Colt Thompson M1921

Hollywood has immortalised the weapon in numerous gangster movies and as such the gun is synonymous with the 'Chicago Mob' of the 1920s and the years of prohibition. Veterans of WW II and the Korean and Vietnam wars too will carry fond memories of this magnificient weapon. Developed as an automatic SMG to sweep across enemy troops like a machine gun and still ensure troop mobility, the Thompson M1921 found much favor with diverse clients for deployment in various combat situations. Allied troops of WW II found it very uselful as did the troops in the Korean and Vietnam wars and several police deparments in the US. Various revolutionary groups around the world bought and used the M1921 but the Depression era Mob was the most infamous client for this SMG.

The development of the submachine gun commenced in 1917 with the purcase of the John Blish patent (1915) by General John Thompson. This patent was for a delayed blowback automatic firearm. The delayed blowback breech system had a sloping metal wedge interlocking the breech lock and the gun body. The angle of the slope made the mating faces jam under the pressure of a cartridge being fired causing the breech to lock. It would unlock automatically with a drop in pressure as the wedge moved up due to the angle of its slope.

Though this revolutionary concept was utilized in all Thompson sub machine guns, the first serial manufactured model of the Auto Ordinance corp. founded by General Thompson, was the M1921.The original production version of the M1921 as manufactured by Colt were of the highest quality, finely machined and finished.

The M1921 featured biggest pistol cartridge of its time, the .45 CAP, and a fairly high fire rate of 800 rpm. The M1921 come with wooden stocks which can be dissassembled easily making it cleanable and transportable. Standard characteristics are finned barrels, lightweight actuators, adjustable rear sights, vertical fore grips and checkered fire control levers. The M1921 can use stick magazines as well as drum magazines.