http://www.news-register.net/community/story/046202003_com2tommy.asp
Tommy Gun Nets New Martinsville Police $7,000
By MARY ROHRIG
They say one man's trash is another man's treasure.
For the New Martinsville Police Department, a World War II-era Thompson sub-machine gun that has been collecting dust in the weapons room for more than four decades is a treasure for an Indiana gun collector.
The collectible gun was hand-delivered by the NMPD to a Class III dealer in Indiana last week who will transfer it to collector Mike Hensley in Indianapolis. Hensley paid the department $7,000 for the weapon - and even at that price, he's thrilled to add it to his collection.
"I was excited they found me and that I was able to get the gun," said Hensley. "It's a nice, clean weapon; it's all original, no one has damaged it."
The .45-caliber weapon was given to the New Martinsville police in 1965 or 1966 by then-Chief Pat Barr.
"Chief Barr had retired from the B&O Railroad police," said NMPD Chief Anthony Castranova. "He came here as police chief and brought the gun with him."
Castranova said the gun was in the weapons room when he joined the force in 1971.
"It was just collecting dust, and I thought we might be able to sell it," said Castranova. "People locally valued it at around $750, and I asked Dispatcher (Rick) Estep to check on the Internet to see what it was worth."
Estep located Hensley through his Internet search.
"I collect Thompson sub-machine guns," said Hensley, who is a member of the Thompson Collectors Association. "We have a show and shoot annually in Newark, Ohio that I attend every year."
Hensly views his hobby as an investment.
"It's an expensive hobby, but I think it's like buying property," said Hensley. "They're not making them any more and they can only go up in value."
According to Hensley, about 1.5 million of the sub-machine guns were manufactured and several thousand of them remain in existence.
"In May 1986, Congress banned making any new machine guns," said Hensley. "A lot of the Thompsons that were used in World War II and Korea were dumped overboard into the ocean as the troops returned home. That's how a lot of them were destroyed."
The Thompson Hensley purchased from New Martinsville was made in April or May of 1942.
"It would have gone into the military service then, but I'm not sure if it went into Europe or the Pacific," said Hensley. "Normally, after about six months, they'd return the guns back to a U.S. arsenal to be reworked."
Hensley said his most recent purchase was reworked at the Mt. Ranier, Wash. arsenal.
"Inspectors place marks on them to identify where they were reworked," explained Hensley. "This one has the letters 'MR' stamped into the butt stock. It could have gone back into the military service then, or it could have stayed here."
He said that at the time the New Martinsville police received the gun, it was considered to be the type of high-caliber weapon police would need.
The fully-automatic weapon can fire 650 to 750 rounds a minute, but it only has a 30-round magazine.
Castranova said he and other officers sometimes would target shoot with the gun.
"We fired it with ammo the ATF would give us," said Castranova. "It's way too dangerous to use; there's very little control over it."
The ATF assisted Castranova with the transfer of the gun to Hensley. The transfer had to be done through a Class III dealer who will initiate the required paperwork to clear Hensley as a qualified collector through various background checks. The process will take about 90 days, after which Hensley said it will be stored in his gun safe.
The money from the sale will be used by the NMPD, with permission of council, to purchase equipment.
"The Thompsons are a part of American history," said Hensley. "They've been around since the 1920s and most people can recognize the silhouette of the gun.
"This particular one is a military-style sub-machine gun. It's what you saw Tom Hanks carry in 'Saving Private Ryan.' It's a neat conversation piece that's fun to shoot - and I'm glad the money will help (the NMPD) out."
Tommy Gun Nets New Martinsville Police $7,000
By MARY ROHRIG
They say one man's trash is another man's treasure.
For the New Martinsville Police Department, a World War II-era Thompson sub-machine gun that has been collecting dust in the weapons room for more than four decades is a treasure for an Indiana gun collector.
The collectible gun was hand-delivered by the NMPD to a Class III dealer in Indiana last week who will transfer it to collector Mike Hensley in Indianapolis. Hensley paid the department $7,000 for the weapon - and even at that price, he's thrilled to add it to his collection.
"I was excited they found me and that I was able to get the gun," said Hensley. "It's a nice, clean weapon; it's all original, no one has damaged it."
The .45-caliber weapon was given to the New Martinsville police in 1965 or 1966 by then-Chief Pat Barr.
"Chief Barr had retired from the B&O Railroad police," said NMPD Chief Anthony Castranova. "He came here as police chief and brought the gun with him."
Castranova said the gun was in the weapons room when he joined the force in 1971.
"It was just collecting dust, and I thought we might be able to sell it," said Castranova. "People locally valued it at around $750, and I asked Dispatcher (Rick) Estep to check on the Internet to see what it was worth."
Estep located Hensley through his Internet search.
"I collect Thompson sub-machine guns," said Hensley, who is a member of the Thompson Collectors Association. "We have a show and shoot annually in Newark, Ohio that I attend every year."
Hensly views his hobby as an investment.
"It's an expensive hobby, but I think it's like buying property," said Hensley. "They're not making them any more and they can only go up in value."
According to Hensley, about 1.5 million of the sub-machine guns were manufactured and several thousand of them remain in existence.
"In May 1986, Congress banned making any new machine guns," said Hensley. "A lot of the Thompsons that were used in World War II and Korea were dumped overboard into the ocean as the troops returned home. That's how a lot of them were destroyed."
The Thompson Hensley purchased from New Martinsville was made in April or May of 1942.
"It would have gone into the military service then, but I'm not sure if it went into Europe or the Pacific," said Hensley. "Normally, after about six months, they'd return the guns back to a U.S. arsenal to be reworked."
Hensley said his most recent purchase was reworked at the Mt. Ranier, Wash. arsenal.
"Inspectors place marks on them to identify where they were reworked," explained Hensley. "This one has the letters 'MR' stamped into the butt stock. It could have gone back into the military service then, or it could have stayed here."
He said that at the time the New Martinsville police received the gun, it was considered to be the type of high-caliber weapon police would need.
The fully-automatic weapon can fire 650 to 750 rounds a minute, but it only has a 30-round magazine.
Castranova said he and other officers sometimes would target shoot with the gun.
"We fired it with ammo the ATF would give us," said Castranova. "It's way too dangerous to use; there's very little control over it."
The ATF assisted Castranova with the transfer of the gun to Hensley. The transfer had to be done through a Class III dealer who will initiate the required paperwork to clear Hensley as a qualified collector through various background checks. The process will take about 90 days, after which Hensley said it will be stored in his gun safe.
The money from the sale will be used by the NMPD, with permission of council, to purchase equipment.
"The Thompsons are a part of American history," said Hensley. "They've been around since the 1920s and most people can recognize the silhouette of the gun.
"This particular one is a military-style sub-machine gun. It's what you saw Tom Hanks carry in 'Saving Private Ryan.' It's a neat conversation piece that's fun to shoot - and I'm glad the money will help (the NMPD) out."
