Auto-Ordnance Corporation
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Firearms |
| Founded | 1916 |
| Founder | John T. Thompson |
| Headquarters | Bridgeport , United States |
| Products | Firearms, including Thompson submachine gun |
| Owner | Saelio Enterprises Inc. (parent company of Kahr Arms) |
Auto-Ordnance was an American firearms development company founded in 1916 by retired Colonel John T. Thompson of the United States Army Ordnance Department. The firm gained prominence for creating the Thompson submachine gun, which was extensively utilized by Allied troops during World War II and became notorious as a favored weapon among gangsters throughout the Roaring Twenties.
Founding
In August 1916, John T. Thompson established Auto-Ordnance Corporation with financial support from investor Thomas Ryan. The year prior, Thompson had obtained the Blish Lock patent from Commander John Blish, which served as the fundamental mechanism for early versions of both the Thompson submachine gun and the Thompson Autorifle. Blish assigned his patent rights to Thompson in return for company equity. Engineers Theodore H. Eickoff and Oscar V. Payne determined that the Blish lock—a form of delayed blowback operation—was ineffective with the .30-06 cartridge but functioned efficiently with the .45 ACP pistol cartridge. Driven by Thompson’s vision of a "trench sweeper," initial limited production models were released in 1919, although this was too late for deployment in World War I.
The submachine gun was first offered to the U.S. government but initially found significant use within law enforcement agencies. Colt commenced manufacturing the Model 1921, which earned the nickname "Tommy Gun." Thompson secured trademark rights for this moniker, and a restricted production series of M1928 and M1928A1 variants produced by Savage Arms bore the "TOMMY GUN" marking.
Prototypes
Throughout the 1920s and early 1940s, Auto-Ordnance developed several prototype firearms during military rifle evaluations and the .30 carbine trials; however, none were officially adopted. During World War II, the company established its own manufacturing plant in Bridgeport, Connecticut, producing M1928A1, M1, and M1A1 Thompson models to augment Savage Arms’ output. Additionally, Auto-Ordnance subcontracted component production for other military weapon systems.
The Thompson M1A1 was commonly issued to tank crews and vehicle operators because of its weight and limited effective range but was also favored in urban combat and jungle environments due to its compact design, rapid rate of fire, and strong stopping power.
Owners
In the 1950s, Numrich Arms Corporation (NAC) acquired the assets of the original Auto-Ordnance Corporation and continued operations under that name. Numrich Arms Auto-Ordnance assembled a small number of Thompson submachine guns primarily for law enforcement use, utilizing receivers from crates obtained in 1951 that included M1928A1 and M1A1 models. The company also provided parts for law enforcement agencies and collectors. By 1974, Numrich produced several fully automatic Thompsons alongside numerous semi-automatic replicas, including .22 LR versions aimed at collectors.
In 1999, Saelio Enterprises Inc., parent company of Kahr Arms, purchased Auto-Ordnance while Numrich Arms persisted as Gun Parts Corporation. Presently, Kahr manufactures semi-automatic-only "Thompson Carbines" chambered in .45 ACP. These contemporary firearms resemble their fully automatic predecessors but operate from a closed bolt system with dimensional modifications that prevent installation of full-auto components. The lineup includes the "Chicago Typewriter" 1927A-1, modeled after the Model 1921AC; the 1927A-1 "Commando," inspired by the WWII Model 1928A1 featuring a Cutts Compensator; the TM1, replicating the later WWII M1 Thompson; and a "Thompson pistol" variant based on the M1928 without provision for attaching a buttstock. Kahr Auto-Ordnance additionally manufactures replicas of the WWII-era M1 carbine and M1911 pistol.