Broke down and bought a AO 1927a1

[Baltimore Ed]

I found out why my undelivered Thompson parts vanished from my fleabay acct. The guy in the Netherlands was shut down for a while [as a fleabay punishment] for selling assault weapon parts on fleabay. I'm guessing that 1927/28 Thompsons fall into that category as far as they're concerned. He's back now listing a bunch of Mauser rifle stuff. Hardly think a $25,000.00  14 lb .45 caliber rifle is being used by very many LA or Chicago gangbangers but what do I know. Still waiting for the stock slide, he says that it's been delivered to the US but is being held up due to US customs inspectors covid backlog.  My uke case came today! Looks nice, yellow interior. Could have been a tad shorter but it will work. I'll have to dismount the gun into 3 pieces to fit in it. No problem as it slides apart and together without using tools. The case will hold 3 Thompson mags and six 1911 mags too and feels very sturdy. I need some walnut blocks now. I removed the divider storage compartment from the center, just had a few screws from the front and back. Should be able to use the same screws and holes for my mods.

[Professor Marvel]

I found out why my Thompson parts vanished from my fleabay acct. The guy in the Netherlands was shut down for a while [as a fleabay punishment] for selling assault weapon parts there. I'm guessing that 1927/28 Thompsons fall into that category as far as they're concerned. He's back now listing a bunch of Mauser rifle stuff. ......

I am surprised he can even sell mauser rifle parts!
I correspond withsome folks in the EU, the folks in the netherlands relate that they cannot even own toy or nonfunctional "prop" C&B pistols.
gofigure

I would love to see range results from that benched at 100 yds when you get it together!
just, well, because :-)

yhs
prof marvel

[Pitspitr]

I bought some antique shotgun parts on e-bay that came from Canada. They got to the States, but they never did get here.

[Baltimore Ed]

I think that I've come up with a build plan. The buttstock, lower and 4 Thompson magazines will go into the bottom of the case with walnut blocks and dividers to keep them from moving around. A brown felt covered piece of 1/8 in aluminum will rest on the lower blocks and mag dividers to support it. The Thompson upper will rest on top of that with walnut blocks and the cushion built into the top of the case to keep it from moving around. I think that my Auto Ordnance 1911 will fit there too. I'm hoping the extra screws needed to hold the inserts in place will not be too visible. One of the advantages of using the very textured fauxrida gator case, not to be confused with a Florida gator case. Planning on a road trip to town tomorrow, have to drop my carbine off at the smith and I'll go by the fabric shop and get materials. Haven't been in a wally world since this Covid mess started.

[Baltimore Ed]

Started cutting aluminum and walnut pieces out. Here's the layout that seems to work. Get my felt tomorrow. There's a piece of 1/8 in aluminum under the cardboard. Going to put a block where the mothers polish is and a support in the center where the stock and lower meet.
Also figured that 6 1911 mags laying on their sides will fit under the buttstock so I'm going to cover a piece of plastic to separate and protect the wood from the mags. Also gives me a place for my atf sbr paperwork. Job ain't done till the paperwork's finished.

My old Auto Ordnance 1911 has arrived, pick it up Saturday when I go get my '73 back from the smith. Might go to a local gun show then too. I'll wait and see how crowded it is. If I do I WILL wear a mask. It ain't over yet by a long shot, things reopening or not.

[Baltimore Ed]

I think I've got the lower big end about done. I want to redo the triangular block that's over the slide end of the buttstock. The piece that I made was from another board and had too much sap wood in it to take the walnut stain. I can get a handful of 1911 mags under the stock though I might do something creative with the space between the lower and the Thompson mags.

Update..That space will hold an old brown GI 50 rd .45acp cardboard ammo box perfectly. Hoping that I can fit one or two of the 20 rd boxes into the void on the buttstock side of the case. I didn't like the big blocks on that side. I cut the top round corner off of the kidney shaped block to make it easier to remove the lower.

[Major 2]

NICE  

What brand is the 1911 ?

[Baltimore Ed]

The .45 in the pix is my heinz, a Colt 1911 [not A1] slide-HS bbl-all original Colt 1911 parts except an Essex frame with everything distressed to match. The grips were new double diamonds but I distressed them too. But the gun that will go into the case will be an older Auto Ordnance 1911 to match it's big brother.

[Baltimore Ed]

I'm slow but I'm old. Two more blocks to screw down, stain the wood and then cover it with the felt. I had to add the luan to stiffen the aluminum and build up the big end. As an afterthought I decided to add the .380 Savage as I had the space, it fit perfectly and it's such a cool little artsy pistol. The 1911 is a AO West Hurley pistol. We hopefully are having our first post covid lockdown match next week and as it's a Wild Bunch match I hope that I get it done. Still waiting for my darn stock slide. If it doesn't show I won't take 'the uke'. Bet you didn't know that Thompson also made musical instruments.

A PSA—Things are opening up and a lot of people are not protecting themselves or others by not masking. Watched a woman today in the craft store with 4 unmasked little kids. Covid don't care if you're red or blue, young or old. Stay safe.

[Professor Marvel]

That cased set is looking quite outstanding!
I do hope the handle doesn't come off...

yhs
prof marvel

[Baltimore Ed]

Thanks Professor, hope it holds up too, seems to be pretty well made but I'm not planning on carrying all those .45 mags loaded up in it. Maybe a repro box of 20 rds just for the looks. While the handle [I guess] is riveted to one side of the case the walnut divider in the center is screwed to both sides of the case so some of the handle's pull should be transfered to the opposite case wall. I hadn't thought about it but I might put a screw through the bottom into the divider. I will also use my mill and make some lightening cuts in the top wood like I did the bottom pieces. Just needs to hold together for the occasional performance and carrying it to and from the [imaginary] '34 Hudson Terraplane.

[Major 2]

This should size for a  3.5 X 5 " box 

[Major 2]

another one WW 1 Era

[Professor Marvel]

My Dear Ed

I am extremely grateful that you knew of and mentioned the Terraplane



Your "travel kit" will also go well on a professional's international trip on the Pan Am Clipper



yhs
prof marvel

[Baltimore Ed]

I have all my walnut blocks done for the top. I might add 4 round magnets with countersunk holes in the centers in the mty spot under the 1911 to hold a 1911 mag and a savage mag. Want to inlet the magnets into the luan and d&t them to the aluminum base, the felt will hide them. Hoping that I can find some that are strong enough to hold through the felt. I just finished d&t my base for 3 straps that will hold down the Savage, 1911 and vert forearm. I added extra pieces of aluminum to reenforce the d&t. The case top will hold the upper but won't compress against the thinner pistols. Going to try this and see how it does. Got my straps done but don't like the fender washers, needs something else. Might make a walnut spacer for them. Still no stock slide. Just looked at fleabay thinking some Chicago, NY or KC transit tokens might be an interesting touch.

[Coffinmaker]

  OH     SO   TASTY   

[Queasy Dillo]

I bought this violin case with the idea that it would house an eventual short-barreled 1878 clone, but...I'm thinking it might wind up similar. 

[Baltimore Ed]

Except for the felt on the backside of the top and a few loose pcs of the liner that need regluing it's done. The Savage location was designed to hold my 1917 .380 but the earlier .32 fits too. I just bought it because it was nickeled. Still waiting on my stock slide.

[Baltimore Ed]

Here's a couple more.

[Professor Marvel]

That is an awesome case Ed!

Out of curiosity how much does the complete packed case weigh in at?

Yhs
Prof Marvel