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When working for a Sec 5 dealer I managed to get my hands on pretty much every model of Thompson and I think all the manufacturers were present.

All brand new and un fired. US lend lease to Russia. I heard different stories -

1 - SMGs sent in one ship and ammo in another. Other ship sunk so Russians put them into storage.
2 - Sent as part of the equipment fitted to armoured vehicles as at the factory they were unaware they were destined for Russia as opposed to US troops.

Can you imagine the hystrically screaming by the sheep if a county force here decided to sell off a few section one firearms in their armoury to rise money

joe wrote:Can you imagine the hystrically screaming by the sheep if a county force here decided to sell off a few section one firearms in their armoury to rise money

Well, a lot of the Police Forces destroyed their Enforcers rather than auction/sell them off into civilian ownership, and they didn't want a simple bolt action rifle in civilian ownership

GeeRam wrote:

joe wrote:Can you imagine the hystrically screaming by the sheep if a county force here decided to sell off a few section one firearms in their armoury to rise money

Well, a lot of the Police Forces destroyed their Enforcers rather than auction/sell them off into civilian ownership, and they didn't want a simple bolt action rifle in civilian ownership

Just part of the 100+ year plan to disarm the public..

GeeRam wrote:

joe wrote:Can you imagine the hystrically screaming by the sheep if a county force here decided to sell off a few section one firearms in their armoury to rise money

Well, a lot of the Police Forces destroyed their Enforcers rather than auction/sell them off into civilian ownership, and they didn't want a simple bolt action rifle in civilian ownership

That's true - but one has very very recently found its way into my gun cabinet!!

Back to Thompsons - I read they were sent to Russia in lend lease vehicles but the Russains didn't have and didn't want to set up a supply of .45ACP.
I also remember watching a documentary a few years ago about undercover army units operating in Northern Ireland in the 1970s, and one night some of the operatives decided to take the commanding officers personal Thompson out of the armoury when they went out on patrol. The phrase "commanding officers personal Thompson" has stuck in my head ever since!

An old school friend in france had a Thompson M1a1 given too him on his 16th birthday (back in 1985) by his grand father who was spanish and had fought franco.
He then escaped to France and when WW2 started he joined the Marquis .
The Thompson was his personal weapon during the war and came with 3 spare mag and ammo . When given it my pal was told that he might need it one day and to keep it safe.I think it is still safe and ready someware?
Also When cleaning out his grandfathers house after his death in the mid 90s they found 2 pistols, ammo and 3 hand grenades wrapped up and stuffed under the eves of the garage as well.

Lever357 wrote: I also remember watching a documentary a few years ago about undercover army units operating in Northern Ireland in the 1970s, and one night some of the operatives decided to take the commanding officers personal Thompson out of the armoury when they went out on patrol. The phrase "commanding officers personal Thompson" has stuck in my head ever since!

If true, given the timeline, I would say it likely that might well have been one of the original cache of 500 x 1921 Thompsons bought for the IRA in the late 1920's and smuggled into Ireland, and 'retrieved/liberated' by the British Forces at some point - and retained in the armoury as a 'prize'.

Like this

Were the a British military not the first to adopt the Thompson as a military weapon, other than it being regarded as purely a police weapon?

Forgot to mention. My friend has several Parker Hale catalogs from the 1930s. You could buy one mail order here in Ol' Blighty!

I'll ask him how much it was advertised more. Can't remember exactly, but was three times the cost of a new SMLE!

Sim G wrote:Were the a British military not the first to adopt the Thompson as a military weapon, other than it being regarded as purely a police weapon?

No, USN/USMC adopted it in 1928, hence the M1928 versions.