MGC Thompson Part #63

Can anyone shed light on this for me please?

Looking at the exploded pars diagramsog MGC's Thompson there's part #63 which appears to sit beween magazine and the mag' well.

Neither of my Thompsons appear to have this part and as mine requires the drum to be supported by hand whilst firing, even though it is clipped inplace, I wondered if this part would make a difference?

If it is a clip to lock the mag in, are they available as spare parts these days?

Thanks

Cerwyn
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Hobby collector of mainly WW2 era uniforms, headgear, field equipment and replica weapons.

Post by Mark

Cerwyn,

I believe that the part that you refer to was intended to divert sparks/gasses from firing away from the magazine. I had always wondered about that part as I have never had one with any of my MGC Thompson's. I have yet to see one of these for sale anywhere..
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Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Thanks Mark, I wonder if anyone else knows what it is and do they have one?
Judging by your video of your own Thompson emptying its' drum, it doesn't need it to make it fire sweetly!

Cerwyn
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Hobby collector of mainly WW2 era uniforms, headgear, field equipment and replica weapons.

Post by Mark

Cerwyn,

I am sure that someone on the forum has one. Perhaps, Doc has one?

Yes, my Thompson does run great with out that part! Speaking of which, I do need to shoot both it and my MP40 soon!
_________________
Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Post by Spencerman

When you say that you need to support the drum mag, is this to stop it from falling out or to make it work? If it is the latter then there must be a part worn somewhere or other surely?
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Post by Mark

No, I think that this part is (or was) intended as purely a spark deflector on the older paper cap type Thompson's.
_________________
Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Post by Doc

This bit ...





Only thing I could see it would do is help the top lips of the mags locate better , perhaps instead of striking another part and deforming ??

Its not used on the drum mags as it sits in the slots that attach the drum mags to the frame.

I imagine this is why the part is missing/lost from most earlier models as its easily forgotten ....just had to find my one ..that was sitting on a window sill after letting rip with the thompson the other day .... really !

DOC

edit : apologies for the blurred images ...I haven`t taken my meds yet and only just got the straps of my jacket .......lol
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We need guns...lots of guns....

.... well anything mechanical that can kill people is interesting ...

Post by Spencerman

Doc wrote:

edit : apologies for the blurred images ...I haven`t taken my meds yet and only just got the straps of my jacket .......lol

Are you sure that is the real reason Doc? I hope that you are not making excuses now that you are approaching the big 100! Or maybe it was Wishnick Ken that upset you and had you shaking with rage?

Post by shazhib

As far as I know, this part sit here to aid better fitting and feeding of box mag. Not used for drum magazine. Also, this part was attached to very early version of Thompson, don't think it came with a gun after Thompson moved on to Cap firing version.

Hiya Spencerman, although the drum seems to click into place on the catch, it does move slightly, but enough to cause the rounds to stick, misfeed or the bolt to make contact.

Supporting the drum with one hand, stopping it move makes it fire reallywell.
It may well be slight wear in the catch. The drum is almost new (2 years or so) and hardly used really but the gun is an '81 if I remember right.

The other one's a'78 but that's been converted from open round to cp. I think it needs a look at as the only mods done are a new chamber and new zinc bolt.
The chamber fell out when it arrived as it lacked the lug securing it in the receiver. The bolt needs fettling too so I've not had much joy firing that one at all. (There was a good thread ages back about this chamber mod in which Reemo suggested large copper staples as a wedge. It worked )
I've since compared both catches on my Thompsons and both look very alike, either they're both ok or both worn out!

Thanks Mark, would the old paper caps be at risk of igniting in the mag if
sparks got in there? They would be quite open would they?

Yes DOC, that looks like the very part.
If it isn't needed for the drum then it clearly wouldn't improve my firing, it'd be interesting to see how a box mag would fare though.



Cerwyn
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Hobby collector of mainly WW2 era uniforms, headgear, field equipment and replica weapons.

Post by Mark

Cerwyn,

The paper caps usually where fairly deep in their respective cartridges. Far enough to be protected from the sparks etc. from the chamber. I would think that the shield was there to possibly prevent burns on the firers hands while shooting. Especially with the "stick" magazine in place as there is allot of open space around it.

I would think that your magazine catch soring might be either weak or mis adjusted rather than a worn catch assy. If it is worn Francky or Shazhib can source one (or the spring) for you..
_________________
Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Post by francky1958

hi guys,

everybody misunderstanding this parts which was called "magazine guide". this is for the not gasses stuff unfortunately mark this is to bring the magazine in right center and guide the rounds from the magazine to chamber. this is only for the stick mag but not drum.
i want you to check the magazines if you have a very early type of magazine and latest one. they are different shape if you look down on from the top. early magazine is wide and latest one is narrow. if you try to fire using early magazine without magazine guide, sometimes rounds hit the edge of the chamber because bolt push the rounds on straight line, but rounds should be go an acute angle, so magazine guide is very helpful. if you use the latest mag, maybe you don't need the magazine guide anymore.

ps. mgc mentioned that the magazine guide not for sale from the parts list at that time.

Interesting stuff!

As one of my Thompsons is nearly 30 years old the catch spring may well be weak by now Mark!

I've a selection of stick magazines, and they all differ slightly. Francky has a good point as I do find sometimes that rounds are driven into the edge of the det. chamber suggesting that they aren't moving ahead squarely.
It'll be well worth experimenting with the narrow mag Francky suggested to see if there's any improvement.

Thanks again

Cerwyn
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Hobby collector of mainly WW2 era uniforms, headgear, field equipment and replica weapons.

Post by Doc

I Hope you are not using real mags cerwyn, these will only work if the feed lips have been modified as real mags allow for longer travel of the rounds .
In addition I have found real stick mags fit some MGCs easily and others not at all .

DOC
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We need guns...lots of guns....

.... well anything mechanical that can kill people is interesting ...

Hiya DOC,

As far as I'm aware, the Mags I have are all model items, not real ones.

One difference, for example, is the thickness of the locating lugs that slot into the receiver. They all differ, one of them will only slide into one gun, no-way will it fit comfortably in the other.
It's always possible, I suppose, that I may have been sold a Hudson mag' instead of MGC or wouldn't that make any difference?

Cerwyn
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Hobby collector of mainly WW2 era uniforms, headgear, field equipment and replica weapons.

Post by 8ace

I have a couple of real thompson mags and i have found that some fit the receiver and some dont.

There is a differance between the hudson and MGC mags, it's around the rear of the top feed lips with the hudsons having a cut out (could post some pics when i get home tonight of the hudson ones)

8ace

Post by Doc

Hudson mags have the catch hole in the same place as real ones , the MGC ones are 2-3 mm higher .

if your mags fit ok and the hole at the back is a round hole rather than elongated hole then they are MGC .

If its elongated then they are real or Hudson.

DOC
_________________
We need guns...lots of guns....

.... well anything mechanical that can kill people is interesting ...

Thanks DOC, I'll go and have a look.

Cerwyn
_________________
Hobby collector of mainly WW2 era uniforms, headgear, field equipment and replica weapons.