From M1921-M1A1: Thompson SMG Airsoft
Hello guys,
Today we are going to share our experience on Thomspon airsoft gun~
We are going to explain the history behind and compare the performance and specification of each Airsoft Thompson SMGs from different brands. Hope this article can help you to understand which one fits your requirement for Airsoft, reenactment event and collection. Thompson submachine gun is a blowback-operated, selective-fire submachine gun, invented by United States Army brigadier general John T. Thompson during the WWI period. It was designed for trench warfare. However, not able to make it to the WWI battlefield.
General John T. Thompson with an M1921 Thompson(Wikipedia)
Before issued to the military, it had become famous because of the Chicago gang wars in 1920s-30s.Thompson SMG was used by both sides. The drum magazine and vertical foregrip, the "pistol grip" have become the symbol of Thompson SMG since then.
FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover Aiming a Thompson Submachine Gun(New York Daily News Archive)
Before WWII, Thompson SMG had only little issued to US forces in the Banana war. But when the tension in Asia and Europe went high, US armed forces also massively adopted the Thompson SMG for the upcoming war.
Second Army Maneuvers in Louisiana. Sgt. Andrew Favors, Hqs. Troop, 9th Cavalry, with a M1928 Thompson submachine gun. Aug. 30, 1941. (NARA)
Thomspon SMG was also supplied to Allied forces under the Lend-Lease Act. So, you can see the Allied troops like the British, her Commonwealth, Free French, Chinese, etc used it during the war all over the world.
Winston Churchill firing a Thompson submachine gun alongside the Allied Supreme Commander, General Dwight D Eisenhower, during an inspection of US invasion forces, March 1944. (IWM)
US kept using it throughout the war. M1928 was the first type of Thompson that was widely used by the US forces. Shortly before the Pearl Harbor incident, the M1928A1 variables entered mass production. The Pistol grip had been canceled and replaced by horizontal forend and a sling could be added to it rather than drilling and screwing a sling swivel on it.
A Free French Naval Commandos (Commandos Marins) of the 1st BFMC (Battalion de Fusiliers Marins Commandos) who arrived in Normandy during the D-Day landings with a M1928A1 was welcomed by local French people. Note the wartime made M1928A1 with a L sight and British stock. (IWM)
In February 1942, responding to a request for further simplification, the US military simplified the production to reduce the production cost and increase the production speed. The L sight officially replaced the flip-up adjustable Lyman rear sight. Friction lock design of M1921 and M1928 was replaced with the simple blowback operation. Charging handle was moved from the top to the side and the receiver became thinner. The drum mag slots were removed. Firing rate reduced from 1500 to 600~700 RPM. This spec was standardized in April 1942 as M1 and issued in 1943.
Two Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines advancing on Wana Ridge on 18 May 1945. Note his firing M1 has a bent L sight and M1907 sling. (NARA)
M1A1 was standardized in October 1942, which was produced in half the time of the M1928A1, and at a much lower cost. The main difference between the M1 and M1A1 was the bolt. M1 had a floating firing pin and hammer, the bolt of the M1A1 had the firing pin machined into the face of the bolt, leading to an elimination of unnecessary parts. The sight protecting wing and a reinforced lock on the stock to increase the strength of the whole gun. It was issued until the end of the WWII, then replaced my M3 Grease gun. But some US forces in Asia still kept using it when they garrison in China, Japan and Korea. So, you could see some Thompson was used in the Korean war. Some of them might be recaptured by the US after they were aided to China and captured by the communist forces.
Because it was widely aided during WWII or after WWII as a second hand stock, so Thompson SMG was still being seen in many conflict like the Greek Civil War, Arab-Israeli war, Indonesian War of Independence, Cuban Revolution (including Bay of Pigs Invasion), Vietnam War of course(Used by some US forces, and aided to South Vietnam) and even Yugoslavian Civil War. In the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine, some lend-lease Thompson was discovered to be used in combat or captured in the warehouse as new old stock.
So, what about airsoft? First of all, the first modern Thompson airsoft SMG was first developed by the Japanese in the late 90s and early 00s, if we do not count the early BB toy gun for children that is not a full size 1:1 airsoft and does not quite look like a real tommy gun. And I do not want to go too deep back to the discontinued airsoft. I will only introduce the recent Thompson and compare their quality, cost, historical accuracy and price–performance ratio(PP). I won’t compare with real gun, model gun, airgun and cap gun, like the MGC m1928. Airsoft gun only. Otherwise, it will be a little bit unfair.
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M1928:
1. Mafia M1928 GBB
Mafio GBB, basic on WE M1A1. Because it is fully made of steel, it has a real gun weight. If you are an airsoft collector in real gun prohibited countries, this will be your best option for a M1928 thompson. It shares the same system with WE M1A1, you can replace the bolt(airsoft nozzle) and internal parts with WE M1A1. Upgrade this item is possible. But I don’t think there will be anybody to bring this airsoft to take part in an airsoft game. You can also convert the stock into real gun stock like the photos below.
WWII original horizontal forend
WWII British handgrip and stock
Quality: ✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(9/10)
Cost: ✰✰(2/10)
Historical Accuracy: ✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(9/10)
PP:✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(7/10)
https://www.switairsoft.com/product-page/mafioso-thompson-m1928-airsoft-gbb-smg
2. King Arms EBB.
King Arms had developed their own GBB around ten years before when they were still in Hong Kong. But they had never been on the production line. On the other hand, they upgraded their old m1928 AEG and converted it into EBB. It can use drum mag which was designed for Marui, Snow Wolf and KA AEG and recreate the classic drum mag mafia or WWII outfit.
However, EBB durability is not as good as standard AEG. Suggest removing it if you want to use it for airsoft game rather than reenactment or collection.
This Thompson is produced under license.
Quality: ✰✰✰✰✰✰(6/10)
Cost: ✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(7/10)
Historical Accuracy: ✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(9/10)
PP:✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(7/10)
Currently out of stock
https://www.switairsoft.com/product-page/king-arms-m1928-chicago-ebb-airsoft-smg
3. King Arms M1928 AEG
The version we’ve just mentioned above. With the side handle, M1A1 receiver and stock. The stock may be made of wood or plastic. Please note that before ordering. This is an early airsoft design combining M1A1 parts. Only for airsoft and collection, will be quite “Farb” for reenactment. It has a silver chrome version too.
Quality: ✰✰✰✰✰✰(6/10)
Cost: ✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(7/10)
Historical Accuracy: ✰✰✰✰(4/10)
PP:✰✰✰✰✰✰(6/10)
4. CYMA M1928 AEG
Basically the same design as KA old version. Slightly lower quality compared to KA but with better price and acceptable durability as CYMA always does. You can simply buy a new one if it is broken(what I did) to save the money and time for repair.
Quality: ✰✰✰✰✰(5/10)
Cost: ✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(7/10)
Historical Accuracy: ✰✰✰✰(4/10)
PP:✰✰✰✰✰(5/10)
Also not available currently
https://www.switairsoft.com/product-page/upgraded-cyma-m1928-thompson-aeg-airsoft-smg
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M1A1
5. WE M1A1 GBB
The best M1A1 Thompson GBB you can find. It is made of good metal and wood. Capable with 20 and 30rd magazines. Stock can be removed and not affect functioning unlike AEG. Because it uses standard specifications. So, you can easily find the upgrade kit. The GBB system also gives you a better experience compared to AEG. The open bolt design is almost perfectly recreated. We still have it in stock and have two different upgrade versions. Perfect for airsoft, reenactment and collection.
Lv 2, upgraded with real wood, steel outer barrel and better internal barrel
Quality: ✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(9/10)
Cost: ✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(7/10)
Historical Accuracy: ✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(9/10)
PP:✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(8/10)
https://www.switairsoft.com/product-page/cybergun-m1a1-thompson-gbb-with-ra-tech-steel-outerbarrel
Lv 1, Standard upgraded with steel outer barrel and better internal barrel
Quality: ✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(9/10)
Cost: ✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(8/10)
Historical Accuracy: ✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(9/10)
PP:✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(8/10)
https://www.switairsoft.com/product-page/upgraded-we-m1a1-thompson-gbb-lv1
If you are good at modifying, convert it into an M1 is possible.
6. Marui M1A1 AEG
Marui is one of the best airsoft brands. Their M1A1 is one of their best airsoft too. The quality is perfect, if you upgrade their box, barrel and use the mid cap mag, you can use it like a light machine gun. Perfect for collection and airsoft game. We have not sold this, but we still recommend you to buy one if you have the opportunity.
Quality: ✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(9/10)
Cost: ✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(8/10)
Historical Accuracy: ✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(8/10)
PP:✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(8/10)
7. Snow Wolf and CYMA M1A1 AEG
They have a very similar quality and durability. Same system as Marui but with the slightly worse material. Price can cover the quality problem. Replace a new one if it is broken.
Quality: ✰✰✰✰(4/10)
Cost: ✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(9/10)
Historical Accuracy: ✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(7/10)
PP:✰✰✰✰✰✰✰(7/10)
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Sling
M1928 used M1907 sling in early stage of WWII, then replaced by a shortened version
of the WWI Kerr Sling. Some battlefields would find M1923 sling was associated with it. And of course, British and Commonwealth soldiers would use their own Lee Enfield sling.
Please be aware that most of the Chinese reproductions add a US marking on the sling and this is inaccurate. Kerr slings were NOT stamped. We have a correct version here and save some shipping to buy a new sling.
Thanks for watching!