The interesting questions are many. Why or how, for example, did Savage happen to consume a Colt receiver and provide it with an already used number? Was it that somehow this possibly rejected receiver was in with the tools and parts that Savage was provided with at the beginning of production in 1940? How is that the rest of the Colt receivers were also not consumed but instead ended with Numrich? Maybe Savage did not get all the cases or maybe they did not open them all. So do we know if the Danish Colt s/n 7886 is perhaps the result of a first failed attempt at Colt and Savage found the number in the barrel socket?  Do we know if this gun has 1921 patent dates as would be correct for the previous timing question? Or do we have 1922 dates and therefore no clue as to how the serial number was chosen and why all the receivers were not consumed? One has to ask, is Colt/NAC3 (TCN 146) a 1921 or 1922 made receiver? The answer to that might may give everyone a headache. I recall only seeing late receivers when I looked at a few Colt/NAC guns. Still it is a puzzle because I have no notes remaining. Anyway, overrun receivers and frames at the Colt factory would be perfectly plausible. Just to state the certain issue, we know that Numrich obtained Colt receivers (at the minimum) when he acquired the Auto-Ordnance assets. We know this because now such guns exist, NAC 1, NAC3 and NAC5 at least. We also have the Colt quality and process controls. Leaving rejected parts laying about was not the Colt method unless they were suitably marked. In relation to s/n 7886 we cannot be certain what kind of fame it has since the pictures show what could be an original Colt fame. Only direct inspection could clarify and provide a clue to this gun’s real story.

In the end we have more questions than answers. We do have one thing. We have Colt receivers and/or Colt complete guns appearing from decades of storage in 1951. No matter how they became shootable and saleable, they are still a bit of Colt TSMG history and mystery. Contrary to Gordon’s low opinion of these guns, I think they are more rare than a Savage Commercial and as such have strong potential value and a high spot in the TSMG pecking order.

Lastly, I offer this comment. The last two books on the Thompson have overlooked this important period in Thompson history. One would think that the existence of then unknown submachine guns, which were registered and sold straight from storage would attract the researcher of the books. For that matter the late 1940’s remarking of 1928A1 guns into 1928AC: with s/n...X has been given less cover than could be hoped for. At the least it seems to be uncertain who actually ran the program. In that respect I have one of those guns with no inspection marks, high in the s/n range and the interesting part is it is documented as manufactured by Maguire Industries.

Hopefully all of this will stir up some discussion and perhaps clear the fog somewhat.

References ~
The Gun that made the Twenties Road, William J. Helmer, pg. 206, 207
The Thompson Submachine Gun, Roger A. Cox, pg. 3, 24
Thompson: The American Legend, Tracie L. Hill, pg. 69
The Military Thompson Submachine Guns, Frank Iannamico, pg. 80-83
Other publications and articles over the last thirty years.