Thompson M1928A1 .45 inch sub machine gun, 1939 (c)

Once refused by the British Army as a 'gangster gun' the Thompson sub machine gun served the Allies well and was especially favoured by Commandos and other Special Forces for the stopping power of its .45in rounds. It was first purchased by Britain in 1939 when there was no indigenous sub machine gun available. The A1 weapon was simplified for mass production and used a box magazine of 20 (as this example) or 30 rounds rather than the drum magazine beloved of gangsters.