I bought this as new/used around 1970. Serial # 13413. It is in .45/410. I later added a .256 win mag barrel and scope. The gun came in a large mahogany factory marked presentation case. It also has a silver presentation type butt plate that hasnt been engraved. I have never seen this setup as it is very early. Is it rare? Thank you, FM

I have had something close to the 256 mag setup except mine had the old TC 1.5x scope. it shot quite well considering the scope. my shot barrel was the 357 mag hotshot and that wasn't worth the trouble so I bought a 45/410 vent rib barrel. the front sight adjusted elevation and the rear sight was adjust for windage.

I have one very close to yours with the same etched engraving, #13,345. Mine has the same octagon .45/.410 barrel with external choke, an octagon .44 Mag barrel with the external choke (for Hot Shot cartridges) and an octagon .22 Mag barrel. The don't bring a premium over newer Contenders.

The barrels for these guns are different from later barrels and later barrels don't work on these frames. The old barrels have a one piece locking lug and the newer ones are two piece. The old frame won't unlock the new style barrels. I contacted TC a few years ago before they were bought out by Smith & Wesson and they offered to "upgrade" my frame to accept all barrels at no charge if I sent it in, but I decided not to do it. I don't know if the new Thompson Center will do the same.

I believe the cases were sold as an accessory.

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"I also cook."

I have an older T/C and had ordered a 22lr barrel from Red's. When I got it installed the action would not open and my forend would line up. Called Red's and the first person I got told I would have to take it to a gunsmith to be modified. I ended up returning it.

I am still trying to find a 10" 22lr barrel. What do I need to ask to make sure I'm getting the right one?

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US Veteran 1970-1974

TC barrels for the old guns are getting rare, I guess TC quit making them.

Used barrels were $200 and up at the gunshow this weekend, and NO rimfire barrels.

I have a complete 10" rimfire gun, I shoot it occasionally.

It is a great gun, but, I can not for the life of me, figure out how to load it with the Ultimate Clip Loader!!

I believe they started with 500 guns in June 1968 at SN1000. I have the 357mag 10" octagon barrel from #1686 shipped Aug 1968. There were 8" and 10" octagon barrels only and the sights are very primitive stamped sheet metal. Collectors told me you can date the barrels by small differances in the adderss, which are unknown to me. I have 2 frames the newer is an "easy-open", the G-2's came alot later. Back in the mid to late 90's it seemed every gun shop had a couple of grips and forends laying around cheep, so I'd go around in August, offering cash for their junk grips. I maybe had 300-350 assorted grips (even Colt and S&W) for less than $100. Sold lots at shows for $5 each and kept a few T/C sets for myself. Now all the shops think any T/C grip or forend is made of gold and priced as such!

The wood forend on the older ones that snapped on, tended to split

Mine is a bit newer than yours is, still a 5 digit gun, still the same older type Contender. I really need to shoot it more than I have. Mine came with the .357 Maximum and a .22LR barrel, and I about stole the combo from the shop I got it at.
The barrels are not octagon, but the TC scope on the Max is, too bad the crosshair is so thin. Very difficult to see against anything that isn't white. It's the only octagon scope tube I've ever seen.
As I understand it, one of the differences between older and newer Contenders is in the hammer cock; with these older types if you thumb-release the cocked hammer so it does not fire and set the hammer down with your thumb, you have to then open the action and close it up again to get the gun to cock again. You can't just pull the hammer back to the cocked position and fire.

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Geoff. Since 1960.

Thanks for all the info. FM

I found a pic of my 22 rimfire TC

Am I dreamng this???? I remember in the late 70's or early 80's they had a sort of "glittery" {for lack of a better term} look to the engraved area of the receiver. Was this a deluxe version I saw?? Because it seemed to me they didn't all have that. I remember they were kind of tricky to open too. I never owned one but had some friends that did.

In the last week I acquired 2 new barrels for my Contender. Why? I don't really shoot it and I certainly don't hunt with a handgun. But I found a good deal on a new MGM 10" half-octagon barrel in .41 Magnum (love the .41 Mag). And I still have some ammo and the reloading gear for .22 Hornet, but no gun to shoot it from. So I bought a Super 14" T/C barrel for that. I have an pretty early Contender, too--48,xxx range. I already have .22 LR and .357 HotShot barrels.

Rob

SweetMK,
That looks like mine. Serial #3053XX. Any idea of DOM? I would like to get the 22lr barrel for it.
Russ

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US Veteran 1970-1974

The Contender barrels will fit all of the contenders. One difference in the Contenders was in the forearm. Some of them had to have a square notch in the forearm for the action to open as there is a different front on the trigger guard and has to have the notch to allow for movement. Personally I keep a short and long notched forearm and they will work on any barrel I pick up.
The gen 3 barrels are supposed to work on the Contenders and Encores, but as of yet I havent seen any of them for sale. For fun shooting get you a 14" .223 barrel or if you like the big bore stuff get a 14" ported .45-70 barrel. One work of caution on the .45-70 barrel configuration, shoot it one armed. If you try to tame it with both hands it will twist both wrists and sometimes hit you in the chest. One arm allows body, arm, shoulder and wrist flex so nothing in particular gets wrenched bad.
Larry

Mine was made in 1976 and works like yours. Mine came with a .44 mag Super 14 barrel. I bought it used in 2006. Since then I have bought super 14 barrels in .22lr, .223, .45 Colt/.410, and 30-30. I put Pachmar fore end and grip on it.

Using recommended loads in the Sierria manual for the super 14 30-30, I have shot 1/2" groups from a rest at 50 yds.

I made the mistake of firing 5.56 NATO in the .223 barrel and the primer backed out and It was difficult to open it. The .223 has a 1:12 twist and does better with lighter bullets.

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Corripe Cervisiam

I recently bought a 22lr barrel for my contender from Red's. After it was installed the action would not open. I called Red's and they said you had to grind off the locking notches? I returned the barrel. Also the forend would not fit.

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US Veteran 1970-1974