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Posted: 12/22/2025 2:49:56 PM EDT
[Last Edit: krazy_karl][Edited]
| At the local gun shop today, I saw a few West Hurley Thompson’s for $19,000 each. With the group was a Ozark Thompson in the M1 configuration for $19,000 as well. I am looking for a shooter. I know the West Hurley’s have had their issues. Ozark is something I’ve never heard before. Internet search came up pretty empty. Saw a few Ozark transferable machine guns that were converted on auction at Morphys. |
| Those sure seem like decent prices, but I readily admit I am not a decent appraiser of Thompsons. The last one I shot was around 25 years ago. I was the ringmaster for my agency and arrived at the range about a half hour before we were scheduled to use the range. The rangemaster from the previous agency was cleaning up and I noticed a Thompson laying on one of the benches...I went over to look but of course didn't touch it. The range master asked if I would like to shoot it, and I must have lit up like a Christmas tree...so he handed me a full stick magazine and said "go ahead". He explained that many years ago a citizen brought it in to his department as he didn't want it around his house any more...so the department did all the paperwork to register and keep it, and he said it has been in his agency's armory for over 40 years. |
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| If you really want to go down the Thompson rabbit hole, go here: https://www.machinegunboards.com/forums/index.php |
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Thompsons are Made from solid bullet steel parts and they're kind of like a garand in the respect that there are a ton of machining cuts and the tolerances are really tight If you have a Pre 1945 Thompson that is in good condition with all good Springs and everything it will run like a sewing machine But the various knockoffs like West Hurley and small machine shop guns and conversions and rewelds are very hit-and-miss with reliability If you want to buy one of those type of guns definitely make sure that you see it shoot a bunch of mags first There's a reason that so many west hurleys are in like new condition Personally, I would recommend going with one of the low end usgi guns, then its a non issue, just buy ammo and blast away |
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Originally Posted By Dakota_Don: If you really want to go down the Thompson rabbit hole, go here: https://www.machinegunboards.com/forums/index.php They know literally everything |
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If I had to guess I would say that was an Ozark mountain arsenal conversion done by Jim Edrington there in Indiana. He purchased property down here in the Ozark mountains, pretty close to where I live. His dream was to move his machine gun shop down here and build guns in the Ozark mountains, but the ban of 1986 put the kibosh to those plans. He eventually did retire and move down here, but it was after he gave up his manufacturing business. |
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Was the Ozark gun a converted WH, or new manufacture? How is the receiver marked? I wouldn't own a TSMG reweld ..... originally the receivers were made from crappy, hi lead-content steel. You need both a welder experienced with them, and a blanchard mill to surface grind the finished product The only WH 27 Semi conversions I've seen were done using Broadhead Armory registered firing pins ......and it's a sketchy conversion at best. The West Hurley guns M1's are good to go. Most 28's run fine after replacing the cast WH parts with USGI .....and properly threading/pinning the Cutts. Some WH 28's had issues with the geometry of the lock slots ...... pretty sure PK, Dan Block, or Bob at Philadelphia Ordnance could address any issues there. Good luck with your purchase |
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