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thompson drums

loganlogan Member Posts: 10 ✭✭
edited March 2002 in Ask the Experts
What when why??? I only thought that their were 50 100 and 10 round 45acp drums made for the Thompson machine guns or semi's? Today I noted a 39 round drum being auctioned off but its type of amunition / size is not disclosed as far as I could see. Looks just like a 50 to me. However, can't see close enough in the picture to see just what the manufacturers markings indicate. When were these ever made to be of such a unusual capacity, 39??? Thanks, Dwight
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Comments

  • loganlogan Member Posts: 10 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    well i thought i found 50 rd. drumsafter loading the one i find i can only get39 rds in it is there a market for them ?and if so what is a fair price ?e-mail sdloganinc@aol.comthanks for the info
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  • JudgeColtJudgeColt Member Posts: 1,790 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I believe you have what is called an "XL" drum. (XL in Roman numerals is 40, so they still were fudging one round!) I have never had it explained to me how these *-sized drums came to be. Does anyone know? After all, as I understand it, the "L" (50 round) and "C" (100 round) drums came well before the XL. Why the XL? Why go to the trouble to make a new capacity drum that held less rounds? Exactly how does the XL differ from the L? Are they same physical size? Is the spiral inside shorter, etc.?Any Thompson experts here who can explain all this?
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  • AntiqueDrAntiqueDr Member Posts: 691 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The XL drum was made in the early 70's. The cartridges only go around the outer rim of the drum and with the spring mechanism there is room for 39 of them.These drums still go for $350 or so...
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  • cliffdropover1cliffdropover1 Member Posts: 136 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The 39 capacity drums were made by Auto-Ordnance. They are very poorly made and usually do not work well at all. Try to find an Original 50. They cost more, but are well worth it. They work.
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  • JudgeColtJudgeColt Member Posts: 1,790 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thank you Doctor. I knew when they were made, but never knew why. I suspected they were the same physical size, but with a different internal mechanism. The question still remains, why were they made when the L and C drum designs were already in existence? If they were made to be less expensive, how much money could be saved by making a smaller spiral? In thinking about it, I supsect that A-O contracted with some company to make a less expensive drum, and the XL was the result. Do you know, Doctor?
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