M3A1 Grease Gun
Designed & developed as a much cheaper alternative to the Thompson. Basically a no frills sheet steel seem welded weapon with a single 'slow' rate of automatic fire. 45APC ammo same as the Thompson. The name derives from its appearance being similar to a common grease gun used to inject grease into moving mechanical parts
This example supersedes the original M3 having done away with the external cocking handle just below the breech on the right hand side making the manufacturer of the weapon even simpler. To cock the weapon one just flips the safety cover/ used case ejection port open & pulls back the bolt with a finger. Surprisingly heavy & with a real solid feel about it. The skeleton stock folds away/ extends nicely. There's an oil bottle with a 'spoon' located in the pistol grip. A weapon of choice for tank crews owing to its small dimensions. Used throughout the mid to latter part of WW2, Vietnam & as late as the first Gulf War. Still in use today by all accounts. Pictured here with doubled up magazines for fast reloading.