BFONG Blank Fire Full Auto M1A1 Thompson

Demilitarized vehicle weapons and static display accessories
Av8er
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BFONG Blank Fire Full Auto M1A1 Thompson

Post by Av8er » Wed Jun 07, 2017 5:57 am

I just found out about this and thought I would share it since I have not seen any other posts. A full auto blank fire M1A1 Thompson is going into production after receiving ATF approval. It is being manufactured by Philadelphia Ordnance who also makes 80% receivers and blank fire barrels for adapting Auto Ordnance semi-Auto guns. The M1A1 does not use the SS Supply Room design used on their MP40, but is a true front fire, chambered for a special .45 blank cartridge. The best part is that it will be legal in all fifty States because it is a "non-gun." Better yet, it will have proprietary special magazines. The brilliant part is that standard Thompson magazines won't fit, and their proprietary magazines can't be used in any real gun, so they won't be restricted in States with large capacity magazine bands! Obviously, it won't be cheap, but it is a game changer for the reenacting community, particularly in States with Class III and large capacity magazine laws. Here is a link with more details:
http://www.machinegunboards.com/forums/ ... opic=20191
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Av8er
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Re: BFONG Blank Fire Full Auto M1A1 Thompson

Post by Av8er » Thu Jun 08, 2017 1:56 pm

UPDATE- After emailing Bob at Philadelphia Ordnance he wanted to clarify that the modified magazines for restricted States are still in the development stage. The "non-guns" he will initially be shipping are for free States that will use original Thompson 20 and 30 round magazines. Here is a video of the "non-gun" in action during a demonstration:
https://youtu.be/ltO-zE_fpHo
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Re: BFONG Blank Fire Full Auto M1A1 Thompson

Post by TwoCar » Thu Jun 08, 2017 6:04 pm

Very nice. Thanks for sharing. Any idea what the blanks cost and where to purchase them?
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Re: BFONG Blank Fire Full Auto M1A1 Thompson

Post by Data Plate » Thu Jun 08, 2017 6:06 pm

Thanks for sharing very interesting

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Re: BFONG Blank Fire Full Auto M1A1 Thompson

Post by Data Plate » Thu Jun 08, 2017 6:09 pm

Are they available yet and do you know there cost

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Re: BFONG Blank Fire Full Auto M1A1 Thompson

Post by Data Plate » Thu Jun 08, 2017 6:27 pm

I did some looking the price of the gun is 2495 and a box of 50 rds is 25 bucks

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Re: BFONG Blank Fire Full Auto M1A1 Thompson

Post by Av8er » Thu Jun 08, 2017 6:41 pm

Bob at Philadelphia Ordnance told me in his email that he is hoping to ship out his first batch of orders next week. The blank ammunition is designed specifically for this "non-gun" and is made so that live .45ACP or .45ACP blanks will not chamber as a safety feature. Currently, the blank ammo will only be available through Philadelphia Ordnance and it is made from virgin brass, not modified casings from other calibers.
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Re: BFONG Blank Fire Full Auto M1A1 Thompson

Post by RCASSIN » Sun Jun 11, 2017 6:20 pm

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Av8er
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Re: BFONG Blank Fire Full Auto M1A1 Thompson

Post by Av8er » Mon Jun 12, 2017 5:23 am

Replica Guns is not making the Thompson, he is posting a notification of its availability from Philadelphia Ordnance. They are friends, it is the same "gun."
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Re: BFONG Blank Fire Full Auto M1A1 Thompson

Post by RCASSIN » Mon Jun 12, 2017 7:12 am

Thanks for the update. How about this one? anyone know the details? http://dunritearmory.com/
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Re: BFONG Blank Fire Full Auto M1A1 Thompson

Post by Falldownjaeger » Sat Jun 17, 2017 1:03 pm

Great! In Before Entire Regiments of Sgt Rock Cigar-Chewing Wannabees Armed With FA Thompsons

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Re: BFONG Blank Fire Full Auto M1A1 Thompson

Post by Av8er » Wed Dec 13, 2017 4:21 pm

In case anyone is interested here is an update on the Philadelphia Ordnance M1A1 Thompson. I was put on the waiting list back in early June. Bob from Philadelphia Ordnance just called me last week and said he had worked his way down to me on the list. He said that he had several people on the waiting list who had passed on getting a gun delivered. He also said that my Thompson is shipping tomorrow (really, I have the UPS tracking info). The gun is currently $2495 and the proprietary blanks come in boxes of 200 for $100 (50 cents per round). They are working on a blank round that will use an aluminum case rather than brass that will be cheaper, and they hope to have both types of blanks available in the future. He said that it actually took longer to develop the blank round than it did the gun. The blank is as loud as a .45 ACP ball round and the cyclic rate matches a real gun.

While I had Bob on the phone I tried to get as much current information as possible. He just produced guns 20 to 23. Right now production is very slow because he has to manufacture the major parts (receiver, barrel, and bolt) as well as put the guns together. Remember this project is only a part of his regular business. He is in the process of farming out the manufacture of the parts so that he can spend more time putting the guns together and doing function checks on the guns produced. One of the very first guns that he produced had a heat treatment issue with the bolt and it cracked along the extractor groove. It delayed his production so that he could ensure that the problem was resolved. He is hoping that production will increase significantly with the coming year. His website is also in need of update, but Bob said he didnt want to advertise the gun fully until he took care of his slow production and cleared up his waiting list.

I also asked about the proprietary magazines which will require expensive tooling and will take about four months to get into production after prototypes are approved. He hopes to have those available next Fall. Any guns that they are producing now can be modified to accept the proprietary magazine once they become available. For those who may not be familiar, the intent of the proprietary magazines is for States with magazine restrictions. Since they will only fit this Thompson non gun they will not be subject to restrictions based upon capacity.
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RCASSIN
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Re: BFONG Blank Fire Full Auto M1A1 Thompson

Post by RCASSIN » Wed Dec 13, 2017 4:27 pm

so will a regular 45 thompson magazine fit the gun? Thanks, Rob
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Av8er
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Re: BFONG Blank Fire Full Auto M1A1 Thompson

Post by Av8er » Wed Dec 13, 2017 4:34 pm

RCASSIN wrote:
Wed Dec 13, 2017 4:27 pm
so will a regular 45 thompson magazine fit the gun? Thanks, Rob
All guns currently shipping will take a standard issue 20/30 round magazine. The current guns can be modified to take the new production proprietary magazines when they become available. After a gun is modified a standard issue magazine will no longer fit. I don’t know if Bob then intends to give you the option of issue or proprietary magazines once he is in full production. He may be planning on switching to just the proprietary mags, but I didn’t ask. He did say that the new production magazines will be cheaper than standard issue magazine and should sell for about $35 each.
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Re: BFONG Blank Fire Full Auto M1A1 Thompson

Post by dantheman » Fri Dec 15, 2017 4:44 am

I am wondering about the magazine issue myself. I plan on buying one in the future. I wanted to get in on the first run of these but I have too much going on at the moment. If the mass produced version will only accept their proprietary magazines and not USGI then I won't buy one. I have 30 or 40 real Thompson mags for my SBR M1 and if I can't use those then its not worth it, especially for a $2500 blank gun. Indian Ordnance advertises a very similar design but they sell it in a upper only kit. It takes an unmodified original lower and uses GI mags. Not sure of the blank caliber though. But it is still $2000 just for the upper.

The other thing about Rob's version is the receiver markings. The thing is a beautiful work of art but the one picture I saw that detailed the left side engravings left a little to be desired. I wish they looked a little more realistic. Not sure about the Indiana Ordnance version.
-Dan

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