CODE – 02-132-927
NAME – M1927 Thompson
NAME (NATIVE) – Thompson Semi-Automatic Carbine Model of 1927
COMMON NAMES – Thompson Carbine
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – USA
DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1927
CALIBER – 11.43x23mm (.45 ACP)
OVERALL LENGTH – 80.6 cm (31.75 in) without Cutts compensator, 85.6 cm (33.7 in) with Cutts compensator
Removing stock takes 21.6 cm (8.5 in) off of overall length
BARREL LENGTH – 26.7 cm (10.5 in) without Cutts compensator, 37.6 cm (12.44 in) with Cutts compensator
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) – 4.68 kg (10 lbs 5 oz)
WEIGHT (LOADED) – 6.89 kg (15 lbs 3 oz) with 50 round drum and Stock
STOCK WEIGHT – 0.80 kg (1 lb 12.2 oz)
SIGHTS – Front sight – Blade, Rear sight – Folding ladder peep sight, Graduated to 548.6 m (600 yds) in 23 m (25 yd) increments, Battle sight square notch, set to – 46 m (50 yds)
EFFECTIVE RANGE – 182.9 m (200 yds)
OPERATION – Delayed blowback with Blish principle
TYPE OF FIRE – Semiautomatic only
RATE OF FIRE – 50 rpm
FEED DEVICE – 20 (Type XX) round box magazine, Double column, double feed, 50 (Type C) round or 100 (Type L) round drum magazine
FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 20 rd 0.18 kg (6.4 oz), 50 rd drum 1.13 kg (2 lbs 7.8 oz), 100 rd drum 1.77 kg (3 lbs 14.4 oz)
FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 20 rd 0.61 kg (1 lb 5.4 oz), 50 rd drum 2.21 kg (4 lbs 14 oz), 100 rd drum 3.92 kg (8 lbs 10 oz)
BASIC LOAD 2-50 rd drums (100 rounds)
LOAD WT 4.42 kg (9 lbs 11.8 oz)
MANUFACTURER – Auto-Ordnance, Cleveland Ohio, Colt Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company Hartford, Connecticut.
STATUS – Obsolete
SERVICE – Limited commercial sales.
This was a semiautomatic version of the M1921 Thompson. Some of the internal parts of the lower receiver were changed to keep the weapon from being able to fire on full automatic. It was not a commercial success and it is estimated that less than 200 were ever made. The semiautomatic carbine has been back into production (1967-Present) with changes that prevent it from being able to be converted to full automatic fire. The new weapon has a 16-inch barrel to meet with Federal firearms regulations for easier sales.
