Thompson

steveno · March 3, 2015, 01:24 PM

I was watching the "St. Valentine's Day Massacre" on the History channel. it was said that the Capone's guys made one run on the "hitee" using blanks in the Thompsons. then after the "hitee" had relaxed little bit they made another run using real ammo and really made a mess of things. I have always been under the impression that to make most guns work with blanks that something had to be done them to let them feed and cycle properly. I can't imagine having two sets of guns so was the Thompson different?

**44 AMP** · March 3, 2015, 11:10 PM

#1, some of the information on the History channel is neither accurate, nor history.

ALL semi and full auto guns require some kind of back pressure to work the action when there is no bullet. The military uses a blank adaptor that fastens to the outside of the gun, and plugs the bore (with a small vent hole).

Hollywood prop guns use an plug inside to the barrel, to preserve the look of an unmodified gun. Live ammo cannot be safely fired with the plug in place.

Some guns (those with locking actions) are sometimes machined into straight blowback systems for use with blanks. Doing this permanently renders them unsafe with live ammo.

I don't see Capone's gang using a blank only Tommygun. Possible, I suppose, but highly unlikely. Much more likely is that the History channel is repeating a story that was ...embellished some time in the past.

Armed_Chicagoan · March 3, 2015, 11:50 PM

I'm surprised the History Channel didn't claim Capone was really a space alien.

Theohazard · March 4, 2015, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armed_Chicagoan

I'm surprised the History Channel didn't claim Capone was really a space alien.

You, sir, win the Internet for today.

I'll third the notion that much of what the History Channel broadcasts is total and complete you-know-what. It's a good story, but unless it's verified by a much better source (and they explain how it was done technically), I'd remain skeptical.

steveno · March 4, 2015, 02:51 AM

overall I thought it was a pretty good program but I was a little skeptical about using blanks back in those days

model18 · March 4, 2015, 05:05 AM

ask Brian Williams.......he was there!

Venom1956 · March 4, 2015, 02:02 PM

Machineguntony · March 4, 2015, 10:26 PM

I used to love the History Channel, until they brought in the supernatural BS. Then it went completely downhill.

On a side note relevant to this thread, if you pause certain scenes in Predator, you will see the blank adapters inside the barrels.

ofitg · March 5, 2015, 07:50 PM

Apparently there was an incident that might have involved blank cartridges -

Hymie plans a on the spot attack against Capone in Cicero September 20,1926, eight car loads of Northsiders drive past Capone's headquarters.They let loose with a first volley of blanks from a machinegun to make any Capone gangsters appear, but none show up as Capone himself is thrown to the ground by his bodyguard Frank Rio.The real shooting begins and about a 1,000 rounds are poured in the Hawthorne Hotel. (Blanks being used were questioned by many historians.It's quite possible that they shot the thompson machine gun in the air to make the hotel occupants come out).

http://www.myalcaponemuseum.com/id89.htm

As noted, the shots might have been fired into the air.

If blanks really were used, who said the weapon was necessarily a Thompson? It is my understanding that the Army issued blank-firing adapters for the 1918 BAR.....

James K · March 7, 2015, 11:06 PM

No, no. The Capone gang used M16's brought to Chicago by the Knights Templar when they trekked across the North American continent in chain mail carrying the Ark of the Covenant. That was while space aliens were building the Washington Monument, and before Lenny da Vinci proved that Jesus was married to Queen Elizabeth II and they had the child we know as Barack Obama. If there is anything I hate it is inaccurate history.

Jim

Willie Lowman · March 8, 2015, 07:43 AM

^^^^ The History Channel summed up perfectly in one post ^^^^

ofitg · March 8, 2015, 11:26 AM

In the case of the 9-20-1926 incident at the Hawthorn Hotel, the only people who know the answer would be Hymie Weiss and his thugs.

And they're not talking.

T. O'Heir · March 8, 2015, 01:29 PM

Blanks in the Thompsons(a friction-delayed blowback action) or any other MG wouldn't work without some kind of BFA. Stephen Ambrose write the script?

March 3, 2015, 11:10 PM	#2
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,818	#1, some of the information on the History channel is neither accurate, nor history. ALL semi and full auto guns require some kind of back pressure to work the action when there is no bullet. The military uses a blank adaptor that fastens to the outside of the gun, and plugs the bore (with a small vent hole). Hollywood prop guns use an plug inside to the barrel, to preserve the look of an unmodified gun. Live ammo cannot be safely fired with the plug in place. Some guns (those with locking actions) are sometimes machined into straight blowback systems for use with blanks. Doing this permanently renders them unsafe with live ammo. I don't see Capone's gang using a blank only Tommygun. Possible, I suppose, but highly unlikely. Much more likely is that the History channel is repeating a story that was ...embellished some time in the past. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

March 4, 2015, 02:02 PM	#7
Venom1956 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2008 Location: WI Posts: 3,656	__________________ E-Shock rounds are engineered to expend maximum energy into soft targets, turning the density mass into an expanding rotational cone of NyTrilium matrix particles, causing neurological collapse to the central nervous system.- Yeah I can do that. I guarantee you will know it if a bicyclist hits your house going 1000 mph. -Smaug

March 4, 2015, 10:26 PM	#8
Machineguntony Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 1,277	I used to love the History Channel, until they brought in the supernatural BS. Then it went completely downhill. On a side note relevant to this thread, if you pause certain scenes in Predator, you will see the blank adapters inside the barrels. __________________ Sent from Motorola DynaTac 8000x

March 8, 2015, 07:43 AM	#11
Willie Lowman Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: Uh-Hi-O Posts: 3,006	^^^^ The History Channel summed up perfectly in one post ^^^^ __________________ "9mm has a very long history of being a pointy little bullet moving quickly" --Sevens

March 8, 2015, 01:29 PM	#13
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Blanks in the Thompsons(a friction-delayed blowback action) or any other MG wouldn't work without some kind of BFA. Stephen Ambrose write the script? __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

March 3, 2015, 01:24 PM	#1
steveno Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Location: Minden , Nebraska Posts: 1,407	Thompson I was watching the "St. Valentine's Day Massacre" on the History channel. it was said that the Capone's guys made one run on the "hitee" using blanks in the Thompsons. then after the "hitee" had relaxed little bit they made another run using real ammo and really made a mess of things. I have always been under the impression that to make most guns work with blanks that something had to be done them to let them feed and cycle properly. I can't imagine having two sets of guns so was the Thompson different?

March 3, 2015, 11:50 PM	#3
Armed_Chicagoan Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2013 Location: Albany Park, Chicago Posts: 776	I'm surprised the History Channel didn't claim Capone was really a space alien.

March 4, 2015, 02:51 AM	#5
steveno Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Location: Minden , Nebraska Posts: 1,407	overall I thought it was a pretty good program but I was a little skeptical about using blanks back in those days

March 4, 2015, 05:05 AM	#6
model18 Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2006 Posts: 419	ask Brian Williams.......he was there!

March 5, 2015, 07:50 PM	#9
ofitg Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2010 Posts: 102	Apparently there was an incident that might have involved blank cartridges - Hymie plans a on the spot attack against Capone in Cicero September 20,1926, eight car loads of Northsiders drive past Capone's headquarters.They let loose with a first volley of blanks from a machinegun to make any Capone gangsters appear, but none show up as Capone himself is thrown to the ground by his bodyguard Frank Rio.The real shooting begins and about a 1,000 rounds are poured in the Hawthorne Hotel. (Blanks being used were questioned by many historians.It's quite possible that they shot the thompson machine gun in the air to make the hotel occupants come out). http://www.myalcaponemuseum.com/id89.htm As noted, the shots might have been fired into the air. If blanks really were used, who said the weapon was necessarily a Thompson? It is my understanding that the Army issued blank-firing adapters for the 1918 BAR.....

March 7, 2015, 11:06 PM	#10
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	No, no. The Capone gang used M16's brought to Chicago by the Knights Templar when they trekked across the North American continent in chain mail carrying the Ark of the Covenant. That was while space aliens were building the Washington Monument, and before Lenny da Vinci proved that Jesus was married to Queen Elizabeth II and they had the child we know as Barack Obama. If there is anything I hate it is inaccurate history. Jim

March 8, 2015, 11:26 AM	#12
ofitg Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2010 Posts: 102	In the case of the 9-20-1926 incident at the Hawthorn Hotel, the only people who know the answer would be Hymie Weiss and his thugs. And they're not talking.