When I uncased the Auto Ordnance 1927A-1 Model TM1 "Tommy gun" at the range and struggled with its 11.5-pound weight, catching its protruding grip on the edge of the shooting table, I thought out loud, "What's this good for?"

The sample is from Auto Ordnance, which was purchased by Kahr Arms in 1999, and is a copy--without full-auto capability, but with a 16.5-inch legal-length barrel--of the World War II-era Thompson submachine guns.

As such, this model will not accept a drum magazine, nor does it have the front vertical foregrip, and the bolt handle, such as it is, is on the right side, not the top, of the receiver. The TM1 also lacks a compensator on the muzzle, along with no adjustable rear sight. (Auto Ordnance does, however, make such a model. In fact, it offers seven "Tommy gun" models.)

Specifications: AUTO ORDNANCE MODEL TM1: ACTION TYPE: blowback-operated semiautomatic CALIBER: .45 ACP CAPACITY: 30-round stick magazine BARREL LENGTH: 16.5 in. OVERALL LENGTH: 38 in. WEIGHT: 11 lb., 8 oz. STOCK: walnut FINISH: blued SIGHTS: pinned front, fixed rear PRICE: $1,205 MANUFACTURER: Auto Ordnance, 508-795-3919

This sample is blued over a dull, bead-blast finish, with the only jarring notes being the bolt finish where the bluing failed to take in spots. Also, the 30-round magazine doesn't feel or appear to be very sturdy, but it worked well for me during my shooting.

The barrel tapers nicely forward to support the pinned-in front sight blade. The aperture rear sight is a single unit that has been formed to have wings on either side of the punched out and bent upward section in which the aperture sight is drilled.

Curiously, at the top of this piece, a rudimentary square notch "sight" has been cut. The wood fore-end is horizontally grooved on each side, with a 1.5-inch sling swivel beneath and attached to the barrel with a screw.

The TM1 is blowback-operated and has a massive bolt that is restrained by two springs and its own weight when the gun is fired. A good-sized extractor takes care of case removal. A horizontal bolt handle (a round metal pin) is located on the bolt's right side and held into the bolt body by the firing pin.

The bolt is driven by two springs, and the floating firing pin is supported by its own large coil spring. The bolt locks back two ways: on an empty magazine and by a manually activated trip lever.

When the bolt retracts over an empty stick magazine, a stud in the magazine catch mates up with a matching hole in the rear wall of the magazine body. Easy.

To lock the bolt back without a magazine you must move the trip lever, which is in between the magazine guide rails on the front face of the trigger group.

For me, doing this was quite difficult because the bolt is under very heavy spring pressure and the bolt handle is very short, so I could get only two fingers on it with which to pull it back. I've done it without drawing blood, but I'll stick to using an empty magazine to lock the bolt back if at all possible.

The semi-circular magazine catch is located above the trigger guard opening, with its rear lower end checkered and angled slightly inward, allowing for an easier upward push. I can reach it with my shooting hand while holding the pistol grip, but things go better if I manipulate the magazine and catch with my support hand.

Removing the magazine was at first quite difficult. The first time it was a two-person job. While I held the gun firmly, with the catch disengaged, my son tugged the magazine out. However, after a few insertions and removals, the magazine was polished enough for me to do this without help.

To disassemble, remove the buttstock first, followed by the frame, which contains the trigger assembly. Next take out the recoil springs, then the firing pin pilot and spring and the hammer.