Author Topic: Contender' model history (Read 1512 times)

rickd · « **on:** February 15, 2004, 10:05:15 PM »

Watch out, another new guy. Just purchased a used/not abused blue Contender. It came with 45/410, 22lr, wood grip and 2 forearms. I Paid $450 for-all(happy valentines day to me). Plan on using 22 for fun and games, 45Colt possibly for whitetails in the woods of Western New York. I have read on previous posts and figure I need to check accuracy of 45. Also, for the time being, i will be shooting factory loads. Now a few Questions.

1- The Contender has, what looks like, a slotted screw rimfire/c'fire selector and a skeleton-ized hammer spur. Any history, pro's & cons, of this model would be appreciated.

2- the hammer spur has some galling, on the sides from, I suspect, a hammer extenstion. how could I repair or how costly to replace or should I replace with different style?

3-Any ideas for scope mounts or better sights for the 45/410 ribbed bbl?

PS - GBO is a great site, I never thought I could spend so many hours reading.

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Flash · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2004, 02:01:45 AM »

Well, your model is from T/C's first design. The little button(safety) that slides from side to side is prone to breakage too. The spring inside broke many years ago on mine and had to have it repaired by T/C. You'll have to check with T/C for the availability of parts but it's doubtful you'll get the hammer replaced.

skb2706 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2004, 09:43:39 AM »

Technically the skeletonized hammer would make it the second generation...the first was a solid hammer with no safety. If you contact TC they will offer to set up your gun with a new "easy open" feature that will make the gun easier to open and will replace the hammer assembly complete....when I did it ....it cost me $45.00 total and worth it. At that point you will need to let them know if all your barrels are of the split lug type ...if not tell them and they will supply the parts to make them so. The easy open feature does not work with the old single lug design (read) can't open the gun.

rickd · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2004, 10:20:21 PM »

The first time I put the .22lr barrel on I could'nt get it back open or cock the hammer. So, I pushed the hinge pin thru to get the barrel off. I then contacted T\C, and they suggested I send the frame and barrels in for conversion and to fit the barrels, for $55.00. The Contender is in the mail and I was fortunate to get the dealer I purchased it from to spring for the shipping.

thanx for the help, Rick

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2004, 01:46:19 AM »

Rick, when you say conversion, I assume you mean the easy open conversion. They can also change the hammer assembly if you ask. They changed one for me years ago for free. I'm not sure if they charge now or not. Also mine had a problem in the hammer, which may be why they didn't charge for it, but it would be well worth it. You would wind up with a frame that many of us would consider better than a "new".
GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt

Flash · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2004, 03:59:07 AM »

That's odd, I sent T/C a frame with a broken safety and asked them to fix it. I assumed it was just a missing ball bearing or a broken spring but when I got it back, they told me that they replaced my frame with a new type because they couldn't fix it. SKB2706, thanks for that tip on the first generation. I had no idea that there was a model before the one rickd mentioned. Actually, I have a 1970 Shooter's Bible and sure enough, it shows what appears to be a hammer without the safety and lists it as "Automatic Safety"

skb2706 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2004, 04:47:49 AM »

flash - I didn't know about the earlier ones either til I saw one at a gunshow. They are noticably different as the hammer is alot smaller and solid with basic cross serrations. The gun has the older style engraving (which I prefer to the laser "laughing cougar") and otherwise looked about the same as the skeletonized hammer style w/safety.

RonF · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2004, 06:45:02 AM »

Actually, upon examination of these early frames you'll find two types of hammers that look identical until you do a close examination. The solid hammer with no safety and basic crosshatching you describe has a small screw from the rear that retains the hammer nose which you rotate to change from rim- to center-fire. The very earliest frames, however, used a very small lock ring back there to retain the tail of the hammer nose. It was all very interesting; sometimes the lock ring would pop off and the hammer nose would pop out. This meant the tiny detent balls, about #9 shot size, would go flying and the little spring in there might, too. The hammer nose could sometimes be found if you were shooting in the desert or on a paved area, but the spring, lock ring and detent balls were usually gone for good. This was not a happy occurance. Of course, TC would send a good supply of these things so you could have some to get you back in service, but it was fairly tricky to get everything back in there out in the field. About the second time I asked for some replacement parts they sent me the "new style" hammer with the screw on the back - for free. I still have the first style hammer stored with my first Contender. Also, although there was no external safety, there was the internal automatic hammer block safety. This was retained until the bitter end of the original Contender line, even on all those thousands of frames with some sort of external hammer safety. It's been very interesting growing up all these years with Contenders!

RonF

rickd · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2004, 10:31:51 PM »

Yes Hopalong7,
I was refering to An "easy open" Conversion. I enclosed a detailed letter, with the gun, to T\C regarding, the conversion, two barrels for fitting, and the hammer being galled. I thought, I read somewhere that T/C will contact me upon receipt and examination of the firearm. I may just give them a call to confirm, anyway.

RonF,
My Contender hammer has a square safety, with a "S" stamped on one end, sliding thru it and a small screw to switch from center to rimfire. It is Serial # 153xxx.

Thanx All, Rick

rickd · « **Reply #9 on:** March 26, 2004, 12:06:41 AM »

This was my first experience with Thompson Center Service. I thought I'd give an update. Contender was mailed on2/26/2004, and back on 3/22/2004. Easy-Open Conversion, New trigger, trigger guard, hammer, owners manual, and a set of lug bolts for each barrel. And something was missing....
..... A Bill !!!
All that work, less than a month out and it was free.

Flash · « **Reply #10 on:** March 26, 2004, 01:07:22 AM »

rickd, Did T/C mail it back to you or to an FFL holder? I've never dealt with T/C direct but heard of a few that have. What claims did you make for the reason of sending it back?

rickd · « **Reply #11 on:** March 26, 2004, 08:36:49 AM »

Flash, The gun was shipped from, and back to my local gun shop, who picked up the shipping charges for overnight. Below is a copy of the letter I included with shipment.

"March 26, 2004
Thompson/Center Arms Company, Inc.
Farmington Road
Rochester, New Hampshire 03867
Attention: Service Department
Dear Thompson/Center Arms Company, Inc.,
Subject: Easy Open Conversion
Enclosed you will find
A.   one Contender Frame(Ser. #153XXX) w/wood grip
B.   one 10 .22lr Barrel w/wood forearm
C.   one 10 .45 Colt / 410 Barrel w/wood forearm
Would you, please,
1.   Convert the frame to an easy open model.
2.   Match both, 22lr and .45Colt/.410, barrel to frame.
3.   Evaluate galling on sides of hammer spur (I assume from a hammer extension)
4.   Repair galling on hammer spur
Im not sure of the procedure involved. Once youve evaluated the work required, please quote me a price, and I will arrange payment
Thank you,"

Next thing I know, the gun shop called me Monday to say shipment, was back. Above work complete, no price quote, no bill, thus no payment.
Thompson Center is "USA Grade A Prime" in my book.

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 26, 2004, 09:01:23 AM »

Some things are sttiiillllllll GOOD!!! Walt :-D :-D :-D

af4kb · « **Reply #13 on:** March 27, 2004, 06:46:15 AM »

Glad you got good service .The last time and 1 of the few times I had to call on them , I talked with a tech who was a smart alec or just got up on the wrong side of the bed that day, letting me know right quick Thompson was not responsible for any problems except with the original purchaser of any item . When I threatened to expose his name on all the gun boards and told him how happy he would make all the custom barrel makers, he ask me to send in to look at the problem ,which he did , and repaired and returned quickly tro me. Guess it depends on the tech. there. Freddy