1928 Thompson

Donated by Howard P. and Jean H. Hart, 2014.218.015

Made famous by gangsters and G-men during the 1920s, the Thompson submachine gun was the most publicly recognized weapon that the marines fought with at Guadalcanal. The 1928 model fired at a rate of over 700 rounds per minute; it used50 or 100 round "C" drum magazines, or stick magazines carrying 20 or 30 rounds. The Thompson's compact size and high volume of fire made it a favored weapon for close-quarter fighting.