CODE – 02-132-921
NAME – Thompson Model 1921A
COMMON NAMES – Tommy gun, Chicago Typewriter
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – USA
DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1921
CALIBER – 11.43x23mm (.45 ACP)
OVERALL LENGTH WITHOUT STOCK – 54.1 cm (21.3 in)
OVERALL LENGTH WITH STOCK – 75.7 cm (29.8 in)
STOCK LENGTH – 33.1 cm (13.05 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 grains)
MUZZLE VELOCITY – 290 m/s (950 fps)
MUZZLE ENERGY – 625 j (451 ft/lbs)
WEIGHT (EMPTY) WITHOUT STOCK – 3.57 kg (7 lb 13.9 oz)
WEIGHT (EMPTY) WITH STOCK – 4.37 kg (9 lb 10.2 oz)
WEIGHT (LOADED) WITHOUT STOCK – 5.83 kg (12 lb 13.7 oz) loaded with 50-rd Type L drum
WEIGHT (LOADED) WITH STOCK – 6.63 kg (14 lb 9.9 oz) loaded with 50-rd Type L drum
STOCK WEIGHT – 0.80 kg (1 lb 12.2 oz)
SIGHTS – Open, iron, adjustable, 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, fires from open bolt
TYPE OF FIRE – Selective, Semi and Full automatic
RATE OF FIRE – 50 rpm (Semi), 70 rpm (Full using 20 rd magazines), 100 rpm (Full using 50 rd drums)
CYCLIC ROF – 800-900 rpm
FEED DEVICE – Type XX 20-round removable box magazine, double-column, double feed, Type L 50-round and Type C 100-round drum magazines
FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (EMPTY) – Type XX 20-rd 0.17 kg (6 oz), Type L 50-rd 1.18 kg (2 lb 9.6 oz), Type C 100-rd 1.64 kg (3 lb 9.9 oz)
FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – Type XX 20-rd 0.60 kg (1lb 5.2 oz), Type L 50-rd 2.26 kg (4 lb 15.7 oz), type C 100-rd 3.79 kg (8 lb 5.7 oz)
BASIC LOAD – One Type XX 20-rd mag, 2 Type L 50-rd drums (120 rounds)
LOAD WT – 5.12 kg (11 lb 4.6 oz)
MANUFACTURER – Colt Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Connecticut.
STATUS – Obsolete
SERVICE – Limited US Service with US Post Office and US Marines, service with Law enforcement agencies, both Federal and Local, commercial international sales.
During the early development of this weapon, roughly 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. Licensed production by Colt was for 15,000 pieces.
