Need help with the history on my Thompson Contender

[pepi]

Hi Guys:

I've had this TC for many years.  I'm trying to find out what it is.  G2 or G3 and what it may be worth.  22lr match barrel

On the receiver there is TCA-C ROCH-NH   Serial number 3184xx

Thanks for your help!

[luckydawg13]

looks like a G1

[southernutah]

nice ol' blue Contender

[Keith L]

Made in the first half of 1988, and with a Pachmayr grip and forend.  Nice setup!

[pepi]

So it is a G1?  From my internet reading I'm a bit confused. I was also told it would be a G3 since the firing pin from R to C is on a switch on the hammer.

[hunt4570]

  If it were a G3 it would be from the future as I don't believe they have come out with a G3 as of yet.. no side strap = G1, and I think they have all had the firing pin selector on the hammer, both my G1 and G2 are set up that way...

[luckydawg13]

i would say $425/450. would be a fair price you may get more if you part it out

[contender222]

It is an original Contender frame, first generation. The original had about 3 revisions. Yours looks to be the newest revision, easy open, firing pin selector on top of the hammer. The current Contender is called the G2 which is similar to the Encore but downsized. At least this is the way I understand it.

[pepi]

Thanks guys ... very helpful.  Funny darn thing is, I cocked the hammer today and the hammer spring broke LOL   Got one on the way from TC 

[Keith L]

Minor point but there is no G1.  They are Contenders, and G2s.  I have both and they are all cool.

[pepi]

Minor point but there is no G1.  They are Contenders, and G2s.  I have both and they are all cool.

This is my understanding of all the reading I've been doing today.  Where the guy got the G3 crap from I'll never know 

[DEACONLLB]

The first contenders were called type 1 and had the trigger guard pivet in front of trigger guard Then came the type 2 which is also caller or refered to as easy open and trigger guard pivet was above the trigger as your is after that came the G2  that looks like a smaller encore and has been said there were never any G1 OR G3 have no Idea where that came from. There were also some receivers made with no engraving that are refered to as flat side and also some stainless as well as armor alloy that looks like stainless There were upgrades along the way as far as the hammers were concerned newer ones have the firingpin selector switch on top of hammer. For some time you could send your frame in to thompson and have it converted to easy open for 50.00 I think they wont around 70.00 now. You can tell the converted ones as there is a hole left in frame where the old trigger guard pivet was but it can only be seen by removing the forend. I have seen some gun show venders call the Type 2 a G2 in order to try and get more money for them.
Hope this helps some. At one time there was a list of serial numbers and yrs made on the forum but dont know where it is maybe Bill or Matt knows.

Deaconllb

[Keith L]

The SN list is in the FAQ post at the top of this forum.  Only for Contenders.  No listing for barrels or for Encores.

[Hopalong7]

       If it were all plain and simple... ....what the heck would we talk about!!!

[jimann]

Hi
You have a Contender easy open frame. They are all called Contender until you get to the G2. There have been a lot of variations in Contender frames. The first ones had plain sides, the next had an eagle on one side, then a puma on both sides with engraving by the tail, then no engraving by the tail. Then you get the easy opening, easy to spot by the pin just above the trigger, then some with the puma head engraved on the sides. I left out stainless and AA ( I cannot spell Amorlloy), not to mention variations in hammers and grips, Nor all of the commemorative frames. But they were all Contender until the G2.

[pepi]

Thanks guys ... very helpful.  Funny darn thing is, I cocked the hammer today and the hammer spring broke LOL   Got one on the way from TC 

Well that was an easy job replacing the spring.  Got the new one in the mail today and had it in there in 10 min.  Pretty easy gun to work on.

[I make oil]

Now you need a new barrel.  Maybe a 7-30 Waters?  or a .223 or a 30/30 or maybe a .44 Mag and a 357 Max and a 45 colt/.410.  Then you will need a 45/70 then you will have to get some of the JDJ's.  A 375 and a 309 but first you will have to start to reload if you don't already and you will need scopes for each barrel and heck it's so much trouble to switch barrels you might as well get a few more receivers......

[pepi]

Now you need a new barrel.  Maybe a 7-30 Waters?  or a .223 or a 30/30 or maybe a .44 Mag and a 357 Max and a 45 colt/.410.  Then you will need a 45/70 then you will have to get some of the JDJ's.  A 375 and a 309 but first you will have to start to reload if you don't already and you will need scopes for each barrel and heck it's so much trouble to switch barrels you might as well get a few more receivers......

Yep, similar to buying chrome for your Harley