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CHINESE THOMPSON SMG?

Featured Replies

#1

Saw this on the display at the Beijing Military Museum... The pics are a bit dark, as the display case wasn't well-lighted. Is this a Chinese copy?

post-9906-0-51405000-1436758906.jpg

 

post-9906-0-83323600-1436758894.jpg

 

post-9906-0-47176300-1436758917.jpg

#2

I have heard of an M1923 Thompson that looks much like this. There is a drawing here. Maybe it was one that they sold to drum up a foreign military contract. Or, maybe it is a Chinese copy of one that made it to China to drum up contracts!

 

http://world.guns.ru/smg/smg29-e.htm

#3

The Chinese did make copies of the Thompson, all that I have seen photos of closely resemble the Model 1928. Tracie Hill's Thompson: the American Legend has a two page chapter on these Chinese copies.

 

While the Thompson in the photo does resemble a Model 1923, the bipod is completely different as well as the foregrip. According to Hill's book the American made military version was chambered in .45 Remington-Thompson. Only five were built and only two are known to exist. One is at the West Point museum and the other is in a French military museum. Two civilian Model 1923s were built although they did not have the bipod assembly. Serial no. 2059 was chambered in .45 ACP and no. 2970 was chambered in .45 Remington-Thompson.

#4

That has to be a Chinese copy. the mag is a standard size, not the "super wides" that were on the m1923's. Fore stock and charging handle also looks off.

 

The Chinese were great copiers and lover the .45 ball. So much they made broomhandle C-96's in that caliber! The one in the background of the oriental thompson looks like one of these large bore copy's.

 

But i have been wrong. Never underestimate an armys resourcefulness!

#5

Hi,

My guess this is a Chinese copy. The Chinese loved Thompsons and Broomhandle Mausers. They made thousands of copies of both. This is a picture of a Thompson used by the Chinese and Chinese weapons from WW2 and Korea. Here also is a link to the history of the Thompson pictured. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=65171

Dick

post-9487-1267718249.jpg

#6
Hi,

My guess this is a Chinese copy. The Chinese loved Thompsons and Broomhandle Mausers. They made thousands of copies of both. This is a picture of a Thompson used by the Chinese and Chinese weapons from WW2 and Korea. Here also is a link to the history of the Thompson pictured. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=65171

Dick

 

 

No, that particular one is a US made example. Probably given to the Nationalist Chinese as lend - lease during WWII or following the war to fight the Communist Chinese. The Chinese did not duplicate the US markings. All the copies I have ever seen were 1928s.

#7

Hello,

This may help.

 

Roughly translated the characters read; Province of Schwaan (on top), weapon People's Republic of China (bottom).

 

It says nothing about "made in" or "captured", no other markings to indicate it WAS made in China.

 

JS

#8

 

 

Hello,
This may help.

Roughly translated the characters read; Province of Schwaan (on top), weapon People's Republic of China (bottom).

It says nothing about "made in" or "captured", no other markings to indicate it WAS made in China.

JS


Over the years there have been a couple of articles in the TCA or TATA newsletter about Chinese copies.

No question these are Chinese copies. The example in the top photo belongs to the West Point Museum.

post-9906-0-62554800-1436759133.jpg

 

post-9906-0-49691500-1436759166.jpg

To give you the idea of the value of a Chinese copy - Chinese Copy Colt 1921 Submachine Gun Captured at Iwo Jima 5/19/07 $69,000.00
http://www.amoskeag-auction.com/ClassIIIsales.html

  • 8 years later...
#9

I don't about anyone else but there are no photos that appear in any of theses post and clicking on them gives me an error message. The links are no good as well as clicking on them gives me more error messages.

#10

Here is a Chinese made Thompson.

post-185184-0-69366800-1541706818_thumb.jpg

#11

Here is a Chinese made Thompson.

Thanks for sharing your photographs.

#12

I had no idea the Chinese made these. Very cool.

  • 1 year later...
#13

really cool!

  • 1 year later...
#14

The Red Chinese also made a copy of the Grease Gun during the Korean War, called the Type 36.

36.jpg

#15

How did this thread start in 2010? This forum isn’t that old.

#16

It seems this thread was one of the non-standard "non-US" threads transferred over from USMF to populate this brother forum.

 

 

#17
5 hours ago, SARGE said:

It seems this thread was one of the non-standard "non-US" threads transferred over from USMF to populate this brother forum.

 

 

Thank you for explaining, I should have realized that.

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