T/C Contender early 4 digit SN, 3 barrels

[ttremblay]

Hey guys!

As a member of this great forum for a while I wanted to get some thoughts on a recent acquisition. I got this T/C Contender (serial # 45XX) in a group of 10 guns that included some great Smiths (posting soon on another thread here). It has three barrels, 22lr, 25-35 winchester and a 45LC/410 barrel all octagon early barrels.

It has the original leather case, and is in great condition. I'm not a big T/C guy and have literally no idea where to sell or what it's worth. I've seen ones with only one barrel at 850 on GB but we all know of GB can be with prices. I've thought about just putting it up there no reserve and letting it go. Anyone have knowledge or a good place to market this cool piece? Will post pics soon. Thanks all.

 

[H Richard]

TC's have a following, not nearly as big as S&W or Colt, but there is interest out there. I believe they have a Collectors Assoc, you might search that out. From what I have seen the basic pistol (regardless of which issue) will bring around $350 to $500 (depending on barrel on it). The extra barrels bring around $150 each if they have the original sights on them.

 

[colt_saa]

I am a T/C fan myself, both Contender and Encore. I have four frames and a few dozen barrels.
My favorite at the moment is a 12" Encore in 500 S&W Magnum

You will get the most money if you run five auctions.

The frame, each barrel and the case all separately

Everybody wants a 22LR barrel so that should go fast. Heck, I don't think I have one of the 10" 22LRs myself

The 45/410 barrels are also popular. Do you have the external choke (w/tool) that screws on to the end of the barrel ?

A clean frame will go to lots of guys that just want two

The case and 25-35 barrel should be of interest to collectors.

 

[ttremblay]

I am a T/C fan myself, both Contender and Encore. I have four frames and a few dozen barrels.
My favorite at the moment is a 12" Encore in 500 S&W Magnum

You will get the most money if you run five auctions.

The frame, each barrel and the case all separately

Everybody wants a 22LR barrel so that should go fast. Heck, I don't think I have one of the 10" 22LRs myself

The 45/410 barrels are also popular. Do you have the external choke (w/tool) that screws on to the end of the barrel ?

A clean frame will go to lots of guys that just want two

The case and 25-35 barrel should be of interest to collectors.

Thank you! I'm exploring those options definitely. I have the choke and tool for the 45 barrel. I hate to break up a cool collection like this but it's got to go to pay for some more projects. Thanks for the info and the tip. I might have to sneak it to the range before it goes but I'm worried I'll love it haha

 

[colt_saa]

Thank you! I'm exploring those options definitely. I have the choke and tool for the 45 barrel. I hate to break up a cool collection like this but it's got to go to pay for some more projects. Thanks for the info and the tip. I might have to sneak it to the range before it goes but I'm worried I'll love it haha

It is a great concept and if you leave the realm of factory barrels and go out to the custom makers, the world opens up. This is great for hand loaders. Custom barrels are not even that expensive

For my Contenders I have had 8" and 10" 357/44 Bain and Davis barrels made to go with my converted model 27 in 357/44B&D.

I have a really cute 11" barrel chambered in 17 Remington. I just think it is awesome to be able to launch a grain of rice at over 4000 FPS. This cartridge is a Varmint disintegrator

I had a 30-40 Krag barrel made back in the Metallic Silhouette days. It had way better knock down power than the 30/30 Winchester barrel it replaced

Then there is the 14" 10 MM Magnum. Great cartridge that just came in at the wrong time

And the pictured 500 S&W Magnum barrel above was made 6 months before S&W began shipping revolvers so that I could have something to test ammunition in.

I still want to do a custom barrel in 41GNR

It can get addicting

 

[max503]

I'm in the market for a 38/357 barrel at the right price.

 

[mtgianni]

Octagonal barrels make many TC shooters cringe. They were reportedly chambered with a drill press and the cheaper labor in the plant. Think off square chambers, non existent throats or toilet bowl shaped ones.[abrupt cone with minimal taper]
No one I have read of will now rechamber an octagonal bbl due to the difficulties in truing it to the lathe. . 22 barrels have come back some in this market but are not the huge sellers. 45/410 are an interesting concept but the Governor and Judge have tapped it pretty hard.
Look on line at the safety revisions to determine how early a gun it is. See if it has had the easy open conversion done. The frames value depends somewhat on the engraving to determine age. I would keep photographs of it with the barrels you bought it with as these are not usually loaded to frame stretching levels.
Congratulations and good luck with it. Beware if you want to see how it shoots. Some of the older barrels are real surprises and you might just decide to keep it.

 

[steveno]

make it has the split locking lug. the reason for the split lug was if you were shooting a heavy recoiling load the one piece lug would cause the barrel to unlock during recoil. unless somebody installed it , it probably doesn't have the split lug but easy to change. that had a different function than the easy opening frame. that low a serial number probably doesn't have the easy opening frame.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

The rear sights on very early octagon barrels are very crude! My 357 10" Octagon barrel was shipped with frame #1661 (Sept 1968). The sight looks like a S&W target sight from the 1920's or before!

Ivan

 

[Lonegle57]

I just brought home TC number ten yesterday, a 10 inch 223 with a Weaver scope. Will probably sell the barrel and put a 410 barrel on the frame. Anyway, the frame with a barrel on it will sell quickly in the 350 to 400 range, barrels will go in the 150 range. The 25-35 is on a rare side and should fetch more, would put 190 on it and see if someone bites. There is another forum dealing with long range handguns, Specialtypistols, where TC's and parts are sold in their classifieds. Hope that helps.

 

[loc n load]

I am a fan of the Contender. I own three frames and four barrels, 22rf, 7mm TCU ,a 14” 35 remington and a custom 222 magnum made by the late Lee Jurras.
The 7mm TCU I shot steel with for years, it was my first venture into wildcat cartridges. The 222 mag has been one of my primary varmint busters for years, from a rest it is a sub moa gun all day.
The 35 remington is one of my primary venison harvesters. I have taken over a dozen white tails with this setup.
At one time I had two custom SSK industries barrels, a 45-70 and a 375 JDJ. These were true “hand cannons”, they now belong to a friend of mine who lives in big bear country.
If you decide to sell your Gun, barrels and case, I am sure there are folk’s out there who will help you with that.