Semi-Auto Thompson Stock Adapter...

[ithacaartist]

Too late. Here's what I have so far. I had a machinist do the milling and adapter plate fab, after all, for $180. My only gripe is that he apparently went a few thousandths too far and had to relieve the rear end of the lower enough to remove the bluing in that area. I took he hardware for the stock to GunBlack, in Interlaken NY, were it was cleaned up by an acid dip, then re-blued. I didn't bother with the pitting and simply had them blue right over it. At least my notion that it would not show the damage when installed proved out!

If I had it to do over again, I'd probably do it myself. The adapter plate is simply a piece of 1/8" x 1", and the milling could be supplanted by first sawing out the bulk of the material that needs to go. Next, I'd use a body grinder to get closer, then carefully true it up and finish it off with file work. The placement of the holes is arbitrary, within bounds, so no biggie there--just need to flush off the ends of the fasteners if they protrude into the top, inside of the lower, where they need to avoid the bolt body.

I think my machinist guy would do it again, but I wasn't all that happy dealing with him. He never answered an email, took forever to get to it (then it was completed, overnight) and I got the impression he wanted more $. At least this approach was more economical than sending it to a Thompson specialist, which made the small goof easy enough to swallow...

Originally Posted by sheepherder

Seller on GB has a new Numrich/Auto-Ordnance buttstock for sale...
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=424789427...

Nope, sorry Rich, the one pictured in this listing is the non-removable type for the '27 style. Its front end is curved differently, and you can see on the inside where the cylindrical lug that hangs down from the lower is accommodated, along with the extra meat. I already have two like this--the one original to the carbine, and a new, unissued one without any hardware or finish. It is in better condition than the G.B. offering, and cost me $30. I bought it by mistake,thinking it was what I needed.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by ithacaartist

I had a machinist do the milling and adapter plate fab, after all, for $180.

I don't need to tell you that you got robbed. And with an attitude no less.

In a way, I can understand the machinist's attitude. He didn't really want the job, and he wants to make sure you know it, and never come back.

I was working in my shop one day (several years ago) when I heard a go-cart like thing buzzing around. Teen-age neighbor kids, cutting through my 'lower 40' to get to their buddies on a neighboring road. (They policed the area after they had their inevitable 'parties', so I had no complaints). I could hear talking, and engine racing. I finally went out; they had stripped a keyway for the drive sprocket. I loaned them a couple tools to remove the rear axle, took it down and cut a new keyway, gave them a piece of keystock, and they were back in business inside an hour.

They're grown up and moved away, so I never see them anymore. Never knew them really, except to wave when they buzzed by. Go-karts/mini-bikes in Summer; sno-mobiles in Winter.

Lots of people I never knew have helped me out in my life. I'll never get a chance to repay them. But maybe someone else will.

My rant for the day.

[John Sabato]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

I don't need to tell you that you got robbed. And with an attitude no less.

In a way, I can understand the machinist's attitude. He didn't really want the job, and he wants to make sure you know it, and never come back.

Hey Rich... what alternative did Dave have? You have a combo Mill/Lathe in your basement. Some of us are not that fortunate, and have to pay the going rate to those who are equipped for the work...

I plan on the same modification for my Semi-Thompson... I already have the 1928 buttstock. I don't own a mill. So I can either invest the $180 toward buying my own milling machine or a milling attachment for my lather, or pay someone who already has one...

Are you taking in work for free now?

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by John Sabato

Are you taking in work for free now?

I lose money on any job I do.

I had posted this scan from the Numrich catalog to someone's thread here once before...But here it is again...

[John Sabato]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

I had posted this scan from the Numrich catalog to someone's thread here once before...But here it is again...

That Numrich adapter item would be handy at twice or three times that price, but what the catalogue never told you was that it doesn't include the machine work necessary to whack at least .25" of metal off the flat surface of the lower receiver to make it "look" right. If you just drill and tap the two holes, The 1928 removable stock would not fit properly, it would just "fit"...

While I have made many parts over the years with hand tools, and am pretty darn careful and productive with a mill file, I would not attempt to make that lower receiver modification without a milling machine or equivilant.

Just one OOPS is all it would take and a $1700 firearm would be an ugly paperweight...and I can't afford to replace that receiver. The $180 is the insurance that if the machinist doesn't do it RIGHT, he is liable for fixing or replacing it. ...and it takes me a long time to push that many pennies into a pile.

Rich, I know you live alone... and your only "job" is pleasing yourself at your address, ...but do you have children? Grandchildren? If not, then you don't know how much of a hassle (and often a waste of time) your personal priority list can be... you almost never get to the big stuff that is only important to you.

I wouldn't trade any of my grandchildren for Georg Luger's personal sidearm (well maybe just one... ), but I sure would like to drop a satchel full of money and own it!

There is an old proverb (...not from the bible) that says that "Life is what happens while you are making plans" If you look up the origin, you will probably find my photo next to it as the example.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by John Sabato

Rich, I know you live alone... and your only "job" is pleasing yourself at your address, ...but do you have children? Grandchildren? If not, then you don't know how much of a hassle (and often a waste of time) your personal priority list can be... you almost never get to the big stuff that is only important to you.

Regardless of our life choices, you can still pull out your Sears charge card and buy the exact same 3in1 machine I have, and not have to wait or pay thru the nose for the little things you might want. If you were once a gunsmith, then it would not be a big learning curve. Mistakes is how we learn. I've posted Samuel Beckett's adage about failure on my shop wall.

And when asked, I respond "Ah git bet-tah ev-ra day"...

[rhuff]

Originally Posted by ithacaartist

Too late. Here's what I have so far. I had a machinist do the milling and adapter plate fab, after all, for $180. My only gripe is that he apparently went a few thousandths too far and had to relieve the rear end of the lower enough to remove the bluing in that area. I took he hardware for the stock to GunBlack, in Interlaken NY, were it was cleaned up by an acid dip, then re-blued. I didn't bother with the pitting and simply had them blue right over it. At least my notion that it would not show the damage when installed proved out!

If I had it to do over again, I'd probably do it myself. The adapter plate is simply a piece of 1/8" x 1", and the milling could be supplanted by first sawing out the bulk of the material that needs to go. Next, I'd use a body grinder to get closer, then carefully true it up and finish it off with file work. The placement of the holes is arbitrary, within bounds, so no biggie there--just need to flush off the ends of the fasteners if they protrude into the top, inside of the lower, where they need to avoid the bolt body.

I think my machinist guy would do it again, but I wasn't all that happy dealing with him. He never answered an email, took forever to get to it (then it was completed, overnight) and I got the impression he wanted more $. At least this approach was more economical than sending it to a Thompson specialist, which made the small goof easy enough to swallow...



Nope, sorry Rich, the one pictured in this listing is the non-removable type for the '27 style. Its front end is curved differently, and you can see on the inside where the cylindrical lug that hangs down from the lower is accommodated, along with the extra meat. I already have two like this--the one original to the carbine, and a new, unissued one without any hardware or finish. It is in better condition than the G.B. offering, and cost me $30. I bought it by mistake,thinking it was what I needed.

It looks to me as though it turned out fine. It functions(I assume) and the butt stock fits up properly. It looks good to me.

When I start out a project, it ALWAYS costs me more to do the first item, as I am "walking in the dark". After the first one is done, usually I have refined my process and the second item is produced faster and cheaper. You did a nice job.