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The Thompson submachine gun was one of the most popular submachine guns of the 20th century. It was created by John T. Thompson. Initial development began in 1917, and production started in 1921.
The M1921 (renamed to the M1921A in 1926) is a base model.
The M1921AC is an M1921A with a Cutts compensator.
The M1928A is an M1921A with a reduced rate of fire (600 shots per minute; the M1921 models fire 800 shots per minute). It can't use drum magazines of 100 cartridges (presumably because the spring tension of the magazine is incompatible with the rate of fire).
The M1928AC is an M1928A with the Cutts compensator.
The M1928 Navy is an M1928AC with a horizontal handguard and sling swivels.
The M1928A1 is an M1928 Navy with a different name.
The M1 and the M1A1 are simplified wartime models. They can't use drum magazines. The reinforcing bolt with its nut and its washer for the shoulder stock are not standard parts for the M1921 and the M1928 models, but for the M1 and the M1A1 models.
The Thompson fires from an open bolt. It has the friction-delayed blowback action with the Blish lock (for the M1921 and the M1928 models) or the simple blowback action (for the M1 and the M1A1 models), and it uses the hammer to hit the firing pin. It is chambered in the 0.45 inches (11.43 millimeters) ACP cartridge. It has a manual safety and two fire modes (semi-automatic and fully automatic). It uses box magazines of 20 and 30 cartridges, and drum magazines of 50 and 100 cartridges.
The overall length with the Cutts compensator is around 33 inches (83.82 cm), and 31.8 in (80.772 cm) without one.
The barrel length with the Cutts compensator is around 12.5 in (317.5 mm), and 10.5 in (266.7 mm) without one.
The direction of the rifling twist is to the right.
The rifling twist rate is 1 turn in around 16 in (406.4 mm).
The mass of the M1921 model is around 8.5 pounds (3.855 kilograms) when empty (without the magazine) and without the shoulder stock). The mass of the shoulder stock is around 1.5 lb (0.680 g).
The rear sight for the M1921 and the M1928 models is graduated from 0 to 600 yards (548.64 m) in 100 yd (91.44 m) increments. It is adjustable for windage. The open notch (the "battle sight") of the rear sight is graduated for 50 yd (45.72 m).
The distance between two sights is around 22.30 in (566.42 mm). The term "sight radius" is incorrect. The radius is a line segment between any point of a circle or a sphere and its center.
The trigger pull force is around 8-10 pound-forces (35.585-44.482 newtons). The term "trigger pull weight" is incorrect. Weight is a measure of the force on the object caused by a gravitational field.
It was well-made, accurate (incorrect aiming, an incorrect stance, an incorrect grip, and an incorrect trigger pull cause accuracy problems), reliable (incorrect maintenance causes reliability problems), and provided good firepower, but it was too heavy, expensive ($200 in the 1920s; the Ford Model T Runabout car cost $265 in 1924), and complex for an average user.
The M1921 (renamed to the M1921A in 1926) is a base model.
The M1921AC is an M1921A with a Cutts compensator.
The M1928A is an M1921A with a reduced rate of fire (600 shots per minute; the M1921 models fire 800 shots per minute). It can't use drum magazines of 100 cartridges (presumably because the spring tension of the magazine is incompatible with the rate of fire).
The M1928AC is an M1928A with the Cutts compensator.
The M1928 Navy is an M1928AC with a horizontal handguard and sling swivels.
The M1928A1 is an M1928 Navy with a different name.
The M1 and the M1A1 are simplified wartime models. They can't use drum magazines. The reinforcing bolt with its nut and its washer for the shoulder stock are not standard parts for the M1921 and the M1928 models, but for the M1 and the M1A1 models.
The Thompson fires from an open bolt. It has the friction-delayed blowback action with the Blish lock (for the M1921 and the M1928 models) or the simple blowback action (for the M1 and the M1A1 models), and it uses the hammer to hit the firing pin. It is chambered in the 0.45 inches (11.43 millimeters) ACP cartridge. It has a manual safety and two fire modes (semi-automatic and fully automatic). It uses box magazines of 20 and 30 cartridges, and drum magazines of 50 and 100 cartridges.
The overall length with the Cutts compensator is around 33 inches (83.82 cm), and 31.8 in (80.772 cm) without one.
The barrel length with the Cutts compensator is around 12.5 in (317.5 mm), and 10.5 in (266.7 mm) without one.
The direction of the rifling twist is to the right.
The rifling twist rate is 1 turn in around 16 in (406.4 mm).
The mass of the M1921 model is around 8.5 pounds (3.855 kilograms) when empty (without the magazine) and without the shoulder stock). The mass of the shoulder stock is around 1.5 lb (0.680 g).
The rear sight for the M1921 and the M1928 models is graduated from 0 to 600 yards (548.64 m) in 100 yd (91.44 m) increments. It is adjustable for windage. The open notch (the "battle sight") of the rear sight is graduated for 50 yd (45.72 m).
The distance between two sights is around 22.30 in (566.42 mm). The term "sight radius" is incorrect. The radius is a line segment between any point of a circle or a sphere and its center.
The trigger pull force is around 8-10 pound-forces (35.585-44.482 newtons). The term "trigger pull weight" is incorrect. Weight is a measure of the force on the object caused by a gravitational field.
It was well-made, accurate (incorrect aiming, an incorrect stance, an incorrect grip, and an incorrect trigger pull cause accuracy problems), reliable (incorrect maintenance causes reliability problems), and provided good firepower, but it was too heavy, expensive ($200 in the 1920s; the Ford Model T Runabout car cost $265 in 1924), and complex for an average user.
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