After MadMax mentioned it, it looks like that piece is holding the combined mass of the whole outer barrel. Try doing this (although it might not look 100% like a real thompson).
What you have is this:
............|====================^==
............|=======================
............|=======================
............|----------------/ <-gas tube
|======= <-piece that broke off, the stress point
Ask the guy to machine it like this:
............|====================^==
............|=======================
............|=======================
............|----------------/ <-gas tube
|=========== <-piece that broke off, this way the strees is distrubuted evenly over a greater area
__________________
You dont choose who you love, love chooses you; and that little fucking son of a bitch sticks itself to your face like the godless bloodsucking bastards in Alien and refuses to let go until it has drained your soul and left you an empty shell of a human being.
I am worth $2,106,266.00 on HumanForSale.com
<axel026> i need help please
<^cell^> do you have an appointment?
<axel026> im french
<^cell^> i see... thats a terrible disorder
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