Auto-Ordnance
American Firearms Since 1916
Few firearms are as instantly recognizable as the Thompson — the “Tommy Gun” that defined an era. Auto-Ordnance has carried that legacy since 1916, and today, as part of the Kahr Firearms Group, it builds faithful American-made Thompsons and 1911s. At Keep Shooting we carry the Thompson M1 SBR — the short-barreled .45 ACP Tommy Gun, an NFA item we transfer as a licensed Class 3 dealer — alongside factory Auto-Ordnance 1911 magazines. A piece of American firearms history, still made in the USA.
About Auto-Ordnance
Auto-Ordnance is the company behind one of the most famous firearms ever made — the Thompson, the original “Tommy Gun.” At Keep Shooting we carry two pieces of that American legacy: the Thompson M1 SBR, a .45 ACP short-barreled rifle, and a factory Auto-Ordnance 1911 magazine. Browse the full firearms catalog for more.
The Tommy Gun Legacy
Auto-Ordnance was founded in 1916 by Colonel John T. Thompson with a single goal: to build an automatic weapon a soldier could carry. The result was the Thompson submachine gun, and few guns have left a deeper mark on history or pop culture. It armed G.I.s through World War II, earned infamy in the hands of Prohibition-era gangsters and the lawmen who chased them, and became shorthand for an entire era of American history. Today Auto-Ordnance is a division of the Kahr Firearms Group, and it keeps that heritage alive with faithful, civilian-legal, semi-automatic reproductions — Thompson carbines, the M1 Carbine, and 1911A1 pistols, all made in the USA. Owning one isn’t just buying a gun; it’s owning a piece of the story.
What We Carry
The headliner is the Thompson M1 SBR — a semi-automatic .45 ACP Thompson built in the wartime M1 style, with a 10.5″ barrel, a machined steel receiver, a walnut stock and foregrip, a 30-round stick magazine, and a fitted case. Because that short barrel makes it a short-barreled rifle, it’s a National Firearms Act (NFA) item: it requires a tax stamp and federal paperwork, and we transfer it as a licensed Class 3 dealer — the same way we handle the rest of our rifles and NFA inventory. Alongside it we stock the Auto-Ordnance 1911 Magazine in blued steel — a factory .45 ACP, 7-round magazine with a laser-welded body and flush baseplate that fits Government and Commander 1911s. Find more in our 1911 magazines section.
Pairing & Cross-References
Both of these run on .45 ACP, so keep them fed from our handgun ammo selection. If you’re building out a 1911, round out the kit with 1911 parts and spare magazines from Mec-Gar, and if it’s the 1911 platform itself that draws you, look at the Rock Island Armory pistols from Armscor. Every Auto-Ordnance order ships from Keep Shooting with fast handling, and all firearm transfers follow federal and state law to the letter.
Frequently Asked Questions — Auto-Ordnance
Yes, we maintain inventory of the most popular Auto-Ordnance products. Each product listing shows real-time stock status. If an item is temporarily out of stock, you can sign up for back-in-stock notifications on the product page.
Yes! All orders over $49.95 qualify for free shipping, including Auto-Ordnance products. Orders typically ship within 1–2 business days.
Keep Shooting offers hassle-free returns on Auto-Ordnance products. If you're not completely satisfied, contact our customer service team for a return authorization. All products must be in original, unused condition.
Yes, Keep Shooting is an authorized Auto-Ordnance dealer. All products are sourced directly and include full manufacturer warranty coverage.