Any Contender Love

[Dan in MI]

I wonder what the rebirth of TC is going to do to the long awaited SSK-50. The news on the delivered early frames isn't always rosy.

Is there a list by date or serial number that tells us whether something is a G1, G2, etc?
Can I tell by looking at the gun ( receivers? ) or barrels?
Correct to assume that means "Generation" 1 or 2?

My gun looks like the one pictured in post #2 above.

G1 is what we all know as a Contender. There are Type variants as updates were made but all are Contenders.

G2 is the Encore looking version with the wide reinforcement ribs across the top of the frame.

I don't know all the type variants, most are by hammer changes. No safety, slide safety, switch safety.
On frames there is early and then the easy open. easy open has the pivot pin above the trigger.

 

[dannyd]

Before I went back to Sandbox in 1991, callled TC to order a spring, thank goodness the lady talked me into ordering in bulk. Been able to keep them repaired for years.

 

[contender]

Any love for Contenders huh? Well,,,,,,,,, with my handle name,, I think it's a bit obvious.

 

[hittman]

IF internet searching is correct ….. G2s came out in 2000 or later.
My serial number 1183xx is apparently 1979 production.

Some say the Contender was type 1 then "upgraded" or changed to type 2 made easier to open, then G2.

Here's another dang rabbit hole to run down LOL.

 

[John D]

I have 2 frames and 14 barrels all 10 & 14 inch. The ones i can remember without opening
the safe are: 22rf, 223, 22 hornet, 30 carbine, 7mm TCU, 357mag, 357herrett, 30 herrett,
30-30, 35Rem, 44mag, 45colt (no 410).....

 

[Hawk-in-Wi]

I wonder what the rebirth of TC is going to do to the long awaited SSK-50. The news on the delivered early frames isn't always rosy.



G1 is what we all know as a Contender. There are Type variants as updates were made but all are Contenders.

G2 is the Encore looking version with the wide reinforcement ribs across the top of the frame.

I don't know all the type variants, most are by hammer changes. No safety, slide safety, switch safety.
On frames there is early and then the easy open. easy open has the pivot pin above the trigger.

I believe the very first Contenders had smooth sided frame and then soon changed to
the early G1 frames had some kind of Cougar etched on the side of the frame, as he said above the G2 has the wide reinforced ribs along the top of the frame opening

using links to Gunbroker to get pictures for you

early G1 frame , selector switch is in the front of the hammer, the hammer is cocked and then you use a screw driver to turn it to either rimfire or centerfire

Thompson Center Contender Frame Multi Caliber Single Shot EXCELLENT - Single Shot Pistols at GunBroker.com : 1056246240

Buy Thompson Center Contender Frame Multi Caliber Single Shot EXCELLENT: GunBroker is the largest seller of Single Shot Pistols Pistols Guns & Firearms All: 1056246240

www.gunbroker.com

G1 frame , I believe this would be a type 2, look at the hammer , the selector , for either center fire or rimfire, is the older push (side to side )

Thompson Center Contender Frame Receiver - Single Shot Pistols at GunBroker.com : 1056737345

Buy Thompson Center Contender Frame Receiver : GunBroker is the largest seller of Single Shot Pistols Pistols Guns & Firearms All: 1056737345

www.gunbroker.com

G1 frame the last version selector switch on top of the hammer

T/C Thompson Center Contender easy open Frame - Single Shot Pistols at GunBroker.com : 1045188998

Buy T/C Thompson Center Contender easy open Frame: GunBroker is the largest seller of Single Shot Pistols Pistols Guns & Firearms All: 1045188998

www.gunbroker.com

G2 frame see the reinforcements along the top edge of the opening

Thompson Contender G2 - SSK .45/70 - Single Shot Pistols at GunBroker.com : 1056485456

Buy Thompson Contender G2 - SSK .45/70: GunBroker is the largest seller of Single Shot Pistols Pistols Guns & Firearms All: 1056485456

www.gunbroker.com

I'm sure others will be along to add more

 

[hittman]

using links to Gunbroker to get pictures for you

G1 frame , I believe this would be a type 2, look at the hammer , the selector , for either center fire or rimfire, is the older push (side to side )

Thompson Center Contender Frame Receiver - Single Shot Pistols at GunBroker.com : 1056737345

Buy Thompson Center Contender Frame Receiver : GunBroker is the largest seller of Single Shot Pistols Pistols Guns & Firearms All: 1056737345

www.gunbroker.com

Thanks Hawk! Excellent info ….. mine is this one you linked to.

 

[JBP]

As the title asks,
Any Contender fans out there?
The 2 together are from left to right a
7-1/2" 44 Mag and a 10" .357 Mag
Next a scoped 10" .357 Max and last a10" 25-35 Win.
All awesome!

Back in 1998 I suffered a detached retina that required surgery and was advised to cut down on recoil. So I sold off my 30 caliber rifles and shotgun (I do miss trap shooting) but still wanted to shoot larger calibers so enter the Contender. I started off with a 30/30 barrel but built that up to a .22 Hornet, .222, .223, .35 Remington, and .375 Winchester. Also was introduced to the 10mm with a Contender barrel. When the G2 frame came out and T/C introduced the 17HMR and .204 Ruger I got those barrels to pair with my rifles of those calibers. The action would not open all the way after firing a round in those barrels. I called T/C and a gunsmith told me that the engineers blew it and had me send in the barrels for a fix. Didn't do any good and I ended selling those two barrels. During the pandemic I started having eye issues again and was reminded by my retina specialist (who is also a shooter) to cut the recoil. I had a 14" .38 Super barrel made by Bullberry Legacy out in Utah and sold all of the others.

 

[Guv]

I bet that 375 was a handful!
I've always wanted one.

 

[Dan in MI]

Hank beat me to it, but here are the images in one place. I though there was a second version of the cast puma, but can't place it.

EDIT-- Well, DUH, The two cast pumas here are different.

 

[XP100]

G1 and G2 grips are not interchangable but barrels are. My G32 Frame is serial # G94XX. 4 digit but can't remember it right now

 

[41 nut son]

I do believe the biggest advantage to the G2 was that the hammer could be pulled back, released, and then pulled back again and fired. The G1 had to be opened up again in order to "re-cock" the hammer once it was let down. In my opinion the G2 was a much better frame to use bird hunting with a super 14" 45/410 barrel as a result.

 

[Guv]

The G2 should have still had an adjustable trigger. I hope the upcoming one adds this feature back.

Maybe some G2's had an adjustable trigger, my 30-30 rifle did not.

 

[WV338]

I love them. I've got a 350 GNR, 6.5 BRM, and 7 TCU.

 

[mpmax]

Down to one barrel, 357maximum.
EZ-open G1, silhouette sight, and pachmayr grips. If you're only going to have one, make it a good one.

 

[Pál_K]

Am I the only crazy person who would rather have multiple Contenders, each with a dedicated barrel, rather than a bunch of barrels for one Contender frame?

The idea of swapping barrels, though that is part of the design, bothers me because I like to see complete firearms.

I am the same way with cameras and lenses. I won't have a camera and then have three different focal length lenses for it: I'll have three cameras, each with a dedicated lens of a fixed focal length (or short zoom). Yes, I know that means if I go for a walk or drive, I have to commit to the camera and lens I've chosen. The consequence of this behavioural quirk is that in reality I have well over 100 cameras and lenses -- but maybe that's mostly because I love cameras.

Just one Contender though.

 

[Guv]

NO!
I have four barrels and four frames!
I also have Bellm oversize hinge pins on all of them.
One day I will add a .375 Win. I will also add a fifth frame, grip and forearm
You are Never Alone

 

[Dan in MI]

Well, I probably run about 50/50 barrels to frames. I think I'm at three complete with five loose barrels. Way fewer than in days gone by. I've always kept a minimum of two though, rimfire and centerfire.

EDIT - ya went and made me kill the cat (curiosity kills the cat...) Three complete and nine barrels.

 

[JBP]

NO!
I have four barrels and four frames!
I also have Bellm oversize hinge pins on all of them.
One day I will add a .375 Win. I will also add a fifth frame, grip and forearm
You are Never Alone

Of all of my 30 caliber barrels I enjoyed shooting the .375 Winchester the most. Only issue I had with it was availability of ammo and when available very pricey, I just did a lookup on Gun Broker and could not find any under $3.00 a round. Ammo Seek gave some better results with some under $2.50. Definitely better to roll your own. When I sold my .375 barrel I also sold my remaining 19 boxes of WINCHESTER 375 WIN SUPER X 200gr POWER-POINT 20rd BOX. Received over $1k for it. Of course that was during the pandemic when ammo costs were ridiculous although someone on GB wants $169.90 for a single box.

 

[Uncle Howie]

The G2 should have still had an adjustable trigger. I hope the upcoming one adds this feature back.

Maybe some G2's had an adjustable trigger, my 30-30 rifle did not.

I'm curious if the Contender WILL come back.

I'm enough of a pessimist to wonder if the company will actually come back… much less the Contender.

I'm hopeful for both coming back, but I fall into the "cautiously optimistic" category.