3198
Excellent Fully Automatic Colt Model 1921 Thompson Submachine Gun with FBI Carrying Case, Drum and S
Currency:USD
Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory
Start Price:12,000.00 USD
Estimated At:30,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD
SOLD
50,000.00USD+ buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2010 Sep 12 @ 11:47UTC-5 : EST/CDT
Did you win this lot?
A full invoice should be emailed to the winner by the auctioneer within a day or two.
This is an excellent example of an all original, fully automatic Colt Model 1921 Thompson Submachine gun. These early models exhibit the finely machined and blued metal parts and components with a bright polished bolt and an oil finish on the wood components. These early guns were the quintessential classic submachine gun used during the depression era gangland warfare by the early law enforcement and the FBI. Ultimately they were adopted by the Military and used through out WWII, Korea and even into Vietnam in a later "M1A1" war expedient configuration. It is estimated that only approximately 15, 000 sets of 1921 parts were produced with almost all of those parts being used to produce the more successful later Model 1928A1 configuration, making these early 1921 sub machine guns a very scarce weapon. The left side of the receiver is marked "MODEL OF 1921" over the serial number "5402" and farther back on the receiver it has the correct 5 line markings of "THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN, / CALIBRE 45 AUTOMATIC COLT CARTRIDGE, / MANUFACTURED BY / COLT'S PATENT FIRE ARMS MFG. CO. / HARTFORD CONN. U.S.A." The right side is marked "AUTO-ORDNANCE CORPORATION / NEW YORK U.S.A." with the five line patent dates farther forward, along with the circled "JHB" inspectors mark of Major John Barret, directly behind the ejection port. The left side of the lower receiver assembly is correctly marked with "FULL AUTO" and "SINGLE" along with "FIRE and SAFE" markings behind that. These early production sub machine guns are very distinctive in that they have the desirable early finned barrel to aid in cooling when firing in a full-automatic, the fully adjustable Lyman tangent rear sight with sight protectors that is graduated from 100-600 yards, the walnut vertical fore grip and a detachable walnut butt stock with the butt trap which holds an original nickel plated Thompson oilier. The example also has the correct early, one-piece heavier steel buffer with the pilot without the fiber disc. The gun is complete with a polished and matte blued 50rd Drum magazines; one made by the Seymour manufacturing company and the other one by Auto Ordnance Company, three 20 round blued stick magazines, all made by the Seymour company, one canvas case for the drum magazine, a small metal cleaning case containing two nylon cleaning brushes, a spare firing pin, extractor, three spare small springs and a brass pull through with string, an envelope from the Auto Ordnance Company containing an original Auto Ordnance sales brochure and company letter with an Army technical manual dated October 1942, a steel cleaning rod, one 50 round box of original Remington 45ACP ammo all contained in a modern made FBI style carrying case that houses the gun and accessories. NOTE: This is a fully transferable NFA Class III Firearm currently on a Form 4. You are required to check your state and/or local laws as to whether or not you may own this. This weapon can be transferred to a Class III dealer at no charge. Buyer pays all other transfer fees and stamps.
BBL: 12 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 45 ACP
Finish: blue
Grips: walnut
Serial Number: 5402
Condition: Excellent with 98% plus of the original blue finish showing edge and high spot wear with some minor thinning on the compensator. The stock and pistol grips are all in original condition showing a nice matching dark color. The upper and lower receivers have matching numbers and the various components are all in the same condition as the sub machine gun. Mechanically excellent.
Auction Location:
4507 49th Avenue, Moline, Illinois, 62165, United States
Previewing Details:
Preview: Open to the public Thursday, September 9th from 10 AM to 6 PM and Friday, September 10th from 8 AM to 10 AM.
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
19.5% |
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
Please contact the auction house for the preferred shipper’s contact information
Payment Details:
Payment Information: Auction sales are strictly for cash, cashier’s check or checks (with prior approval of the management), MasterCard, Visa or Discover. NOTE TO ALL BUYERS: Method of payment will be U.S. currency or certified check drawn on an American bank. All sales are final at the fall of the Auctioneer's hammer. Buyer’s Premium: All bid prices “hammer prices” (means the price at which a lot is knocked down to the purchaser) will be subject to a buyer’s premium payable by the purchaser of 19.5% of the bid price. There is a 2.5% discount for payment with cash, approved check or wire transfer. The premium is added to your successful bid and the two together equal the total purchase price. At the announcement of “SOLD”, the highest bidder will have purchased the offered lot. This purchase is subject to all the terms and conditions set forth herein. The purchaser assumes full responsibility thereof and if requested will sign a confirmation of the purchase. The purchaser further agrees to pay the purchase price, buyer’s premium and any applicable taxes before any lot may be transferred. All items purchased by successful bidders must be paid for in full the day of sale. All items purchased by absentee bidders must be paid for in full immediately upon notification.
1. UNDERSTANDING THE TERMS & CONDITIONS OF SALE. The following conditions of sale make up the entire terms and conditions on which items listed in our catalog and addendum sheets will be offered for sale or sold by Rock Island Auction Company (known hereafter as "RIAC") and any client for whom we act as an agent. Any notices, posted or oral during the sale, are also part of our condition of sale agreement. These are the conditions of the sale. Acceptance of a bidder card or a bidder number constitutes acceptance of the following terms and conditions. The purchaser's rights and our respective rights and obligations hereunder are governed by Illinois law. By bidding at our auction whether in person or by agent, sealed bid, telephone bid or other means, the buyer or bidder agrees that the contract created by these conditions of sale is made and performed in the County of Rock Island, State of Illinois and further agrees that should any dispute arise from this contract the jurisdiction for contractual disputes is Rock Island County.
2. BUYER'S PREMIUM AND SALES TAX. All bid prices “hammer prices” (means the price at which a lot is knocked down to the purchaser) will be subject to a buyer’s premium 17.5% payable by the purchaser. The buyer’s premium shall be reduced to 15% provided the payment is paid by cash or the equivalent of cash (cashier’s check, wire transfer, or approved personal check). If the account is settled by credit card, the buyer’s premium then shall be the standard 17.5%. This is not an aggregate percentage on the total items bid rather a per item percentage rate. The premium is added to your successful bid and the two together equal the total purchase price. Some items are exempt from Illinois sales tax and others may be subject to Illinois sales tax or local sales tax. The tax is computed on the total purchase price. To establish a tax free sale, a copy of a valid reseller's permit or other instrument of information must be provided to our satisfaction establishing a sales tax exemption. Any purchaser claiming an exemption yet unable to provide proof will be required to pay the tax to us and seek a refund from the State of Illinois. Generally, all items shipped out of state are tax free sales. We have been authorized by the consignor to retain as part of our remuneration, the buyer’s premium payable by the purchaser.
3. METHOD OF PAYMENT. Auction sales are strictly for cash, cashier’s check or checks (with prior approval of the management), MasterCard, Visa or Discover. NOTE TO FOREIGN BUYERS: Method of payment will be U.S. currency, certified check drawn on an American bank or wire transfer.
4. TERMS OF PAYMENT. At the announcement of “SOLD”, the highest bidder will have purchased the offered lot. All sales are final at the fall of the Auctioneer’s hammer or at the announcement of "sold". This purchase is subject to all the terms and conditions set forth herein. The purchaser assumes full responsibility thereof and if requested will sign a confirmation of the purchase. The purchaser further agrees to pay the purchase price, buyer’s premium and any applicable taxes. All items purchased by successful bidders must be paid for in full the day of sale. All property must be removed from our premises at the purchaser’s expense no later than 5:00 p.m. five days following the date of sale unless otherwise agreed. If the property is not removed, it may be transferred to a public warehouse for the purchaser at the purchaser’s risk and expense.
Absentee Bidders: In order to expedite notification of your bidding all clients with a RIAC web account will be notified via email that you were successful and to check your account. A form is provided for you there to complete and return to us in regards to shipping instructions and method of payment. Once we receive the form we then follow up with a phone call to confirm all information is correct, upon receiving payment and any applicable licensing we process your order. If you do not have a web account with us we will call you regarding payment and shipping instructions and follow up with an invoice in the mail.
Each purchaser at this auction grants us a security in the property purchased. We may retain as collateral security for the purchaser’s obligations to us any of the purchaser’s property and all monies held or received by us. We may apply against such obligations monies held or received by us for the account of, or owing to, the purchaser. We retain all rights of a secured party under the Illinois Commercial Code. Whenever the purchaser pays only a part of the total price for one or more lots purchased, we may apply such payments, at our sole discretion, to the lot or lots we choose. Payment will not be deemed made in full until we have collected all amounts due in cash on good funds (by our definition). If the conditions of sale are not complied with, in addition to remedies available to us and the consignor by law, we hold the purchaser liable for the purchase price, 15% buyers premium, and applicable sales tax, we at our option may either (1) cancel the sale, retain as liquidated damages all payments made by the purchaser or (2) resell the property either publicly or privately, and in such an event the purchaser shall be liable for the payment of any deficiency plus all costs and expenses of both sales and our commission at our standard rates. The purchaser is also responsible for all other charges due hereunder attorney’s fees and incidental damages, etc.
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"Cover-Me Bids": As a Telephone Bidder be aware that there is the risk of us not being able to reach you. Therefore you may want to consider allowing your phone representative to execute bidding on your behalf. At the time of arranging for your phone bids simply give amounts that you are willing to go to on each lot in the event we are unable to reach you. This amount is only utilized if you are not on the phone with your representative. Assuming you are reached via telephone, they will rely on your verbal instructions only. "Cover-me bids" are not mandatory, you can place them at your discretion; they are simply a safety net in case you cannot be reached in time or not at all.
15. FIREARMS LAWS. All post - 1898 firearms must be registered in compliance with Federal and Illinois State Law. Buyers of post - 1898 firearms must complete state and federal registrations forms at Rock Island Auction Company, 4507 49th Avenue, Moline, Illinois 61265, unless otherwise specified. A 3-day waiting period is mandatory for modern handguns, a 24-hour waiting period on modern long arms. Dealers and out-of-state buyers must have in their possession on the day of sale, signed copies of their Federal Firearms License in order to accept same-day delivery of modern weapons. Buyers who act as agents for FFL dealers must have a letter of agency as well as an original signed copy of the dealers Federal Firearms License (FFL).
16. CLASS 3. All firearms designated as Class 3 must be registered in compliance with the NFA registry. A $200 federal tax payment is required each time a functional NFA firearm is transferred to or from a private owner. This fee as well as full purchase payment is due at time of purchase in order to process the paperwork. The new owner of the Class 3 firearm will be required to complete 3 forms - 1) ATF Form 4, 2) fingerprint card, 3) ATF form 5330.20 Certificate of Compliance. These forms will be provided to you by Rock Island Auction Company. Note: if state of local law requires a permit or license to purchase, possess, or receive NFA firearms, a copy of the transferee's (buyer) permit or license must accompany the application. Rock Island Auction Company then mails the paperwork for the Federal Transfer Tax to BATFE. The BATFE says that it can take up to 90 days for approval. We will receive back one of the Form 4's (they are sent in duplicate) with a Federal Tax Stamp attached to it. This is given to the new owner when he/she picks up the NFA firearm. No further tax is due. The following states do not allow individuals to own machine guns: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island. SPECIAL NOTE: If you are an SOT (Special Occupation Tax) payer (Class 3 dealer) you are able to transfer functional NFA firearms to or from other SOT payers and government agencies with BATFE approval, but without having to pay a transfer tax.
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