Thompson "Tommy Gun" SMG… .30 Carbine Version

by Nathan S

Published: October 20th, 2016

thompson tommy gun smg 30 carbine version

During World War II, various companies and weapons designers vied for the coveted contract that ultimately became the M1 Carbine in .30 Carbine. One of those companies was Auto Ordnance, which did submit a “light” rifle design, but as a “just in case” also developed a .30 Carbine version of their Thompson SMG.

Originally chambered for the .45 ACP pistol cartridge, it took a bit of engineering to bring the Tommy Gun up to .30 Carbine specification. Specifically, a new magazine and receiver was required to handle the longer and more powerful load. From there, various internal mechanical bits were reinforced, but the primary operating action was the same.

The weapon was truly a “just in case” submission to the Army, which was summarily rejected. The .30 Carbine Thompson SMF was nearly double the weight requirement for the light carbine, coming in past 12 pounds, unloaded. Auto Ordnance hoped to win the contract as minimal retooling was required to get the weapon into production.

All the common quirks of the ubiquitous Tommy Gun remained. The magazine release was activated upward, the charging handle was on the top, which reciprocated as the gun fired, and the safety and selectors were in their usual unusual locations.

To see all the details of the .30 Caliber Thompson, check out the video from Forgotten Weapons:

#WwII #.45ACP #M1 #Thompson #Smg #.30Carbine #Prototypes

Nathan S

One of TFB's resident Jarheads, Nathan now works within the firearms industry. A consecutive Marine rifle and pistol expert, he enjoys local 3-gun, NFA, gunsmithing, MSR's, & high-speed gear. Nathan has traveled to over 30 countries working with US DoD & foreign MoDs.The above post is my opinion and does not reflect the views of any company or organization.

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5 of 19 comments

Old Vet on Oct 22, 2016

I was wondering if this is the only example? Wow, would love to own this one though. Darned old museums have all the luck.....

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- Gunner4guy on Oct 22, 2016
  
  @Old Vet If you look around in dusty, dirty closets, especially in a ranch in SE New Mexico, you 'might', just might find a Thompson chambered in .38 Super. Don't know where this old guy got it, how or where it is now but it was a trip to shoot. If I'd known then what I know now....
  Been told there weren't all that many made, apparently made for police use.... like under a thousand. Not sure how true that is tho...
  
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- Old Vet on Oct 22, 2016
  
  @Gunner4guy Sounds like an adventure just waiting to happen. My trips are spent going to China with the little wife, not much gun stuff there except in the museums...haha
  
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- Gunner4guy on Oct 24, 2016
  
  @Old Vet College roommate invited 3 of us out to his Grandpa's ranch to help thin out the wild dogs tearing up cattle. Good grub, a few brews then the next morning we went out in some pickups and hunted down a couple of packs... too late for some cattle we saw though. Two M3's, a .45 Thompson, this .38 Super Thompson and a couple of old rifles. Bouncing around in the trucks, had a blast and got to burn up a LOT of ammo. More interested in shooting then, not the Thompson. Have no idea if the subguns were legit or not..., some things you just don't ask a generous host.
  Couple years later Uncle Sugar provided me with all the guns, ammo and targets I could want but I'd still like to have that old chopper but prob can't afford it now.
  
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Insane_Penquin on Oct 22, 2016

I believe that qualifies as a thomas gun

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Thompson "Tommy Gun" SMG… .30 Carbine Version

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