This is a very rare variant of the high desirable Colt Model 1927 (AC) Thompson that was factory (Auto-Ordnance) modified to "Semi-Automatic" fire only. Originally these started out as a standard Colt Model 1921 fully automatic SMG firing the standard .45 ACP round. With all the interest in these weapons in the late 1920s, the Auto-Ordnance company decided to try and capitalize on their popularity by introducing a "semi-automatic" version available for sale to the general public. There were only a few hundred of this model actually manufactured/converted by the factory on a permanent basic, and they are considered very scarce. They are still tracked with their original serial number. There were two basic models the 1927A model without the compensator on the barrel and the 1927AC model (like this example) that has the Cutts Compensator on the barrel. To affect this modification the standard receiver markings were carefully milled out and remarked and the internal components changed to semi-automatic fire only. The markings were changed as following: the left side of the receiver was originally marked: "MODEL OF 1921" which was milled off and restamped "MODEL OF 1927", with the old serial number "5188" below the marking block. The left rear portion of the receiver was originally "THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN" which has also ben milled off and restamped "THOMPSON SEMI-AUTOMATIC CARBINE". The remaining receiver markings all remained intact as follows: "CALIBER .45 AUTOMATIC COLT CARTRIDGE/MANUFACTURED BY/COLT'S PATENT FIRE ARMS MFG. CO./HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.". The right side markings were unaltered, showing the five lines of patent dates along with the two line "AUTO-ORDNANCE CORPORATION, NEW YORK U.S.A" and the top of the receiver is still marked with "THOMPSON" inside their "bullet" logo. The only other factory alteration, was on the lower trigger housing where the word "FULL" was also milled off and left blank. Since these alterations were all performed by the factory on already brand new guns they did not refinish them and instead just used touch up black paint to fill in the remarked areas. All other features of this rare carbine remaining unchanged. It comes with one 30 round stick magazine.

Excellent with 95% plus of the original blue finish overall with edge and high spot wear. The original markings are clear and distinct with the factory markings quite legible inside the factory milled out area. The wood components are all in excellent condition showing a very nice light brown color overall with the vertical fore grip being a later production factory replacement as it doesn't fit tight. Writer cannot recall the last time we ever had one of these! NOTE: This weapon is a National Firearms Act (NFA), Class 3, Fully Automatic Weapon, which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATF) under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 478.