I've been watching that guy trying to peddle that particular replica for several months now it seems -- apparently his reserve is set a little too high. His "Buy Now!" is definitely about $200.00 too high. I'm 99.9% sure that is the Hudson Blank Fire model because they are the only company that I'm aware of that has ever produced a full auto replica of the Thompson M1A1. They also produce the 1928 Thompson M1 blank-fire, which is the one that has the charging handle on top. I've seen the Hudson Thompson M1A1's offered for between $650.00 and $750.00, depending on condition, and they do typically sell at those prices.
This seller calls it a "Plug Fire Cartridge", but I believe it is basically the same thing as a "Blank-Fire" -- but
not to be confused with shooting "blanks", as is typically done with
real guns as seen on film. A blank-fire/plug-fire uses cartridges that look like slightly modified empty shell casings, but you use blow-back caps instead of primers, gunpowder, and bullets/slugs. The upper receiver is made of a brittle metal that is not compatible with firing "live" rounds. The barrel is also partially yet permanently blocked to further deter anyone from trying to fire live rounds through it, yet smoke from the blank caps can travel down and out the end of the barrel.
I've seen these fire and they can look a little cheezy next to the real thing. Better than nothing I suppose, but lots of smoke and sometimes sparks from the ejection port -- not viewed as very realistic by gun afficionados. Not to say it wouldn't make a great pulse rifle build, because it definitely would. Just a little too pricy for my blood because you would be very limited as to where you could actually fire such a thing -- replica or not.
As for a REAL live-firing full-auto Thompson M1A1... expect to shell out at least $15,000.00 for a nice one -- and you had better have a Class III firearms license or better.
However, there is also another option for those who like the live-fire feature on their M1A1. There is at least a company or two that offer semi-auto versions of the Thompson M1A1, priced anywhere between $1000.00 and $1500.00 -- but again it's only a semi-auto, and you'd never want to risk taking it to a con, whether dressed up as a pulse rifle or not.
Rick "Ripstick"
[img]http://www.ripstick.com/USCM/images/Ripstick_Aliens_Legacy_Banner_2007.jpg[/img]
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