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Author Topic: More Classics - The JAC Thompson M1A1  (Read 16843 times)

Gunner79

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More Classics - The JAC Thompson M1A1
« on: September 14, 2015, 09:05:54 PM »










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JAC's Thompson M1A1

My twin beauties. The fidelity is beyond belief and it's hard to tell it's not the real thIng. Weigh about as much too, at appx 12/13lbs each. Performance is, in a word, exhilarating! These gems are light-years away from Tokyo Marui Thompson guns and in another universe altogether from other such guns made by pretty much every airsoft outfit around (from the new King Arms down to the cheap Cyber Gun Cyber Gun abomination). In fact, the 500 known made JAC Thompsons' are/were constructed using authentic Thompson components, including all of the wood furniture, magazine shells (real Colt Arms military issue mags, complete with the old Colt trade-dress. They are built/cut from billets of brass, high-grade steel and weigh a shade under 13lbs, like the real MCCoy. Dependant on how one tunes them, they can shoot very hot or very modestly (for airsoft gaming). They also can be adjusted for ROF by swapping out the recoil/barrel-return spring. The top gun in the photos is set for about 28rps and can blast out 9 rounds with the merest/briefest tap of it's trigger with an output of 480fps at 90psi (the guns shoot semi too)! The bottom M1A1 is currently set for about 15rps and, at 70psi have an output of about 375fps. The JAC M1A1 is simply a superlative airsoft gun and I simply cannot call it a toy as much as are those other rarities/work of art the JAC B.A.R M1918A2, Asahi's venerable MG34, the Asahi's Walther WA2000 and the Asahi/ANGS collaboration - the M16A2 'Impulse' rifle and CAR-15 (the impulse guns were the FIRST airsoft rifles to have a 300' range, new and right-out-of-the-box, and fully capable of consistently hitting the intended target (and I have both impulse '16s in my collection and can attest to those claims)

Many thanks to my friend WolfGeorge who graciously allowed me to purchase my old JAC M1A1 back (she has traveled many a mile since I first traded her quite some time ago - and I was surprised indeed when I learned that it eventually ended up in GREECE with WG, of all people!!!).  Now she is back home in the much cooler climes of N. California with me, home where she belongs:)

Gunner79




luke213

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Re: More Classics - The JAC Thompson M1A1
« Reply #1 on: September 15, 2015, 11:22:20 AM »
Very nice, I've always dug classic airsoft but that's been something I've avoided over the years. Primarily because I know it would be an expensive road to travel and I can't afford another hobby within a hobby that I barely afford;)

Either way very nice;)

Luke
xaos - "298,000 yen for a complete gun. How much is that in real money?"

Krutch

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Re: More Classics - The JAC Thompson M1A1
« Reply #2 on: September 15, 2015, 12:08:08 PM »
Such beauty. Classic Airsoft technology is amazing to me. They sure don't make em like they used to.

Gunner79

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Re: More Classics - The JAC Thompson M1A1
« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2015, 08:26:15 AM »
Thanks Luke/Krutch. 

Luke - Roger that!  Airsoft collecting (either 'modern/contemporary' or Classic) certainly is not easy on our wallets!  LOL - after seeing some of your collection, I'm pretty certain that you speak from actual experience! ;)

Ruth -  could not have said it better myself.  Even after a quarter century of involvement with the hobby, I often find myself continuously amazed at the sheer elegance of some of these guns and the way many of the earlier guns were designed with zero reliance on electronics or electro-pnuematic propulsion systems. Rather, they used/relied on designs that were simple yet extremely effective, and stunningly simple as well as reliable!

Regards to the both of you:)

G79

Gunner79

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Re: More Classics - The JAC Thompson M1A1
« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2015, 08:33:58 AM »
Sorry Krutch did NOT mean to call your name out as 'Ruth' but I guess my cellphone had decided that the other name was a perfect 'autofind' match!

BTW, Luke - is there an 'edit' function available when posting?  I cannot seem to find it!  Many thanks!

G79

luke213

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Re: More Classics - The JAC Thompson M1A1
« Reply #5 on: September 16, 2015, 08:43:15 AM »
There is an edit are you on the web or tapatalk? I'm on the phone right now away from the computer and can't look but should be in the upper right corner of the post I believe. If no one else replies I will when I get on the computer but likely will be later tonight before I'm back home.

Your right on cost this can be a fairly inexpensive hobby but its not for some of us. If my collection didn't start back when I was single it wouldn't be what it is now;)

Take care!

Luke

Sent from my XT912 using Tapatalk

xaos - "298,000 yen for a complete gun. How much is that in real money?"

Gunner79

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Re: More Classics - The JAC Thompson M1A1
« Reply #6 on: September 16, 2015, 11:50:01 AM »
Thanks Luke.  I'll take a gander and see if I missed it! 

Spot on re the association of being single and one's ability to have discretionary freedom in any number of things, including pursuit of a beloved hobby!

LOL - I have the great/good fortune in having a wife whose being native Japanese means she has aome exposure to airsoft and thus at least tolerates my hobby (though she thinks I'm 'otaku' (loosely translated, in this context, as 'over the top') in the amount of time I fiddle around in my workshop on one airsoft related project or another:).  After 15 years of marriage she knows it provides me some measure of relaxation, God Bless her:)!
« Last Edit: September 17, 2015, 04:55:03 PM by Gunner79 »

Ancalos

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Re: More Classics - The JAC Thompson M1A1
« Reply #7 on: October 07, 2015, 10:24:26 AM »
Wow, really nice! I wonder if a GBB Thompson exists.
Silas Plom AKA Ancalos AKA Jak-O

Gunner79

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Re: More Classics - The JAC Thompson M1A1
« Reply #8 on: October 07, 2015, 02:54:40 PM »
Unfortunately,  no.  King Arms has intimated (for a very long time indeed); that they will be releasing a gas operated 'blowback' model Thompson - but it's been vaporware AFAIK.  Only 'shell-throwers' of the Thompson are the old KJW and Marushin PFC guns - which used shells loaded with primer-type caps to operate the gun.  Actually guns using the PFC system are quite fun and realistic in the noise, muzzle flash/smoke and shell ejection velocity - but they do not and can not fire projectiles.

LOL - my collection's very FIRST gun was/is a Marushin UZI, purchased in 1985.  Full metal, ot looks and dissasembles much like thw RS. It gives a impressive performace though when popping out the heavy metal cartridges on full auto:)

Ancalos

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Re: More Classics - The JAC Thompson M1A1
« Reply #9 on: October 07, 2015, 05:24:30 PM »
Wow, that's really cool! I did not know airsoft guns were that advanced in 1985.
Silas Plom AKA Ancalos AKA Jak-O

Gunner79

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Re: More Classics - The JAC Thompson M1A1
« Reply #10 on: October 07, 2015, 09:06:08 PM »
You are not alone in that respect my young friend.   LOL - the Asahi WA2000 predates Polarstar by amost a quarter of a century inasmuch as it deployed a electropneumatic, solenoid actuated and 'computer-controlled'(!) system providing fantastic performance, rock-solid reliability.  It produces shot to shot consistency in power output, regardless of power setting, that is almost unthinkable in an airsoft gun, until recently anyway (and then only present in a tiny number of guns).

Only about 200 WA2000 rifles were produced by Asahi.  I shoot mine regularly against my other, more modern, P* rifles and give the newer guns some real serious competition. I kid thee not.

The history of Classic guns is vast (and, actually, goes back to at least 1970 for me - when I my father purchased a spring operated Japanese 'rifle' that I convinced him was just the ticket for his 13-year old son's Christmas present (the name of that toy and it's manufacturer are long lost to the mists of time.... In any event the history of 'airsoft' is equally fascinating - which is why I started collecting in a serious way starting with that Marushin UZI back in '85 through to the present time!  Just one example of many, many such examples - the stock JAC B.A.R. M1918A2 outshoots ANY other airsoft BAR easily (which is why I have a number of same in collection, albeit 3 of them do have mods of varying degree:)  'Old' in airsoft by no means always equates to being 'obsolete' :)  Cheers! 

G79
« Last Edit: October 08, 2015, 01:53:54 AM by Gunner79 »

Ancalos

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Re: More Classics - The JAC Thompson M1A1
« Reply #11 on: October 08, 2015, 07:35:09 AM »
Wow, what are those classic guns worth nowadays?
Silas Plom AKA Ancalos AKA Jak-O

Gunner79

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Re: More Classics - The JAC Thompson M1A1
« Reply #12 on: October 08, 2015, 12:02:39 PM »
A well used Marushin UZI, full metal w. Original clip and w/o the box - about $250.  A mint condition one in the original box, about $500.

As with all collectibles, Classic guns' value really depends on so many variables, things like condition, completeness, numbers made, market conditions and so forth.  But, generally speaking, the costs can be prohibitive to the average airsoft gamer, especially for such guns in mint-condition. As an example - a truly mint JAC B.A.R. can go for about $2000-2500 while my Asahi WA2000 DX can fetch up to $4000 on the international market. Of course, I hear the "but I saw one go for $500 just recently" kind of stuff quite often.  While it certainly is true that someone may get extremely lucky - it's pretty damn rare:)  One has only to go and perform a internet search on, say, a Asahi MG34 - the results speak for themselves (and most hits quite often end up being one of MY guns:)  Are they worth the price?  Well, to most, absolutely not!  But then again - if one could afford to take a Maserati or (insert your car of choice here) for a spin down I-5 through the Central Valley or do the same thing in a Ford Escort - which automobile would you take for that ride:)


For the most part, one would be misguided in bringing such guns to a field unless you used extreme care and were playing a "static' defensive role only).  As a collector (and, given my advanced age:) I assume the role of stewardship/preservationists of the majority of my guns and use them on the target range or merely to show to others at airsoft-related events.  As to cost - I dunno - At the end of the proverbial day, when I sit back and/or take a stroll through my collection room - I DO know I am a very happy man indeed to have the guns that I do.......;)
« Last Edit: October 08, 2015, 02:23:32 PM by Gunner79 »

Gimpalong

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Re: More Classics - The JAC Thompson M1A1
« Reply #13 on: October 08, 2015, 07:05:07 PM »
What're some good sources for the history of Classic airsoft? I'm assuming it's mostly informal. I'd be very interested to hear about the early manufacturers like Asahi, JAC, Sun Project, etc.