50 Tommy Gun Tattoo Ideas for Men

Invented by John T. Thompson in 1918, the American-made Thompson submachine gun has since become synonymous with the legendary gangster life.

Alternately called “The Annihilator”, “Chicago Typewriter”, “Chicago Organ Grinder”, and “Trench Sweeper”, among other nicknames, the Tommy gun evokes an era that is decades behind us–but always just around the corner.

The American Prohibition saw the rise of criminal kings and outlaws who lived by their own code, and we have only to look at iconic gangster sweethearts Bonnie and Clyde to grasp the Excalibur-like significance of the Tommy gun. A favorite of criminals and policemen alike, along with soldiers and everyday civilians, the Tommy gun’s impressive .45 ACP cartridge and deadly accuracy has since rendered it an in-demand collectible and pop culture relic.

Your Tommy gun tattoo no doubt evokes a principle only desperate times can bring about: that you will do whatever it takes to survive, and what’s more do so with unflinching cool.

While the Prohibition and Great Depression wreaked havoc on the lives of everyday citizens, those who moved outside the law became legends in their own right. The Tommy gun was the sword and shield of those who dared to defy their circumstances. They were never taken down–no, they went down fighting, just like you.