Commando Rifle as described by Ian Hogg

From The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of the World’s Firearms by Ian Hogg, Copyright 1978 by Quarto Limited, published by A&W Publishers, New York. ISBN 0-89479-031-5.

A self-loading carbine in .45 calibre, currently made by the Commando Arms Incorporated of Knoxville, Tennessee. In general appearance it resembles the Thompson submachine gun, but uses a different mechanism which fires from a closed breech. The barrel is 16 1/2 inches long, giving greater accuracy than the submachine gun, and there is a wide variety of optional magazines, grips and stocks available to suit the purchaser.

Firearms historian Hogg was British, hence the British spelling of caliber.

Couple of bonus links I’ve found here and there:

• Tennessee Volunteer Arms Commando MK. 45
• Commando MK 45

Previously:

• More Commando Rifle Info, Old Ads and Literature
• Volunteer Enterprises Commando, Made in Knoxville, TN
• Notes from the Smokey Mtn Gun Show

UPDATE: If you need gunsmithing work on a Commando, talk to Knoxville-based Coal Creek Armory. I’ve talked to the head of the company. He owns a number of them and their gunsmiths have fixed up quite a few. They’ve had success in  including fabricating new firing pins, which seems to be one of the more common parts to break.