Posted on 11/26/2017 8:15:21 AM PST by Simon Green
Machine guns associated with Al Capone-era gangster movies have been handed over to police during a weapons amnesty - in Plymouth.
Officers in the coastal town were left speechless by the surrender of two automatic weapons renowned for their use by bootleggers during the US Prohibition.
The first weapon was a Thompson 45 calibre machine gun invented in 1922, while the other was a successor to the British stun gun produced in the 1940s.
The arms formed part of an impressive haul for officers from Devon and Cornwall Police during a week-long weapons amnesty.
Police have now expressed concerns over the kinds of guns languishing in private hands.
(Officers said they were stunned by the find.)
Officers said the Thompson machine gun had been slightly remodeled with a straight magazine as opposed to the round drum seen in gangster films, enabling it to be used by US forces in the Second World War.
While the weapon was popular with marines it was never used by British troops.
Dave Penman, police enquiry officer in Plymouth, said: "Whoever had this weapon either had it left to them by an American soldier or they were a serious collector.
"If it hadn't been handed in and someone had been found in possession of it, they would have faced prosecution.
"There's no way you can legitimately and legally possess such a weapon."
Also turned in were a pair of Webley revolvers and a German Luger pistol with swastikas on its side.
1) The auto-correct feature used by the author changed "Sten gun" to "stun gun".
2) No variant of the Sten gun was ever used by bootleggers during the US Prohibition, given that the Sten gun was first issued in 1941.
3) The Thompson SMG was, in fact, issued to some British troops...as can be found by 5 seconds of Googling.
Journalism these days.....
If they had just called the Thompson an “AK-45”, all would be forgiven.
The Thompson was not invented in 1922 as the article states. The 1921 model was in full production before then. The first prototype was out in 1919.
The British Commandos used a red eagle over a red Thompson SMG on a red anchor on a black background as their tactical recognition flash/shoulder patch insignia in WWII.
The Thompson looks to be a WWII era M1A1 model, with the charging handle on the side (M1921 and 1928 handles are on the top), straight forearm instead of forward pistol grip, and simplified rear sights. Obviously neither the Thompson nor the rather nice stocked Sten are from the “Al Capone-era”.
Note how the article omits to mention that these WMD had been in private hands for 70+ years with no known harm done.
Indeed they were. Furthermore, there were weapons lying all over the ground in Europe at the time. Little to prevent a British soldier from acquiring his own.
I would have stripped all parts and turned in only the receivers. The parts would be worth quite a bit in and of themselves.
Suppose someone had legally registered these way back upon a time, but died and the inheritors knew nothing about it. Big $$$ down the drain.
I bet the Plymouth police feel like big men for taking antique firearms out of the hands of elderly widows terrified of being arrested for having a cabinet of heirlooms in storage.
That Tommy gun somehow managed to avoid being a part of a massacre for nearly a hundred years. Instead of being passed down in the family, or legally sold by the family for as much as a small home, it’s on its way to be melted down. I’m sure it won’t get pilfered off the incinerator line and sold into the black market.
RE “Journalism these days”
Schmucks, aren’t they?
One is STEN MK V, the other is a Thompson M1A1, BOTH are World War II issue firearms.
Gangster-era. What an idiot.
RE “While the weapon was popular with marines it was never used by British troops. “
The Thompson M1928A1 version was used by British Commandos. It could accept the 50-round Type L drum magazines or the 30 round stick. The M1A1 Thompson only used the stick mags. Got a picture of my old man holding one; he was Airborne and the paratroops LOVED their Tommy Guns.
The STEN MK V had the wooden stock and pistol grip; the former versions were a little more spartan.
I’d have never turned those in.
Al Capone died in 1947, so it might be argued that the Capone era ended then.
I wonder which lucky cop ended up with the Thompson?
The Thompson..
Between 20 to 30 thousand dollars!!!
Probably more.
Sheesh.
That would be legal in the US, but perhaps not in the UK. I believe the gun would have to be "deactivated":
http://dwsuk.org/Deactivated-Weapons-FAQ
Submachine Guns
The chamber is slotted for its entirety; barrel is slotted (two different options) or three 2/3 calibre sized holes are drilled into it or a 'V' slot is cut into it; the barrel is permanently fixed to the receiver with a hard steel pin (50% chamber diameter) that passes through the chamber and is welded in place; a tight fitting hard steel rod is inserted from the chamber for 2/3 length of the barrel and welded in place through the barrel slot/holes
50%+ of the bolt is removed and the breech face ground back at 45 degrees; the bolt is welded to the receiver
The firing pin is ground back or removed and where appropriate to the firearm type/mechanism, the firing pin channel is welded
The trigger mechanism may be ground back/weakened and will be filled/fused with weld
A pin is fixed across the receiver/magazine well preventing insertion of a standard magazine; the magazine is adapted by adding two slots either side or front and back to allow it to pass either side of this pin
EU+ Deactivated submachine guns do not have moving parts or working dry-fire actions. Only superficial field stripping is possible, but the magazine can be removed. However, the EU+ specification does allow the addition a dummy bolt behind the cut-down original bolt. This can move freely, providing the impression of being able to cock the firearm.
“...auto-correct feature...”
Excellent observation.
Brothers and Sisters, never let a computer “help” you to look stupid.
DEACTIVATED!!!
RIP OUT MY HEART!
JK. Idiot author as you say.
Deactivated EU/ UK Spec Nazi G43 Rifle
Only £3,495.00 and what amounts to an unwieldy club can be yours!
You wrote “The auto-correct feature used by the author changed ‘Sten gun’ to ‘stun gun’.”
Methinks you are being overly gracious this Thanksgiving weekend and giving far too much benefit of doubt. Me? I’m in the “author is an idiot” camp.
Oh no, the dreaded Stune gun.
RE Author:
Just as well he’s an idiot... most of their population probably doesn’t know, either.
They’ve forgotten their history, and are allowing themselves to be overrun by the moslem horde.
A people that successfully fought off the nazis now willingly surrenders to the muzz. Like most of Western Europe.
Just f***ing wonderful, isn’t it?
We should demand that the Thompson be returned to us. It was either Lend-Lease or left behind by an American GI. Either way, US Taxpayers own it and it belongs back with the people who paid for it and APPRECIATE it.
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