Thompson holding an M1921 |
The Colt Patent Firearms Company made 15,000 Model 1921A Thompson submachine guns for Auto-Ordinance at a cost of $38.25 each in 1921.
The model 1921 were used during the Irish Civil War (1922-23) after being supplied by US sympathizers of independence. The Irish freedom fighters were not impressed by the fact they could only kill about 32 percent of those they fired at.
The US postal service was an early customer – staff used the guns to fend off robbers.
The Tommy Gun's ease of use also made it the weapon of choice for Prohibition-era gangsters. The round magazine made them awkward to hide so mobsters carried them in violin cases.
 |
| Tommy gun in violin case |
Al Capone hitman Sam Hunt kept his Tommy Gun among his golf clubs, earning himself the nickname Golf Bag.
One Tommy Gun believed to have been owned by Bonnie and Clyde sold at auction on January 21, 2012, in Kansas City for $130,000 (£84,000).
The US military began using the Tommy Gun in 1938 and used it throughout World War II. It was later used during the Korean War and later during the Vietnam War.
 |
| A British soldier equipped with a Thompson M1928 submachine gun |
The Queen Mother held a Tommy Gun during the Second World War and remarked on how light it was.
A fully automatic Thompson submachine gun can fire up to 900 rounds per minute.
Although the original fully automatic Thompsons are no longer produced, numerous semi-automatic civilian versions are still being manufactured by Auto-Ordnance.
More than 2.7 million Thompson submachine guns are thought to have been made.
Source Daily Mail
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