Some of you may know it as the “Chicago Typewriter” or the “Tommy Gun,” but do many of you know it as the “Trench Broom”? Not to be confused with the “Trench Sweeper”—that’s a story for another time. The Thompson submachine gun was developed by Brigadier General John T. Thompson in 1918 to break the stalemate of trench warfare in World War I. Early implementation after the war saw use with the United States Marine Corps, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Irish Republican Army, and the FBI. Ours is the Colt Thompson Model 1921 submachine gun bearing a serial number of 91. This example was shipped to Logan County, WV, during the Coal War just months before the Battle of Blair Mountain in 1921. Needless to say, the “Trench Broom” was built for a direct purpose, but became a legendary icon of the silver screen, lawmen, outlaws, and the military throughout history. Join us as we celebrate this iconic piece of history and engineering all month long.