St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Traveling Display [Archive]

MK18

02-16-12, 12:52

St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Traveling Display

This is a traveling display and the only requirements to have the display come to your area is the Berrien County Sheriff requires that Lt. Michael Kline have a hotel and meals provided while giving the presentation. Lt. Kline gives an excellent presentation and not only knows the history of the event but also the history of the Thompson. All the photos on the website are displayed during the presentation along with other memorabilia and pictures. As someone who likes firearm history and law enforcement history, this is was a great opportunity to get up close and personal with history. To request the presentation contact the Sheriff Department.

Here is the link to the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department Webpage where they explain the history behind how they obtained the two Thompsons.

http://www.bcsheriff.org/?dept=44&pid=622

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Thompson Serial # 7580. When looking at the gun in person, the rust tint is not visible but appears when the flash is used. The finished of the gun was damaged when acid was poured onto the gun to raise the serial number that was removed by the gunsmith. I actually got to handle the weapon, which is amazing considering the history behind it.

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The complicated rear site assembly of the 21 Thompsons
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Also present was a 100 rd drum that had been seized along with the two Thompsons. The serial number had been removed by the same gunsmith that removed the serial numbers off of Thompson 7580.

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MK18

02-16-12, 12:53

On display was one of the original “bullet proof” vests that were seized along with the Thompsons. The plates were made out of five layers of spring steel. The Lt. Kline had found a short movie from the time period where a volunteer was shot with a .38 to test the vest. It is hard to see in the picture, but the vest included additions to cover up to the clavicle notch, a groin protector and rear flap.

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Here is an example of the internal design of the vest.

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Both Thompsons together

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