Some weapons come in, get out, and are simply tools of warfare. But, every once in a while, an icon weapon transcends even the battlefield. The Thompson submachine gun, better known as the Tommy gun, is such a weapon. Unfortunately, some of the reasons for this were all too literal. Tommy guns have a great history of helping defend our nation in World War II. However, they have a darker one involving street violence and brutality from government forces. It’s complicated, messy, and a beautiful example of American warfare. The story of the Tommy gun is deeply ingrained with the story of our nation rising to become a world superpower.
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When Was the Tommy Gun Invented?
The Tommy gun came to be in 1918. Although United States Army Brigadier General John T. Thompson was responsible for the invention of the Tommy gun. While the gun did help with World War I, it was completed too late to make it into combat for the Great War.
Brig. Gen. Thompson wanted a fully automatic rifle to replace bolt-action service rifles like the M1903 Springfield. In his quest, Thompson discovered a 1915 patent by John Bell Blish, known as the Blish Lock, offering a safer operational mechanism without the complexities of recoil or gas operation.
Securing financial support from businessman Thomas F. Ryan, Gen. Thompson established the Auto-Ordnance Company in 1916 to advance his innovative “auto rifle,” with the weapon’s creation headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.
Trench warfare kept leading to very little progress and a lot of dead bodies. Gen. Thompson was looking for a solution to give American fighters the edge, but the Armistice of Compiègne put a stop to fighting before the eventual official end to the war.
However, the use of the Tommy gun in WW2 would come to life for the Allies. By then, the weapon had made a name for itself in conflicts ranging from the Public Enemies era, to South American massacres, and plenty of atrocities in between.
A Complicated History
There are many reasons one weapon has so many names. For example, you can call it the Thompson submachine gun, or its popular nickname, the Tommy gun, however, there are several other monikers including:
- Chicago piano
- Street sweeper
- Chicago typewriter
- Trench sweeper
- Chicago submachine gun
- Trench broom
While some nicknames stayed related to warfare, a notable trend emerged due to the popular use of the weapon during Prohibition. Gangsters with Tommy guns in Chi-Town and other notable bootlegging cities became commonplace.
The guns were easy to use and obtain. Available to the general public, mobsters and law enforcement alike utilized the weapons on the streets of the United States.
A notable example of its usage would come from the FBI tracking down Pretty Boy Floyd during the Kansas City Massacre. Beforehand, during the Battle of Blair Mountain, West Virginia state police used Tommy guns when responding to striking miners who shot passing cars.
During the Banana Wars, American troops used the weapons in combat, before taking them to World War II. The Korean War was the final conflict the weapon was in, as the M3/M3A1 was its replacement.
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Are Tommy Guns Legal?
Images of a Tommy gun drum mag and a sharp-dressed criminal might make for an iconic movie sequence, but can Americans own the weapon today? Technically, yes. You can own a Thompson submarine gun and it’s completely legal.
However, here are a few important caveats to keep in mind, courtesy of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF):
- If a machine gun was possessed and registered lawfully prior to May 19, 1986, a transfer of ownership can occur with an approved ATF Form 3 or Form 4.
- Keep in mind that gun laws are complex. So, it’s important to check your state, regional, and city laws and ordinances before purchasing or obtaining any weapon.
What Caliber Is a Tommy Gun?
Tommy guns are .45 caliber weapons for the most part. However, they did produce different variations, including guns using a .30-06 caliber, and .351 caliber, and experiments involving .22, .32, .38, and 9mm calibers. The weapon helped defeat the Axis, keep hooch alive in speakeasies, and kept a lot of other questionable military conflicts going strong.