If the AK47 is the predominantly recognized firearm in the rest of the world, it seems that the American Thompson may well be the most recognized long gun profile in American weaponry.
The gun is, well, just way cool! There are a mere handful of guns that, when brought to a public range, generate the enthusiastic response that the Thompson brings to the crowd. It is a uniquely beautiful firearm....dare I say it is a work of art?
It is a big...heavy...and fun to shoot gun. 41" long, and some 13 pounds unloaded. Add a fully loaded 30 round stick magazine (standard) or a 50 round drum (an option...but hey, it is really "required" to get the full emotional effect!) loaded with .45acp and you get a handful to tote. The drum (about $300 msrp) and the "violin carrying case" (about $150 msrp) are among the must have accessories to complement the gun.
Mine, sadly, took two trips back to the factory before it was running without problems. In both cases the bolt assembly was replaced. Since that 2nd trip, it has been a very reliable and way too much fun gun to shoot. Very accurate, but then I am shooting it at the 50 yards and in range, so accuracy really should not be an issue...and it isn't.
Loading the drum is a pain (stick is a breeze), and you need a special tool (the "third hand") to remove the drum. But...the look is just so much better!
For the price (msrp $1282), the history, the look...it is arguably a bargain. Everyone needs at least one special/evil/cool gun. AR15, Kel-Tec Sub2000, Thompson or ???? Get one. Have fun. Piss off those that want to ban them!
I believe somewhere buried in the rules is if a secret is kept like this a round of drinks is owed on movie night, if it isn't in the rules then it should be.............. 
