Saving Private Ryan Captain Miller’s Thompson for sale

[pitfighter]

^^ Wonder if it can be made fully functional again. Ya know, for research purposes.

It's a solid lump of metal, (meaning it would take the same work to reactivate as a solid lump of metal.)

Because the receiver wasn't destroyed per ATF specifications (three blow torch cuts through and through) it could still be considered contraband here in the US.

[Ki6vsm]

Its funny that they intentionally aged the weapon - pictures that I see from WW2 show that many of the arms actually looked in pretty nice shape. It was the years of use and storage post WW2 that wore down the weapons.

I think the same thing every time I see Lee-Enfields in recently made WWI or WWII movies. Those rifles weren't suppose to have gone through a war just yet! Per the story line, they're less than a year off the production line, but they look like they've been changing owners for almost 100 years. LOL

[dfletcher]

As mentioned above, "deactivated" is a legal term in the UK, and specifications for what it requires have changed considerably over the years.

The first deactivated guns had the bolt shaved and the barrel blocked. The actions still moved and could be filed stripped, and mags could be removed and replaced etc.,

As of 2021, I believe they have to be completely welded up, with no moving parts at all, no stripping, no click-clacking of the action, nada, except maybe the trigger moves.

Sympathetically could mean externally there are no obvious giveaways.
Weld marks or drill, cut marks.

I do not believe you can freely sell the older spec deactivated guns, they must be updated to present specs to sell.

Many years back we had DEWATS that could be ordered through the mail, along with "real guns". I assume DEWATS is an abbreviation for Deactivated War Trophy and the method of deactivating was pretty basic. I recall shooting Dad's Grease Gun and Sterling in which the metal slugs welded in ahead of the chamber were punched out. My uncle had a Thompson, that was off limits. Being "readily convertible" even DEWATS had to eventually be registered, 1986 IIRC.

[smle-man]

Many years back we had DEWATS that could be ordered through the mail, along with "real guns". I assume DEWATS is an abbreviation for Deactivated War Trophy and the method of deactivating was pretty basic. I recall shooting Dad's Grease Gun and Sterling in which the metal slugs welded in ahead of the chamber were punched out. My uncle had a Thompson, that was off limits. Being "readily convertible" even DEWATS had to eventually be registered, 1986 IIRC.

One of the gun shops in town when I was a kid sold DEWATS. To the best of my memory the barrels were filled with lead and that was about all that was apparent to my 12 year old eyes. The shop had mostly STEN guns on the wall. I would've bought one but I didn't have the $20 or so that they cost.

[DolphinFan]

It's a PROP GUN. Not worth much demilled

[Ki6vsm]

It's a PROP GUN. Not worth much demilled

Pretty much agree. Not worth too much more than one of these for a little over $200:

https://collectorsarmoury.com/replica-m1928-military-version-thompson-submachine-gun-non-firing/

At least that replica has a some pseudo-functionality. The SPR gun belongs under glass I guess, but on display where? Some Hollywood themed restaurant? To a private owner, once you've pulled it out and showed to your friends one time, that's pretty much it. "Wow, that's cool." Then back in its box it will go for an indefinite time.

[Eat Dirt]

Pretty much agree. Not worth too much more than one of these for a little over $200:

https://collectorsarmoury.com/replica-m1928-military-version-thompson-submachine-gun-non-firing/

At least that replica has a some pseudo-functionality. The SPR gun belongs under glass I guess, but on display where? Some Hollywood themed restaurant? To a private owner, once you've pulled it out and showed to your friends one time, that's pretty much it. "Wow, that's cool." Then back in its box it will go for an indefinite time.

Thanks ,,

Think I just found what my wife is getting me for Christmas !!!!!

[Ki6vsm]

Think I just found what my wife is getting me for Christmas !!!!!

You should check out the rest of what they have. I'm amazed that the prices aren't higher for those all those things. You should check out the rest of their catalog. They won't ship to many states in fact, but amazingly CA is not on the list. You can buy a goddam replica MG-38 for a little over $300.

Company used to be called Replica Models, Inc. many years ago. The replicas were made in VA. When I was a kid I was really into WWII movies and I bugged my dad mercilessly to get me their replica MP-40. My folks weren't crazy about that idea but finally gave in and got me one for my BD or Christmas or something.

When I lifted it out of the box I was amazed. Didn't realize how heavy it would be, but it did have the same size and heft of a real SMG. It was all metal, except for the parts that were supposed to be something else, like the pistol grips, etc. Magazine detached, had a spring and follower in it to hold dummy bullets. Stock could unlock and swing out to lock in place. We could rack the bolt back and lock it in place. It was pretty amazing. But the barrel etc was made of "pot metal" and was not completely hollow.

One time, as a gag (parentally approved) we showed it to a cop friend of my folks when he came over to visit. My older brother told this LAPD guy that we "found it and don't know if it's real". Handed it to him. The cop handled it for a moment, staring at it and said, "It's real all right...." Then of course we laughed and apologized, told him it was just a replica.

My brother ended up with replica PPK, since he was really into James Bond.

Those things kinda disappeared from our lives at some point, when we became teenagers and actually moved away from the neighborhood. Don't really know what happened to them.

Fun toys though! LOL

[HKAllTheThings]

Except in the timeline of the film, they were not green troops. After the landing you see Sgt Horvath filling up tins of dirt and you see they'd already been fighting in Africa and Italy.

Amazing film but everyone was too old for their roles.

[pitfighter]

You should check out the rest of what they have. I'm amazed that the prices aren't higher for those all those things. You should check out the rest of their catalog. They won't ship to many states in fact, but amazingly CA is not on the list. You can buy a goddam replica MG-38 for a little over $300.

Company used to be called Replica Models, Inc. many years ago. The replicas were made in VA. When I was a kid I was really into WWII movies and I bugged my dad mercilessly to get me their replica MP-40. My folks weren't crazy about that idea but finally gave in and got me one for my BD or Christmas or something.

When I lifted it out of the box I was amazed. Didn't realize how heavy it would be, but it did have the same size and heft of a real SMG. It was all metal, except for the parts that were supposed to be something else, like the pistol grips, etc. Magazine detached, had a spring and follower in it to hold dummy bullets. Stock could unlock and swing out to lock in place. We could rack the bolt back and lock it in place. It was pretty amazing. But the barrel etc was made of "pot metal" and was not completely hollow.

One time, as a gag (parentally approved) we showed it to a cop friend of my folks when he came over to visit. My older brother told this LAPD guy that we "found it and don't know if it's real". Handed it to him. The cop handled it for a moment, staring at it and said, "It's real all right...." Then of course we laughed and apologized, told him it was just a replica.

My brother ended up with replica PPK, since he was really into James Bond.

Those things kinda disappeared from our lives at some point, when we became teenagers and actually moved away from the neighborhood. Don't really know what happened to them.

Fun toys though! LOL

The Japanese replicas guns are still being made, mostly in plastic now, and many of the older metal ones are valuable collectors items now.
MGC, Marui, Hudson, etc.,
They are way too valuable to use as a prop that will be thrown, dropped, tossed or spattered with blood. In some cases the MGC replicas are more valuable than the real thing.

https://mp40modelguns.forumotion.net

Shoei are still making their line - their FB page shows the process of making a replica MP44, it's great stuff (I owned several before getting originals and PTR versions.) - https://www.facebook.com/Shoei-Seisa...81638911894289

The Spanish Denix made replicas are considerably lower quality. Not even in the same time zone quality wise.
Though their MG34 looks good.

Anyway, for what I do, airsoft replicas are now usually the cheapest alternative, we have three Denix MP44's, as they are better replicas than the airsoft version which is too lightweight and plastic looking.

[Ki6vsm]

That's interesting. I had no idea there was still a market, an interest, for such things. And forums too. LOL Actually, that RMI poster detail I added above came from this page on the same forum. Found it yesterday while searching for info on RMI:

https://mp40modelguns.forumotion.net/t1967-rmi-replica-models-incorporated

I can't believe it was only $50 back then, when my dad got it for me. Damned thing, the trigger even worked too. Can't recall exactly what it did. Drop the bolt maybe to "chamber" one of the dummy rounds from the stick mag.

And the PPK was only $12. Plus postage. I had dreams of collecting them. Really wanted the Mauser 96, a Luger, and a Walther P-38. Back then, the MP-40 was the only SMG replica they made I think. I think they might have made an Usi at one time. I'd have traded half my stuff to get one of those.

[pitfighter]

Good condition MGC MP40's go for about $500 or so now.
(RMI was the US company that imported them)
There are always a few on Ebay or Gunbroker for more.
People trying to relive their childhood.

The MP40 strips down completely like an original, and will cycle and eject dummy brass cartridges.

Here is a Nakata MP40, similar to MGC - https://www.gunbroker.com/item/913552139

[Rogerbutthead]

I have a MGC MP40 bought in the early 80's for around $100 bucks I think.

Had it on a wall rack - and it was listed as a full auto submachine gun in a search warrant application - to enter my house. Some Romanian AK furniture turned my re-stocked Norinco AK into a full auto Polish AK too.

Those things can bite you in the arse and cause trouble for you.

[Ki6vsm]

Good condition MGC MP40's go for about $500 or so now.
(RMI was the US company that imported them)
There are always a few on Ebay or Gunbroker for more.
People trying to relive their childhood.

The MP40 strips down completely like an original, and will cycle and eject dummy brass cartridges.

Here is a Nakata MP40, similar to MGC - https://www.gunbroker.com/item/913552139

Ah, that's interesting. I had no idea that RMI merely imported them. But as a kid, I wouldn't have cared about that anyway. And many of us wish we still had all the toys and stuff we had as kids. It would all be worth something today indeed.... so long as not too many people had their old stuff. Then there's be no market.

And yep. I remember stripping mine down once or twice. And thanks for confirming what I said about the dummy bullets.

Pity that the Denix ones are junk.

I have a MGC MP40 bought in the early 80's for around $100 bucks I think.

Had it on a wall rack - and it was listed as a full auto submachine gun in a search warrant application - to enter my house. Some Romanian AK furniture turned my re-stocked Norinco AK into a full auto Polish AK too.

Those things can bite you in the arse and cause trouble for you.

Hah. Maybe you bought my old one! LOL Unless you mean you bought it new.

But yes, I was thinking, you wouldn't want to keep one displayed in plain sight in your home. People coming to door might spot it and draw the wrong conclusion.

[pitfighter]

I have a MGC MP40 bought in the early 80's for around $100 bucks I think.

Had it on a wall rack - and it was listed as a full auto submachine gun in a search warrant application - to enter my house. Some Romanian AK furniture turned my re-stocked Norinco AK into a full auto Polish AK too.

Those things can bite you in the arse and cause trouble for you.

What a drag, Roger!!!!

There was a time when my office looked like a museum; with uniforms on mannequins, tripod mounted machine-guns and dozens of swords, people thought I was psychotic, I locked it all away.

Now the evidence is hidden, I'm the only one who knows that I'm actually half mental.