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The American Rifleman article was half-a**ed at best. The 1907 gets short-shrift every time somebody has written an article about it. It most definitely did not give way to the Thompson. By many accounts gangsters and lawmen wanted to use the 1907 because it was effective, far beyond paper ballistics, didn't jam like the Thompson, and didn't use the 45acp cartridge that would bounce off car doors and bullet proof vests. I own four of these rifles and have strong feelings about them.

When I was looking for info. about the 1907, it seemed like everything I read had something about how both lawmen and law-breakers used the rifle before WWII but with few details. So just how popular was the 1907? The following is what I have see thus far about who used this rifle for good or evil in the 1930s:

Dillinger gang - 2 found at the Congress Hotel and 1 in JD's car when they arrested him in Tucson
- Eddie Green - member of the gang - found a 1907 in his apartment after a shootout in St. Paul
- Little Bohemia Lodge - a 1907 was left behind when the gang scattered during the shootout
- Homer van Meter - member of the gang - the 1907 was his favorite - apparently with a Thompson-like forearm and Cutts compensator along with at least a 10-round mag

Baby Face Nelson - used one to kill two G-men in a car chase in 1934 - apparently there is mounting evidence that Baby Face's Thompson jammed and he then picked up a Lebman-modified 1907 to kill the two Gmen on the night he was mortally wounded.

Russell Gibson - member of Karpis/Barker gang killed by a 1907 used by Doc White. At least one of the six .351 rounds fired punched through his bullet proof vest.

Alvin Karpis - arrested by G-man named Hurt who was carring a 1907

Alva Hunt/Hugh Gant gang - had a 1907 when they were captured in Florida in 1938

Bonnie and Clyde left a 1907 behind after a shootout (I'm still working on the details of this one). Also Clyde apparently gave Ray Hamilton two 1907s as parting gifts when they split up.

Harvey Bailey - member of Machine Gun Kelly's gang - captured holding 1907 while asleep on a porch in Texas.

Fred Burke - supposedly responsible for St Valentine's Day Massacre and Al Capone associate - a 1907 was found in his gun cache when police raided his bungalow in 1929. These guns were thought to have been used in the massacre! So it's possible a 1907 was used in the most infamous mass murder during the gangster era!!

Fred (and Ma) Barker might have been shot with one - Doc White had his 351 at the shootout and was firing at Fred through the front windows.

The good guys liked them too with members of the following organizations:

Texas Rangers - George Chapman carried one.
Border Patrol - Charles Askins carried one and wrote in one of his books that the rangers bought these with their own money which speaks volumes about their opinion of the 1907.
FBI - Walter Walsh and Doc White each carried one.

The 1907 was at least as popular as the TSMG. Also, by just about every account out there, a 1907 was NOT present at the ambush of Bonnie and Clyde.

As several people have put it, this was the original urban carbine.

It was also great to see two of these used in "The Son." The only other movie that I can think of that has the 1907 in it was "Public Enemy."

Photobucket is not cooperating so I'll have to post photos later.

John

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It ain't like it used to be, but it'll do.

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