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Tommy Gun ... I've always wanted one ...

kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
edited June 2002 in General Discussion
When was the last time you wresteled with a "Gun Decision "?

A "friend" offered me his 1927 Thompson A-5 pistol, just like this one ... at a very nice price, complete with everything except the box ... he has the 1976 catalog and price sheet, BTAF letter, tools, manual (1) 20 and (2) 30 round stick mags AND a 50 round drum. In short it was a very rough night ... tossed and turned ... what to do? How good of a friend can this guy be ... he's making life pretty rough right now I might shoot it once or twice, but for the most part it will just sit in the safe ... of course thats what most of them do ...



I think I'll take the advise of one of our old friend dano:
When in doubt ... BUY IT!

=================================
The only bad thing about choosing a Kimber ...
... there are so darn many models to choose from!
kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
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Comments

  • lurkerlurker Member Posts: 414 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Think of it this way ---

    If it were a good stock, would you hesitate?

    The Tommy is probably a better investment than most stocks, plus you can't shoot a stock!
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  • MercuryMercury Member Posts: 7,842 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've always craved one of these. Saw an original 1930s? 1940s? era model at a show recently. $16k!!!!!

    You can pick up the NEW semi-autos for $800 or so......I love the way they look.

    If I could find a full-auto for under $5k, I'd probably buy it.

    Merc



    NO! You may not have my guns! Now go crawl back into your hole!

    ****************************************

    "Tolerating things you may not necessarily like is part of being free" - Larry Flynt
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  • IconoclastIconoclast Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Had a chance to shoot an original M1928 (?) "civilian" model many years ago. Heavy sonofagun! But lots of fun. With a drum mag, awful easy to shoot up a box of ammo in a very short time! And wicked muzzle climb. Maybe that's where this holding a firearm sideways thing originated?
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  • varmit huntervarmit hunter Member Posts: 1,674 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Look at it as a health expence. You will sleep better, Less stress,Lower blood pressure, Lower your heart rate. My God Kimber get it while you have the time. I am trying to save your life.

    The most important things, Are not things.
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  • 4GodandCountry4GodandCountry Member Posts: 3,968
    edited November -1
    I would like to get one as well because of sentimental reasons. I have a picture on my dad holding one when he was in the Air Force during the Korean War. Someday Ill get one...

    When Clinton left office they gave him a 21 gun salute. Its a damn shame they all missed....
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  • royc38royc38 Member Posts: 2,235 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    GET IT GET IT GET IT GET IT GET IT GET IT GET IT GET IT GET IT.
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Having seen the gun, I would only be asking the one important question: "Do I have the money?"

    - Life NRA Member
    "If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
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  • bama55bama55 Member Posts: 6,389 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hey Kimberkid, BUY IT!!!!!, especially if FA.
    Our trooper post had one years ago and I got to clean it.
    Of course I shot it (a lot) first. Then one of my friends
    bought a Military model and lets me shoot it. Of course I spend
    a month or so loading ammo before I go see him. They are such fun
    to shoot.
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  • ndbillyndbilly Member Posts: 1,573 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I assume the kids' college funds are adequate should they be accepted to a very good college. Of course, you checked with your wife and made sure there were no needs around the house, (new appliances, home repairs, that addition now that the kids are getting bigger). You're willing to sell or trade several other guns in order to justify the expense of this one. ALL other bills, with the possible exception of the mortgage, are paid off. Your IRA or 401k is fully funded for this year. You have a minimum of six month's salary in reserve in the event of unexpected financial difficulties. You carry 10x your yearly income in life insurance so your family will be adequately cared for should you pass on unexpectedly. Both cars are still under warranty o you've put back a couple grand in the event of a large auto repair bill.

    If you've answered "yes" to all of the above then you don't deserve to own such a beautiful piece of gun. If you answered "No" to most of the above, you know that you can never cover all the bases and if you spend your time worrying about it or trying to cover every possible situation, you'll never have much fun and, IMHO, fun has been grossly under-rated in this "Prepare for Tomorrow" bulls**t mindset so prevalent today. If you can swing it, friend, get the Thompson.
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  • kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well I went to see little Tommy again yesterday, asked Rick for his "bottom dollar price". Now before yous guys jump all over me, Rick isn't nieve to what these are selling for and he knows how rare the A-5 is, but he let me have it for what he paid for it new in 1984, so it was a "no-brainer" ... little Tommy has a new home ... mine!

    He is a Semi-Auto and yes, he is heavy! About 12 pounds with a fully loaded drum ... man those are a bugger to re-laod. Now I just need a zoot suit, saddle shoes and a fedora ... and a 1930 ford coupe would be nice too ...

    ndbilly - No, I didn't check with my wife; I can't say yes, not even to 1 single question! ... I let her take care of those details ... I buy/sell/trade gun stuff on GB as a hobby, plus I get an "allowance" of $100 a week to do with as I please. Ronda pays all the bills except my gas and cigaretts. She on the other hand, could say yes to all your questions except the one about insurance ... believe me; she is a gem and I treat her as such. She rarely buys things she wants which makes suprising her easy ... like a couple months after Abby was born, she wanted her rings back (I'd put them in my safe because her hands had swollen and she couldn't wear them), her engagement ring dimond grew from a 1/4 karet to 1 karet; or the last time she went to visit her parents she came home to new carpet throughout the house ...

    BTW I made a boo-boo in my first post, the copy of the BTAF letter is dated 1976, but the catalog and price sheet is 1984, when it was bought new.

    =================================
    The only bad thing about choosing a Kimber ...
    ... there are so darn many models to choose from!
    kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
    If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
    ? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
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  • bama55bama55 Member Posts: 6,389 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hey Kimberkid, with the A5 being Semi-Auto you wont have to spend
    as much time at the reloading bench. It doesn't get as hungry
    as a Full-Auto, but is still fun to shoot.
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  • offerorofferor Member Posts: 8,625 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm jealous. You stole that little bugger for 1984 dollars! Oh, if only I knew people that, uh, generous.

    - Life NRA Member
    "If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
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  • kimberkidkimberkid Member Posts: 8,858 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    In 1984, according to the price list the A-5 was $556, 30 round mags were $11.50 and the drum was $79.95 only he didn't buy the drum originally. He had bought the 50 round drum a couple years later which was after the ban ... paid a whooping $200 for it ... I got the whole package (drum and all) for $800 ...

    I took "Little Tommy" out this afternoon and burned up 150 rounds (in about 20 minutes) ... what a BLAST! After the first drum I had no problem hitting a 2'X 2' target at 50 yards from the hip (pulling the trigger as fast as I could), which is about the only way you can shoot it ... and have fun .

    BTW If anyone is interested, the one I have pictured is up for auction on GB right now (thats where I got the pic), you can find it here: http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=4198553 for only $1800 (buy it now price) ... but the drum is a 10 rounder

    =================================
    The only bad thing about choosing a Kimber ...
    ... there are so darn many models to choose from!
    kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com

    Edited by - kimberkid on 06/12/2002 19:03:11
    If you really desire something, you'll find a way ?
    ? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
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  • ghost614ghost614 Member Posts: 129 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    wow, just like in the movies!
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  • Gordian BladeGordian Blade Member Posts: 1,202 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    "Sure I believe ya. But my Tommy Gun don't!"

    Oops, I already used that line in another thread.
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