Colt 1921/28 Thompson Navy Overstamp .45acp Transferable Submachine Gun
$67,000.00
Status: In Stock / Please Call to Purchase
This Chester County Armory listing is for a Colt Model 1921/28 Thompson .45acp transferable submachine gun.
Commonly referred to as a “21/28 over stamp” or simply a “Navy over stamp,” this beautiful transferable submachine gun was originally manufactured by Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company in Hartford, CT as a Model 1921 submachine gun. It was then updated by the manufacturer to a 1928 Model. The 1928’s were made at the request of the US Navy to slow down the rate of fire of the original Thompson 1921’s for controllability and to conserve ammunition in a combat situation. Colt did this through by using a heavier actuator and making some minor changes to the buffer, buffer pilot, and buffer spring. Existing 1921 models that were upgraded to this configuration would simply have the number “8” stamped over the “1” in 1921, and had the “U.S. NAVY” designation added above the model name on the left side of the submachine gun. These models also included a finned barrel for quicker cooling, a Lyman adjustable rear sight, and a Cutts compensator installed for controllability. The 1928 models proved to be so popular, that many police departments and other entities adopted and requested the same configuration, often by sending their existing 1921 models back to Colt for installation of the upgrades. This particular model is serial number 13326 and is documented in Tracie L. Hill’s book Thompson: The American Legend/The First Submachine Gun as being originally manufactured in May of 1922 and initially sold to the Clay County Sheriff’s Department in Vermillion, SD.
The 1921/28 Models will also accept both box magazine as well as drum magazines. Purchase of this weapon will include five total box magazines (1-20rd original Colt patent dated magazine, 2-30rd USGI Seymour Products mags, 1-20rd USGI Seymour Products mag, and 1-20rd USGI Worchester Pressed Steel mag). The original Colt magazine is in excellent condition, with a fairly stiff spring and only moderate finish wear observed. The Seymour Products magazines are all in excellent condition, with stiff springs and excellent bluing. The WPS magazine retains full functionality, but notes heavy finish wear and minor surface corrosion of the magazine.
This collectible transferable submachine gun is in outstanding condition for a century old firearm! Mechanically, the weapon is in beautiful condition. It runs flawlessly and notes only minor wear on the bolt and actuator. The bolt face remains crisp and clean. The bore is bright and remains reflective with crisp rifling noted. The action remains buttery smooth.
Cosmetically, the high polished blue finish appears to be all original and is mostly intact, with only minor points of wear and minor surface scratches noted. The finish has patinaed nicely at spots to an eye pleasing gray/auburn hue. There is some minor finish wear at the top of the actuator to note, along with some minor auburn colored spotting in the finish on the receiver, but this model notes no pitting or corrosion through the smooth surface. The wooden stock, pistol grip, and forend are in excellent condition for their age, as well, with only minor scratches and surface indentations observed. The right side of the stock does note a small chip at the bottom, but it is only surface in nature and does not affect the integrity of the stock. The rear metal butt plate of the stock notes moderate to heavy finish wear, but also remains fully functional and intact.
This collectible, investment-grade Thompson factory machine gun is fully transferable and currently on a Form 3. The current Form 3 lists “Colt” as the manufacturer and “1921/28” as the model.
