TM 9-215

THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN, CAL. .45, M1

Section V.

DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY

Paragraph

Removal of groups and assemblies

18

Disassembly of groups and assemblies

19

Assembly and replacement

20

 

Fig 4.

18. REMOVAL OF GROUPS AND ASSEMBLIES.

a. Magazine.

(1) Point submachine gun in a safe direction. Retract the bolt. See that the chamber is clear.

(2) Rotate the magazine catch counterclockwise and slide out the magazine (fig. 4).

b. Sling. Disconnect the sling hooks from the link and swivels and remove the sling.

c. Butt Stock Group. Unscrew the two butt stock screws and remove the stock. It is not necessary to remove butt stock group to remove frame.

d. Frame Group.

Fig 5.

(1) Grasp the bolt handle in the retracted position with one hand and with the other squeeze the trigger, allowing the bolt to move slowly forward on an empty chamber.

(2) See that safety is at FIRE and rocker pivot at FULL AUTO.

(3) Place the gun upside down on knee or on table, barrel extending rearward.

(4) With thumb of left hand press frame latch and with right hand tap frame, sliding it rearward a short distance (fig. 5).

(5) Take gun from knee or table, grasping receiver with left hand, squeeze the trigger and slide the frame off to the rear (fig. 6).

CAUTION: If safety is not set at FIRE and the rocker pivot at FULL AUTO, the bolt may be damaged.

e. Bolt and Recoil Spring Group.

Fig 6.

(1) Support muzzle of barrel on knee or table with open side of receiver facing the operator.

(2) Press the buffer pivot slightly into the receiver and withdraw the buffer (fig. 7). Do not release the pressure on the pilot. Gradually pull out the pilot with recoil spring (fig. 8).

(3) Slide the bolt rearward and tip the rear end until the bolt handle rests in the semicircular cut on the right side of the receiver. Steady the bolt in this position. Press the bottom of the hammer rear- ward to disengage the bolt handle and remove the handle (fig. 9).

f. Disassembled view of gun shown in figure 10.

Fig 7.

 

19. DISASSEMBLY OF GROUPS AND ASSEMBLIES.

a. Magazine. Slide out the floor plate, holding fingers over bottom of magazine tube to keep magazine spring from flying out. Withdraw the spring and the follower (fig. 11).

b. Butt Stock Group. Complete disassembly of butt stock is not necessary for ordinary cleaning. However, when necessary for replacement of broken or worn parts, butt stock plate may be removed by removal of screws holding it in place (fig. 12).

c. Barrel and Receiver Group.

(1) For ordinary cleaning the receiver and parts assembled thereto need not be disassembled. Barrel should be removed only for purposes of replacement and then only by authorized ordnance personnel.

(2) Ejector can be removed by lifting leaf sufficiently to disengage detent and unscrewing same from receiver (fig. 13). Do not try to unscrew ejector with bolt assembled and in forward position.

(3) Fore grip can be removed by unscrewing fore grip screw (fig. 14).

d. Bolt Group.

Fig 8.

(1) Withdraw the bolt from the receiver and drift out the hammer

pin. The hammer, firing pin, and firing pin spring will then tend to spring out under impulse of firing pin spring. Caution should be exercised to prevent these parts from springing away and becoming lost. Firing pin spring must not be stretched.

(2) Extractor should not be removed for ordinary cleaning or disassembling. To do so submits it to unnecessary strain and is apt to cause it to break or become set.

(3) To remove extractor from bolt, insert screwdriver under head of extractor on face of bolt and pull extractor out and up to withdraw it from its groove. When disassembling extractor from or assembling it to bolt, do not lift extractor higher than necessary for lug to clear anchorage hole as otherwise setting or breakage may occur (fig. 15).

e. Frame Group (figs. 16, 17 and 18).

(1) Hold frame in left hand, and using a screwdriver as a tool in right hand, depress short finger of pivot plate and push out rocker pivot with thumb of left hand. Lift out rocker and pivot.

(2) Again using the screwdriver but steadying hand with thumb against frame to prevent excessive movement, depress long finger of pivot plate and withdraw safety.

(3) Hold frame upright with grip in right hand. Press simultaneously with both thumbs on sear and trigger pivots. These pivots project sufficiently so that by a quick pressure thereon the pivot plate will protrude on the other side far enough to permit withdrawal. While with- drawing pivot plate with left hand, press down on trigger and sear with thumb of right hand to release pressure of springs on pivots. Do not cant pivot plate during withdrawal. The remaining components of the firing mechanism are then free to be removed. Disconnector can be removed from trigger by simply withdrawing it.

(4) To remove magazine catch, rotate it in a counterclockwise direction to its full limit and lift it. Removal should be limited to replacement of broken parts. Removal of magazine catch submits magazine catch spring to unnecessary strain and is apt to damage it.

Fig 9.

20. ASSEMBLY AND REPLACEMENT.

a. Prior to assembly, all parts must be free of dirt, rust, and other extraneous matter. Metal parts in contact must be covered with a light film of lubricating oil. In general, assembly and replacement are in reverse order of disassembly and removal. However, the following precautions should be observed in order that the parts will function properly after the gun is assembled.

b. In assembling trigger mechanism, first see that the magazine catch is in place. Assemble springs- in their proper recesses. Assemble disconnector to trigger by depressing disconnector spring and sliding disconnector into place.

(1) Place trigger, trip, sear, and sear lever in their respective positions in frame, making sure forward end of sear lever rests on top of disconnector. To align these parts, hold frame in left hand and press downward with end of thumb on trigger and base of thumb on sear. Insert pivot plate. To avoid binding, apply gentle pressure with ball of right hand over entire pivot plate.

(2) Insert safety as far as it will go, and using screwdriver as a tool, depress long finger of pivot plate and push safety home. Turn safety to FIRE position.

(3) Place rocker in position in frame with flat side against sear lever. Insert rocker pivot as far as it will go. Using screwdriver as a tool, depress short finger of pivot plate and push rocker pivot home. Turn rocker pivot to FULL AUTO position. If rocker is assembled backward, the gun will fire full automatic but not semiautomatic.

Fig 10.

c. If extractor has been removed, slide it into place, lifting head only enough to clear stud; avoid excessive pressure. Insert firing pin and spring in bolt, being careful to avoid stretching the firing pin spring. Place hammer in position with rounded edge upward and push hammer pin into place.

d. Place bolt in receiver, slide it forward and tilt the rear until the semicircular cut on the right side of the receiver is aligned with the hole for the bolt handle on the bolt. Steady the bolt in this position. Rotate the hammer and insert the bolt handle, making sure that the handle is firmly secured.

e. Slide bolt to the rear and hold it firmly with one hand. With other hand start pilot and spring through hole in rear of receiver and push them into recess in bolt until the pilot enters the recess in bolt. Gradually release the bolt and at the same time push the pilot forward until the groove on the pilot is inside the receiver. Replace the buffer in the groove on the pilot.

Fig 11.

f. Before fitting frame to receiver, be sure that safety is set at FIRE position and rocker pivot at FULL AUTO. Slide frame onto receiver and at the same time squeeze trigger. Frame latch will lock frame in position. Holding trigger depressed, operate bolt handle back and forth several times to test mechanism.

 

Fig 12.

 

Fig 13.

 

Fig 14.

 

Fig 15.

 

Fig 16.

 

Fig 17.

 

Fig 18.

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