The Thompson Light RifleIn 1940 US Army Ordnance open up requests for a “light rifle” th
The Thompson Light RifleIn 1940 US Army Ordnance open up requests for a “light rifle” that was shorter, lighter, and fired a smaller cartridge than the standard battle rifle. Every major firearms company submitted their own prototypes for consideration.Auto Ordinance, maker of the Thompson Submachine Machine Gun, submitted this prototype, the Thompson Light Rifle. Chambered in .30 Carbine, the Thompson Light Rifle was based on the .45acp submachine gun design. It fired full/semi automatic, featured a barrel shroud and detachable barrel (for changeout of overheating barrels) and came with 20 and 30 round detachable magazines.Unfortunatly the Thompson Auto Rifle was rejected for adoption because they were expensive, difficult to mass produce, and weighed more than the specifications set by Army Ordnance. Instead the US Army adopted the M1 Carbine, submitted by Winchester and invented by Jonathan “Ed” Browning, younger brother of firearms designer John Browning. -- source link
#guns#firearms#rare#rifles#wwii