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The pizzazz of being photographed holding a Thompson Submachine

Gun is recognized throughout the world. What makes this gun, this

Thompson gun, such a status symbol? What gives it the...the bling? It

surpassed the eminence of being an American icon decades ago. Even

the most anti-gun forces in the world realize there is something special

about this one firearm. And those few of us who spend our time reading

and researching the history of this great firearm embrace that special

feeling each time we hold one of our own Thompson guns.

Winston Churchill could never have foreseen how this one photograph

would cause such a stir in the world around him. It has forever

connected and immortalized the Prime Minister and the Thompson

gun. This same picture is still being reprinted today as a poster at The

Imperial War Museum in England.

Of course, what we see now are modern day commercial reproductions.

How was this picture actually used during The Great War? Tucked

away inside an old World War II publication, The War Weekly, is the

picture and story of how the Germans used it for propaganda purposes

during the war. Don't you wish you had one of these leaflets today!

Interesting reading - the Germans complaining about violations of The

Hague Convention during WWII is about as humorous as having rules

in a knife fight!

Enjoy this famous picture and story of our great Thompson gun with

one of the free worlds greatest war time leaders. When searching for

Thompson items, dont overlook the WWII publications as the

Thompson was (is) a photographers dream. This November 1, 1940,

issue of The War Weekly actually has a double treat of Thompsons as

seen on the next page. Given the date, these are most likely a few of the

early Savage manufactured Thompsons.

BY

TOM DAVIS