Throwback Thursday: M1A1 Thompson Submachine Gun

by
posted on May 11, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

For this week's #ThrowbackThursday, we're heading back to the early Twentieth Century to learn about one of the most well-known firearms of all time: the M1A1 Thompson submachine gun. This simplification of the original and famous "Tommy Gun" of the Prohibition Era was designed to for inexpensive and fast production, which was a real boon for the Allied forces in World War II. Check out this video from American Rifleman's Mark Keefe and NRA Museums' Phil Schreier for more of the fascinating history of this military arm.

Latest

Usa Clay Target League Broken Record
Usa Clay Target League Broken Record

USA Clay Target League Student Athletes Break Clay Pigeons and Fall Records

Broken clay pigeon shards and autumn leaves are racing to the earth in this record-breaking 2025 season.

Throwback Thursday Through Today: LeMat Revolvers, Then and Now

The Civil War-era "grapeshot revolver" is getting a renaissance, courtesy of Pietta.

Smile: How to Age a Deer by Looking at Its Teeth

This great video from the National Deer Association demonstrates how to find out for sure how old your harvest really was.

Daniel Defense Named Official Stage Sponsor for 2025 NRA World Shooting Championship

Competitors will be tested with the precision-rich features on rifles designed by Daniel Defense as they aim to be crowned the "World’s Best Shooter."

Watch: Relaunching the NRA

We pledge that, no matter who you are, there will always be an NRA for you.

First Impressions: Chiappa Rhino 30DS X Stainless-Steel Revolver

It's not about nostalgia, but instead control, balance, and refinement born from mechanical evolution.

Interests



Get the best of NRA Family delivered to your inbox.