Is this an MGC Model Thompson???

Post by cow_commander



Hello, I need a bit of help identifying this item here.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=86471426

The seller claims that it's an old blank firing Tommy gun from the 1930's and says it uses 45 auto blanks, but there's that big "MGC" stamping on the other pictures. Is this just acutally an MGC plug-firing cap gun, or a genuine blank gun like the description says?

Post by 2Sharp

I'm not a pro but i'd say it is an MGC, not from the 1930's.

I've never seen any real Thompson marked with MGC.
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Post by cow_commander

It looks a lot more real than the other pictures of MGC Tommy guns I've found so far, does anyone here own an MGC Thompson?

Post by figaro

Hi Cow-Commander,

I'm not a pro-either, with regard to guns, but I do make my living making movies...

I'm also in CA, welcome to the boards.
That's an MGC Replica, I have several of them of different types, if you put a "Stembridge" full power .45 blank in it it would come to pieces in your hand. The MGC is made of very low strength metal material. They were used in many movies by many studios and companies as background props(from the 1970's through to airsoft boom, airsofts were used for background or extras guns in T3, War of the Worlds and M:I:3), my MGC's are still working as I like the heft they have, but they are not for use with, and are not in anyway designed to use, motion picture blanks (which tend to run hot anyway).

Always be careful on Gunbroker when dealing with a seller with no sales rating, also someone who cannot spell either Valentine or Elliot Ness might be red flag, also neither film he mentions was made in the 1930's or even 1940's. MGM Grand is a Hotel not a movie studio, (Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Metro joined with Sam Goldwyn and Louis B. Mayer and formed the studio in the 1920's no "grand" in the title.)
The stock is aged with some sort of a varnish gone bad, or burn, the rest of the gun is exactly as any other MGC replica, no different at all.

The guy could absoloutely be telling the truth with regard to what the old man said, but unfortunately the old man had it wrong.
The only good thing is the Mag still has it's internals, these were removed from most of the US guns that I found (I bought cheap replacements from Franky on this site, though).

Hope this is helpful, gunbroker is a great source of model guns, I've bought and helped one or too others buy bargains from that site.
(Type in Thompson and look at the finish on a real Thompson receiver.)

JJ.
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Post by ricks

I have one similar to it - even down to the cheesy varnish job. Mine was a display model that was easily convertable to PFC. Maybe the seller meant 1930's-style
I would echo though that it's definitely cap-only, as it's made of zinc/potmetal.
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Post by shazhib

Hi,

I think this is very early model of MGC Thompson, could be an open barrel. You can see very lean serial number which is only for very very early stage of the production by MGC.

Yes, do not suggest to shoot blanks, only caps. This model should be originally made for paper cap (which stop proction long time ago), bit of work and parts replacement if you want to fire plastic cap cartridge.

Regards,

S

PS, figaro, your statement of gun broker seller really cracks me up!

Post by ricks

Again, I agree - mine is an open barrel model. At least this one was somewhat modular; there was an unfinished steel slug in the chamber/detonator area that needed to be removed & replaced with firing parts, and the bolt required upgrading to current specs. You may want to do this anyway if you're going to fire it, as paper caps are now obsolete & difficult to get.
If you need any ideas, feel free to PM me.
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