CODE – 02-132-919

NAME – M1919 Thompson

NAME (NATIVE) – Thompson Submachine Gun Model of 1919

COMMON NAMES – The Trench Broom

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – USA

DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1919-1920

CALIBER – 11.43x23mm (.45 ACP)

OVERALL LENGTH – 54.3 cm (21.36 in)

BARREL LENGTH – 26.7 cm (10.5 in)

RIFLING (TYPE & TWIST) – 6 Groove, Right hand twist, one turn in 41 cm (16 in)

BULLET DIAMETER – 11.46 mm (0.451 in)

BULLET WEIGHT – 15 g (230 grain)

MUZZLE VELOCITY – 290 m/s (950 fps)

MUZZLE ENERGY – 625 j (451 ft/lbs)

WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 3.69 kg (8 lb 2 oz)*

WEIGHT (LOADED) – 4.3 kg (9 lb oz) with 20 round box magazine

SIGHTS – None

EFFECTIVE RANGE – 50 yds

OPERATION – Delayed blowback, Blish principle, fires from open bolt

TYPE OF FIRE – Full automatic (parts could be added for selective fire, Semi and Full automatic)

RATE OF FIRE – 70 – 100 rpm

CYCLIC ROF – 550 rpm – First specimen made fired at 1,500 rpm

FEED DEVICE – 20 (Type XX) round box magazine, Double column, double feed, 50 (Type C) round

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 20 rd 0.17 kg (6 oz)

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 20 rd 0.60 kg (1 lb 5.2 oz)

BASIC AMMUNITION LOAD – One – 20 round box magazine (20rds)

LOAD WEIGHT – 0.60 kg (1 lb 5.2 oz)

MANUFACTURER – Auto Ordnance Company, Cleveland, Ohio, and New York, NY

STATUS – Obsolete

SERVICE – None, Demonstration pieces

    This was the pre-production prototype of the Thompson M1921. Numbers are unknown, but it is thought there were less than 40 specimens produced. There are minor differences between many of the specimens of the weapon as the design was being refined as they were produced. Noticeable characteristics are that the weapons had no sights added and no common provision for a butt stock (though it was being developed at the time), along with a vertical foregrip and finned barrel for additional cooling. One of the last of the Model 1919s were supplied by Thompson to Colt Manufacturing to use as a pattern for Colt’s licensed production of the Model 1921 Thompson.

     During the early development of this weapon, roughly the year 1919, the term “Submachine gun” was coined to describe this pistol-caliber, automatic weapon. The term accounted for the fact that the design was capable of full automatic fire but was not a true “machine gun” since it did not fire a rifle cartridge. The specimens of Model 1919 produced were primarily used for demonstration and to further the development of the design.

* Weight varies from specimen to specimen. This weight is for “No. 26.”