- Staff
- #1
I don't know if this is true or not, but.....really?
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/05/3...sell-tommy-gun-stash-to-buy-new-firearms.html
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/05/3...sell-tommy-gun-stash-to-buy-new-firearms.html
St Louis City Police still has.....Tommy Guns?!?!
- Thread starter Tim M
- Start date
- Staff
- #2
Mike Shepard's (LtMike) wife worked for the Saint Louis Police Department division that was responsible for these weapons. She told of this at the club picnic 3-4 years ago. About how the department was struggling with the sale of them knowing they had value but were difficult to sell and/or appraise.
Looks like they finally figured it out.
Looks like they finally figured it out.
A long time friend, Ray Kohout...past owner of Assualt Systems in Fenton once purchased a number of 30-06 Browning Automatic Rifles that the St. Louis Police Department used as early "sniper rifles" in the 50's and 60's.
They weren't the familiar full auto military BAR's from WW2 but rather the civilian semi-auto sporting rifles.
What was unique...was that these were three digit serial numbered rifles from the very first production run of Browning semi-auto rifles making them instant collector rifles.
Ray traded new semi auto pistols to the department in exchange for the Brownings...then sold the Brownings to collectors.
I was fortunate to be able to buy one from him which I kept for many years before reselling.
This occurred in the 1980's and he told me then of the Thompon Machine Guns that the department had in storage.
He tried to buy them then...but the city administration was unwilling to take the heat from the public for selling "Machine guns" to a local dealer.
Given their value to collectors...it is no surprise that they finally decided to sell these Thompsons.
$22,000 each is cheap for a select fire M1A1. At an average collector value of $25K...the distributor in Kentucky that bought them will make a minimum of $3K profit on each weapon.
Some M1A1's sold for over $36K last April.
If they sit on them for 10 years...the 27 weapons could easily double in value.
The St. Louis Police Department's move is understandable. They need money.
They weren't the familiar full auto military BAR's from WW2 but rather the civilian semi-auto sporting rifles.
What was unique...was that these were three digit serial numbered rifles from the very first production run of Browning semi-auto rifles making them instant collector rifles.
Ray traded new semi auto pistols to the department in exchange for the Brownings...then sold the Brownings to collectors.
I was fortunate to be able to buy one from him which I kept for many years before reselling.
This occurred in the 1980's and he told me then of the Thompon Machine Guns that the department had in storage.
He tried to buy them then...but the city administration was unwilling to take the heat from the public for selling "Machine guns" to a local dealer.
Given their value to collectors...it is no surprise that they finally decided to sell these Thompsons.
$22,000 each is cheap for a select fire M1A1. At an average collector value of $25K...the distributor in Kentucky that bought them will make a minimum of $3K profit on each weapon.
Some M1A1's sold for over $36K last April.
If they sit on them for 10 years...the 27 weapons could easily double in value.
The St. Louis Police Department's move is understandable. They need money.
There is actually a long saga with these SMGs that started pretty much when the City's Flying Squad was finally decommissioned. Quite a few of them walked off (the best ones) in the almost 100 years they city has owned them. According to a retired STLPD friend of mine they weren't even inventoried or controlled till the late 1970s. Even after the NFA Act of 34 I don't think much attention was paid to government agencies holding full-autos for a very long time. He told me several stories regarding the Thompsons.
Another one of my friends did the appraisal for the City several years ago. He said there were only two that he thought were decent enough to call collector grade. Most of them were very beat up, missing parts, etc., hence they were not demanding the premium collector prices. The first stories the PD wrote about them and how much they were worth were ridiculously wrong. Nothing is trash on pre-34 machineguns, but as they go most of these are at the very low end.
John Ross let me shoot his stick mag version at his quarry. It's one of the heaviest SMGs ever made, and by far the heaviest one I've ever shot. The open bolt is a little creepy at first, but once you start shooting that heavy weight and slow cyclic rate of fire makes it so smooth (so easy to walk the fire around) you're grinning from ear to ear. I couldn't help but think that a drum magazine would be about the only way to make it any more fun. I also just happen to believe that the .45 is far and away the greatest pistol cartridge ever devised.
If money were no object I would certainly have one. Alas...
Another one of my friends did the appraisal for the City several years ago. He said there were only two that he thought were decent enough to call collector grade. Most of them were very beat up, missing parts, etc., hence they were not demanding the premium collector prices. The first stories the PD wrote about them and how much they were worth were ridiculously wrong. Nothing is trash on pre-34 machineguns, but as they go most of these are at the very low end.
John Ross let me shoot his stick mag version at his quarry. It's one of the heaviest SMGs ever made, and by far the heaviest one I've ever shot. The open bolt is a little creepy at first, but once you start shooting that heavy weight and slow cyclic rate of fire makes it so smooth (so easy to walk the fire around) you're grinning from ear to ear. I couldn't help but think that a drum magazine would be about the only way to make it any more fun. I also just happen to believe that the .45 is far and away the greatest pistol cartridge ever devised.
If money were no object I would certainly have one. Alas...
LOVED John's book..."Unintended Consequences".
https://www.amazon.com/Unintended-C...20274&sr=1-3&keywords=Unintended+Consequences
For any gun owner who has grown up in the St. Louis region...it is a Must Read with so many local references.
Met John several times over the years at local gun shows and when he ran for political office.
Got my concealed carry from Mr. Ross.
Small world as we used to race against the Kohout brothers back in the day.
Small world as we used to race against the Kohout brothers back in the day.