• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Loadout Room

The Loadout Room

Professional Gear Reviews

Hardcore Gear and Adventure

Menu
  • Shooting
        • Pistol
        • Pistol Accessories
        • Rifle
        • Rifle Accessories
        • Shotgun
        • Machine Guns
        • Air Guns
        • Ammunition
        • Optics and Sights
        • Weapon Lights
        • Tips & How-To
        • Concealed Carry
        • Holsters
        • Suppressors
        • Precision Rifle Shooting
        • Firearms Training
        • m243The M24: America’s Headhunter
        • skorpFull-Auto Fun — Shooting the full-Auto vz. 61 Škorpion
        • p320-full-leftSIG Sauer M17/M18/P320 Pistol Just Can’t Seem to Escape Safety Controversies
        • TISAS_10100520_1__98179Tisas 1911A1 U.S. Army Review: Best Budget .45 ACP WW2 1911 Clone?
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
      • Mission Gear
      • Camping Gear
      • Survival Gear
      • Medical Gear
      • Adventure & Travel
      • Knives & Tools
      • Overland
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Footwear
      • Womens Gear & Clothing
        • Hunting in TexasThese 5 ATV Dealers Will Get You Ready For Hunting Season in Texas
        • ac65a540-2ef3-4598-8d11-afdf53f46e94.__CR0,0,970,600_PT0_SX970_V1___Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount HL-X: A Thoroughly Bright Review
        • Bluetti 2 handsfree power backpackBluetti Handsfree 2 Review: The Ultimate Power Backpack for Off-Grid Adventurers
        • The Gallagator 10 day pack on the shoreline next to a hiking trail.Day Pack – Mystery Ranch Gallagator 10 – The Best Yet?
    • Close
  • Men’s Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • EDC
      • Eyewear
      • Watches
      • Electronics & Technology
      • Downtime
      • Mens Clothing & Accessories
      • Manly Skills
      • Style & Grooming
      • Gentleman Drinks
      • Crate Club
        • Tom and Blake Sell TeaHow Sasquatch Tea Is Revitalizing a Stagnant Tea Market With Veterans and Outdoorsmen in Mind
        • redcat-blackwidow-articleheaderWar of Words: In the Ultra-Competitive Defense Tech Industry, Storytelling is a Secret Weapon
        • Photoroom_20250525_074933Juggernaut Tactical Frame Review: The Best Upgrade for Your 365
        • craft holstersCraft Holsters Makarov Tuckable IWB Holster Report
    • Close
  • News
  • Video Demo
  • Buying Guides
  • Shop
  • Advertise

Tommy Gun! The Chicago Typewriter from Auto Ordinance

90 years after the introduction of the 1927 Thompson submachine gun the “Tommy” still remains an iconic piece of Americana.  Images of gangsters, prohibition-era smugglers, g-men, and even WWII heroes come to mind.  The history of the “Tommy gun” and John Thompson is actually much richer than is commonly known:

  • John Thompson was responsible for the adoption of .45acp into military service.
  • He himself was a West Point graduate and actually retired from military service twice.
  • John Thompson also worked for Remington during which he was responsible for the construction of Remington’s Mosin Nagant factory.
  • Development of his “trench broom” was part of a mission to find an intermediate between traditional handguns and rifles.  There is much more history to be found at Kahr’s website here.

Auto Ordinance of the Kahr Firearms produces a semi-auto version of the “Tommy” in various versions.  We were luck enough to get our hands on their “Chicago Typewriter” complete with a drum magazine and “violin” case”.  We’ll be spending some more time with this beautiful piece of history, but wanted to show some of the essentials.  Watch the video below to see what it’s like to wield one of these beautiful pieces of walnut and steel.

The model seen in the video is the T1B-14 which has the following specifications taken directly from their product page:

Caliber: .45 ACP
Barrel: 15″, Finned (with compensator 16.5″)
Material: Steel
Length:  39″ overall / 29.5″ (without buttstock)
Weight: 12.5 lbs.
Sights: Blade front, open rear adjustable
Magazines: One 20 round stick magazine
Stock: Walnut detachable stock and vertical foregrip
Warranty: 1 Year

Is 12.5lbs a bit of a bear to carry?  Yes.  Does it make it any less fun to shoot?  No, the weight makes .45acp feel more like .380 and unlike the full-auto versions that we’ve tried at events the fresh recoil assembly in our T&E gun kept the reciprocating mass from slamming into the receiver and resulted in a very smooth shoot.  If I have any complaints about the Chicago Typewriter it’s that it’s too easy to burn up a couple boxes of ammo.

Share This

About the Author

Graham Baates “Graham Baates” is a pen name used by a 15-year active Army veteran who spent most of his time in the tactical side of the Intelligence community including tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Post-Army Graham spent some time in the 3-Gun circuit before becoming a full-time NRA Certified defensive handgun instructor. After more than 1,900 hours instructing he now works as an industry writer while curating a YouTube channel on the side.

See All Graham Baates Articles

More From The Loadout Room

Comments

Primary Sidebar

Most Read

  • Mossberg 930: the affordable 12 gauge auto-loader
    Mossberg 930: the affordable 12 gauge auto-loader
  • SIG Sauer M17/M18/P320 Pistol Just Can't Seem to Escape Safety Controversies
    SIG Sauer M17/M18/P320 Pistol Just Can't Seem to Escape Safety Controversies
  • War of Words: In the Ultra-Competitive Defense Tech Industry, Storytelling is a Secret Weapon
    War of Words: In the Ultra-Competitive Defense Tech Industry, Storytelling is a Secret Weapon
  • Mossberg Shockwave Versus Remington Tac 14
    Mossberg Shockwave Versus Remington Tac 14
  • The M24: America's Headhunter
    The M24: America's Headhunter

Find Us on Facebook

Recent Comments

  • Winston Smiths on Mossberg 930: the affordable 12 gauge auto-loader
  • Jared Mize on The Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife: A Commando Blade That Changed Special Forces Forever
  • GomeznSA on MAC-10: The Wild History of America’s Most Iconic (and Overrated) Submachine Gun

Latest From SOFREP

News

Evening Brief: NATO Needs More Long-Range Missiles to Counter Expanding Russian Arsenal, Nearly 10 Million Displaced by War in Ukraine

Preparing for Selection

How To Conquer Special Forces Selection

Navy

Hegseth Blocks Admiral’s Promotion Due to Drag Show Past

SOF

US Army Special Forces “Green Berets” The Complete Guide

Military Content Group

© Copyright 2025 Military Content Group · All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers