My Grandfather on my Dad's side served under Patton in the 4th Armored Division, like many of the greatest generation he didn't talk a lot about his time in the service, but we did get a few stories out of him before he passed away when I was in middle school. He fought in Bastogne among many other battles.
As a Technical Sergeant and driver in an armored infantry battalion he was typically the one in the squad assigned a sub-machine gun. Which was the Thompson, and also the M3 grease gun later in the war. As such, I've always wanted one, not because they're practical, but just because…
So after years of wanting to get one, I finally walk in Champion Firearms back in early May with my mind made up. Auto Ordinance still makes these, but most have a long 16" barrel to comply with NFA rules, they look ugly in my opinion. I wanted one classified as an SBR and the model that looks exactly as soldiers carried it in the war. So a real specific version of the Thompson.
As I'm describing it to the guy behind the counter, figuring he will take my info down and have to order it through a vendor or something, he says "hold on a sec" and walks to the back. Low and behind, they had one just sitting there, another guy had ordered one through them and decided later he didn't want it. So I said sign me up! And funnily enough, when I picked it up about 6 days later since tax stamps clear a lot faster now, they told me a different guy had seen me buying it and had them put another one on order for him too!
Took it out to shoot last weekend and had a blast. Is it practical for any useful purposes? Definitely not. But is it fun/awesome as heck, a great time target shooting, and a possession that reminds me of family history? Absolutely.
My Grandfather holding one (maybe during training?)
While he had to return the gun as it was US army property, he did keep the field manual.
Shooting the modern version. The keen eyed will notice the 1911 next to it with custom grips from tx4guns.
If you really have some free time, here's other threads I've started about his exploits: the battle of hill 318, and one about a rare German sniper rifle he sent back home.
https://texags.com/forums/34/topics/3432981
https://texags.com/forums/49/topics/3266179
As a Technical Sergeant and driver in an armored infantry battalion he was typically the one in the squad assigned a sub-machine gun. Which was the Thompson, and also the M3 grease gun later in the war. As such, I've always wanted one, not because they're practical, but just because…
So after years of wanting to get one, I finally walk in Champion Firearms back in early May with my mind made up. Auto Ordinance still makes these, but most have a long 16" barrel to comply with NFA rules, they look ugly in my opinion. I wanted one classified as an SBR and the model that looks exactly as soldiers carried it in the war. So a real specific version of the Thompson.
As I'm describing it to the guy behind the counter, figuring he will take my info down and have to order it through a vendor or something, he says "hold on a sec" and walks to the back. Low and behind, they had one just sitting there, another guy had ordered one through them and decided later he didn't want it. So I said sign me up! And funnily enough, when I picked it up about 6 days later since tax stamps clear a lot faster now, they told me a different guy had seen me buying it and had them put another one on order for him too!
Took it out to shoot last weekend and had a blast. Is it practical for any useful purposes? Definitely not. But is it fun/awesome as heck, a great time target shooting, and a possession that reminds me of family history? Absolutely.
My Grandfather holding one (maybe during training?)
While he had to return the gun as it was US army property, he did keep the field manual.
Shooting the modern version. The keen eyed will notice the 1911 next to it with custom grips from tx4guns.
If you really have some free time, here's other threads I've started about his exploits: the battle of hill 318, and one about a rare German sniper rifle he sent back home.
https://texags.com/forums/34/topics/3432981
https://texags.com/forums/49/topics/3266179
