Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith
ilmarinen - MODERATOR
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2004
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You guys know how I like to stretch the limits sometimes .... and stretch my limits at the same time. I took all the things I really like doing and rolled them into one project. The list was:
I like making miniatures
I like doing background research
I like making things that are different and I haven't seen before
I like things with lots of small parts
I like scale accuracy
I like it when a plan comes together
So, let me introduce this project -
A 6:1 scale Thompson M1921 Submachine Gun with type C 100 round drum magazine.
All parts are mad in sterling silver, with the bolt knob, front sight, and trigger in 14 karat gold. The silver was oxidized to turn it black like Parkerizing. There are over 60 parts involved, some requiring tweezers to make and assemble. It took a good 100 hours to make everything.
I started with research on the gun and its variations. I printed out a photo of the one I liked and made notes all over it. This is the link to the photo:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thompson_submachine_gun#/media/File:Campbell_Thompson.jpg
The main frame was welded up of three plates of silver. There was a left, right and center that would form the gun body.
Next came making the barrel. I sleeved silver tubing, made the breach, and fitted it to the main frame so it inserted just like a full size one. I added the front collar to strengthen it, and then turned the cooling fins.
I cleaned all this up and started adding all the features of the gun.
The scale is exact as possible all through the build, even the bore. I made a few minor changes in the style to accommodate building it so small. These are ones that would work just as well - like the slight change to the shape and mounting of the rear section of the front grip.
The screws ( really pins with heads) are made from silver, and are somewhat of an artists license in placement. There are also knurled thumb wheels because these were take down guns. Mine is not made to disassemble, but looks like it could.
The safety selector moves from side to side.
The trigger has a tiny 1mm spring that makes the trigger move and return when pulled.
There is a round loading in the chamber from the drum. I also made two extra bullets for display.
The drum is slightly thinner than scale, because I used a piece of a coin frame to make the rim. The rest is pretty accurate in the hardware.
Wooden parts are Macassar ebony.
I will put up some photos of it as I worked on the project. The one odd looking shot is the barrel in the oxidizer solution. The rest of the shots are pretty clear what they are.
I like making miniatures
I like doing background research
I like making things that are different and I haven't seen before
I like things with lots of small parts
I like scale accuracy
I like it when a plan comes together
So, let me introduce this project -
A 6:1 scale Thompson M1921 Submachine Gun with type C 100 round drum magazine.
All parts are mad in sterling silver, with the bolt knob, front sight, and trigger in 14 karat gold. The silver was oxidized to turn it black like Parkerizing. There are over 60 parts involved, some requiring tweezers to make and assemble. It took a good 100 hours to make everything.
I started with research on the gun and its variations. I printed out a photo of the one I liked and made notes all over it. This is the link to the photo:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thompson_submachine_gun#/media/File:Campbell_Thompson.jpg
The main frame was welded up of three plates of silver. There was a left, right and center that would form the gun body.
Next came making the barrel. I sleeved silver tubing, made the breach, and fitted it to the main frame so it inserted just like a full size one. I added the front collar to strengthen it, and then turned the cooling fins.
I cleaned all this up and started adding all the features of the gun.
The scale is exact as possible all through the build, even the bore. I made a few minor changes in the style to accommodate building it so small. These are ones that would work just as well - like the slight change to the shape and mounting of the rear section of the front grip.
The screws ( really pins with heads) are made from silver, and are somewhat of an artists license in placement. There are also knurled thumb wheels because these were take down guns. Mine is not made to disassemble, but looks like it could.
The safety selector moves from side to side.
The trigger has a tiny 1mm spring that makes the trigger move and return when pulled.
There is a round loading in the chamber from the drum. I also made two extra bullets for display.
The drum is slightly thinner than scale, because I used a piece of a coin frame to make the rim. The rest is pretty accurate in the hardware.
Wooden parts are Macassar ebony.
I will put up some photos of it as I worked on the project. The one odd looking shot is the barrel in the oxidizer solution. The rest of the shots are pretty clear what they are.
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