Auto-Ordnance Company
Encyclopedia
Auto-Ordnance was a U.S. arms development firm founded by retired Colonel John T. Thompson
of the U.S. Army Ordnance Department in 1916. Auto-Ordnance is best known for the Thompson submachine gun
, notorious as a gangster weapon of the Roaring Twenties
and famous as a military weapon of the Allied forces in World War II
.
in August 1916 with the backing of investor Thomas Ryan. In 1915 Thompson had found the Blish Lock
patent of Commander John Blish, which was the operating principle of the first prototypes of the Thompson submachine gun
and the Thompson Autorifle
. In exchange for shares of the newly found company Blish agreed to give Thompson his patent. Thompson hired two design engineers Theodore H. Eickoff and Oscar V. Payne. The engineers learned that the Blish lock design, which was a Delayed blowback action, was ineffective with the .30-06 rifle cartridge but very effective with the .45 ACP
pistol round. The birth of the Thompson submachine gun took place when Thompson had the idea of a "trench sweeper" or "trench broom". The first short run production model was 1919, too late for use in WWI.
Thompson first showed the submachine gun design to the US government, but it became a gun for law enforcement before it was put to use in the military. The initial production of the Model 1921 was by Colt. After the Thompson submachine gun received the nickname "Tommy Gun" in the popular press, Thompson went to the patent office to patent the nickname. A small run of M1928 and M1928A1 made by Savage Arms were stamped "TOMMY GUN".
Auto-Ordnance produced different prototypes for military rifle trials in the 1920s and for the .30 carbine
trials in the early 1940s but these were not adopted by the military. Later during WWII, Auto-Ordnance established its own production plant in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and produced the M1928A1, M1 and M1A1 Thompsons to augment production by Savage Arms for the military. Auto-Ordnance also made parts for other military firearms as a subcontractor for other manufacturers in WWII.
The Thompson M1A1 was typically issued to tankers and others affiliated with vehicles, due to the weapon's heavy weight and short effective range. Later, it became popular for use in urban environments due to its short barrel making it easier to bring to target in a confined space than the M1 Garand, and in jungle warfare due to its volume of fire and stopping power.
During the 1950s, Auto-Ordnance was owned and operated by Numrich Arms (Gun Parts Corporation), which made limited numbers of Thompson submachine guns for law enforcement, including M1928A1 and M1A1 models; later in the 1970s, the Numrich incarnation of Auto-Ordnance made semi-automatic replicas of the Thompson gun for the collectors' market.
Auto-Ordnance was bought out in 1999 by Kahr Arms
. As a division of Kahr, Auto-Ordnance continues to make semi-automatic-only "Thompson Carbines" in .45 ACP. Although they appear identical to their selective-fire (full-auto) predecessors, unlike them the new production Thompsons fire from a closed bolt rather than the open bolt of the original Thompson design. Variations include the "Chicago Typewriter" M1927A1 which resemble the M1924A1 of the gangster era; the M1928A4 "Commando" which resembles the early World War II Thompson with the Cutts Compensator; the later World War II M1 Thompson with the side-mounted bolt lever; and a "Thompson pistol" that essentially is an M1928 without the buttstock. The company also manufactures replicas of the U.S. WWII M1 carbine
and M1911 pistol.
John T. Thompson
John Taliaferro Thompson, , was a United States Army officer best remembered as the inventor of the Thompson submachine gun.-Early life:...
of the U.S. Army Ordnance Department in 1916. Auto-Ordnance is best known for the Thompson submachine gun
Thompson submachine gun
The Thompson is an American submachine gun, invented by John T. Thompson in 1919, that became infamous during the Prohibition era. It was a common sight in the media of the time, being used by both law enforcement officers and criminals...
, notorious as a gangster weapon of the Roaring Twenties
Roaring Twenties
The Roaring Twenties is a phrase used to describe the 1920s, principally in North America, but also in London, Berlin and Paris for a period of sustained economic prosperity. The phrase was meant to emphasize the period's social, artistic, and cultural dynamism...
and famous as a military weapon of the Allied forces in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
History
Auto-Ordnance Corporation was created by John T. ThompsonJohn T. Thompson
John Taliaferro Thompson, , was a United States Army officer best remembered as the inventor of the Thompson submachine gun.-Early life:...
in August 1916 with the backing of investor Thomas Ryan. In 1915 Thompson had found the Blish Lock
Blish lock
The Blish Lock is a breech locking mechanism designed by John Bell Blish based upon his observation that under extreme pressures, certain dissimilar metals will resist movement with a force greater than normal friction laws would predict. In modern engineering terminology, it is considered to be an...
patent of Commander John Blish, which was the operating principle of the first prototypes of the Thompson submachine gun
Thompson submachine gun
The Thompson is an American submachine gun, invented by John T. Thompson in 1919, that became infamous during the Prohibition era. It was a common sight in the media of the time, being used by both law enforcement officers and criminals...
and the Thompson Autorifle
Thompson Autorifle
The Thompson Autorifle was a semi-automatic rifle that used a Blish Lock to delay the action of the weapon. It was chambered in .30-06, with the 1923 model in 7.62mm Russian rifle rounds....
. In exchange for shares of the newly found company Blish agreed to give Thompson his patent. Thompson hired two design engineers Theodore H. Eickoff and Oscar V. Payne. The engineers learned that the Blish lock design, which was a Delayed blowback action, was ineffective with the .30-06 rifle cartridge but very effective with the .45 ACP
.45 ACP
The .45 ACP , also known as the .45 Auto by C.I.P., is a cartridge designed by John Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic .45 pistol and eventually the M1911 pistol adopted by the United States Army in 1911.-Design and history:The U.S...
pistol round. The birth of the Thompson submachine gun took place when Thompson had the idea of a "trench sweeper" or "trench broom". The first short run production model was 1919, too late for use in WWI.
Thompson first showed the submachine gun design to the US government, but it became a gun for law enforcement before it was put to use in the military. The initial production of the Model 1921 was by Colt. After the Thompson submachine gun received the nickname "Tommy Gun" in the popular press, Thompson went to the patent office to patent the nickname. A small run of M1928 and M1928A1 made by Savage Arms were stamped "TOMMY GUN".
Auto-Ordnance produced different prototypes for military rifle trials in the 1920s and for the .30 carbine
M1 Carbine
The M1 carbine is a lightweight, easy to use semi-automatic carbine that became a standard firearm for the U.S. military during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and was produced in several variants. It was widely used by U.S...
trials in the early 1940s but these were not adopted by the military. Later during WWII, Auto-Ordnance established its own production plant in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and produced the M1928A1, M1 and M1A1 Thompsons to augment production by Savage Arms for the military. Auto-Ordnance also made parts for other military firearms as a subcontractor for other manufacturers in WWII.
The Thompson M1A1 was typically issued to tankers and others affiliated with vehicles, due to the weapon's heavy weight and short effective range. Later, it became popular for use in urban environments due to its short barrel making it easier to bring to target in a confined space than the M1 Garand, and in jungle warfare due to its volume of fire and stopping power.
During the 1950s, Auto-Ordnance was owned and operated by Numrich Arms (Gun Parts Corporation), which made limited numbers of Thompson submachine guns for law enforcement, including M1928A1 and M1A1 models; later in the 1970s, the Numrich incarnation of Auto-Ordnance made semi-automatic replicas of the Thompson gun for the collectors' market.
Auto-Ordnance was bought out in 1999 by Kahr Arms
Kahr Arms
Kahr Arms is an American small arms manufacturer founded by Kook Jin "Justin" Moon , who currently serves as CEO and President. It is owned by the Saeilo Corporation , a subsidiary of Tongil Group, a South Korean business group associated with the Unification Church...
. As a division of Kahr, Auto-Ordnance continues to make semi-automatic-only "Thompson Carbines" in .45 ACP. Although they appear identical to their selective-fire (full-auto) predecessors, unlike them the new production Thompsons fire from a closed bolt rather than the open bolt of the original Thompson design. Variations include the "Chicago Typewriter" M1927A1 which resemble the M1924A1 of the gangster era; the M1928A4 "Commando" which resembles the early World War II Thompson with the Cutts Compensator; the later World War II M1 Thompson with the side-mounted bolt lever; and a "Thompson pistol" that essentially is an M1928 without the buttstock. The company also manufactures replicas of the U.S. WWII M1 carbine
M1 Carbine
The M1 carbine is a lightweight, easy to use semi-automatic carbine that became a standard firearm for the U.S. military during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and was produced in several variants. It was widely used by U.S...
and M1911 pistol.