Video: M1A1 Thompson Submachine Gun

by
posted on February 26, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
The U.S.-made Thompson Submachine Gun was developed by Gen. John T. Thompson, who envisioned a "one-man, hand-held machine gun" in .45 ACP for use in the ongoing trench warfare of World War I. But the war ended before prototypes could be shipped to Europe. At the start of World War II, the Thompson was the only submachine gun commercially available to the Allies. But the guns were expensive to make. Savage and Auto-Ornance simplified the gun inside and out and made it cheaper and faster to make. The result was the M1 and later the M1A1 Thompson. It turns out the "Blish principle of metallic adhesion" didn't really matter.

To learn more about the iconic Thompson M1A1 Submachine Gun, watch this "I Have This Old Gun" segment from a recent episode of American Rifleman TV.

Latest

Ruger LC Carbine In 10 mm Auto
Ruger LC Carbine In 10 mm Auto

Review: Ruger LC Carbine In 10 mm Auto

Following the success of its .45 ACP-chambered LC Carbine, Ruger realized that this platform would go a long way toward making the 10 mm Auto more controllable and fun to shoot, and a new 10 mm version was released in 2024.

The Armed Citizen® July 14, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Favorite Firearms: A Little Stevens From Chicago

"Over the next five or six years, and before I went off to college, I fired hundreds and hundreds of rounds of .22 BB Caps, CB Caps, Shorts and Longs through this rifle."

Preview: Strike Industries T-Bone Charging Handle

The T-Bone from Strike Industries is an ideal fit for suppressed applications, as it can be configured by the user to redirect gas blowback entirely to either side ...

New For 2025: Weatherby Model 307 Range XP 2.0 & Alpine ST Rifles

Weatherby's Model 307 bolt-action rifle opens up a world of aftermarket components to consumers, thanks to its Model 700 receiver footprint, and the company now has two new models for hunters and sport shooters.

Preview: Thunderbolt To The Rebels | The United States Sharpshooters In The Civil War

Author Darin Wipperman provides a tantalizing glimpse into the world of Berdan’s sharpshooters during the American Civil War.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.