What happened to T/C?

[crow_feather]

At one time, it appeared that Thompson Center used to be the big seller of side lock rifles.  These days, I hardly hear a thing about T/C's.  At the vous, it is very rare that I see a T/C being used in a shooting event.

For a rifle with a lifetime guarantee, I have to wonder what happened.  Did the price, the 1:48 twist, the short barrel, or the looks cause people to favor the Lyman and Traditions over the T/C?

I agree that none of the three rifles are a close copy of a Hawkin, but  they are in the price range of side locks where you don't have to sell a kid to get a decent rifle that shoots good.

I wonder what would happen if T/C sold their rifles with a 34" long 1" thick barrel with a 1:70 twist and optional steel fittings?

[lostid]

I am not a T/C fan Crow feather at all,,but if you ain't seein'm,you don't get around much.( or go to "juried" events only)

 There's plenty of Hawkin and Renegade being shot around here. Their the same as they where,,an entry level gun.
 We welcome them shooters,,and take'm "under the wing". If a feller  can wear moc's or bare foot "toe the line", he's got what we want,,desire,a promising future,,

[crow_feather]

Lostid,

Actually our vous is extremely liberal, but at the vous that I go to, I just don't see that many T/C's in competition.  Maybe it's my location, but around here, Lyman and Traditions are the major weapon of choice.

When I look in catalogs like Cabella's, I rarely see the T/C Hawkin anymore.

[S.S.]

I have never really liked anything TC had to offer anyway!
Not just in Black powder, I never liked their cartridge
guns either. Way over priced to me. I like graceful lines
in a firearm. Not something that looks like it was completely
designed and built by a computer.

[Omega]

Thompson Center used to be the big seller of side lock rifles.  

Yes, they did when there were good sales numbers in that part of the market. Today the trad market is too small, it doesn't make much fiscal sense to carry a big line up. The flinters that they do make wouldn't be seen at a vous, what with the SS barrel and the composite stocks.

[sabotloader]

CVA, Traditions, Lyman, & TC have taken a tremendous hit  in sales of sidelocks - most of them have cut back on production and advertising.  Catolog Compainies have seen and felt this also so they are reducing.

Of the 4 companies Lyman seems to be the only one trying to stay on the narrow traditional gun road.

It seems today, anyway according to Cabelles, the market is in in-line break open guns.... Just can't make myself try one of those yet....

[Snowshoe]

I think a lot has to do with price. Here in Canada, I can pick up a new Lyman for between $350 and $450, and the TC's are $600-$700. The inlines can be had for less than any of the traditional models. Around here about 98% of the sales are inlines and most gun shops don't even carry the sidelocks anymore. Mail-order is about all that is left for me, if I want a new sidelock.

[Longcruise]

IMO, the cost of keeping up the warranty service has forced the TC price up to the point where just maybe they are not that good a buy anymore.

I have a TC.50 that was my first back in the early '70's.  Recently sent it back to TC because I'd worn out the nipple mount threads.  They so completely renewed the rifle that it is no even recognizable   Now, granted, that is wonderful service but Why did they put a new stock on it?  On top of that, they reblued the barrel polished the heck out of the brass and for some reason the trigger guard is not a good fit.  The whole thing is plumb disconcerting.  If I'd know what they were going to do to the character of my rifle I'd have ordered the oversize nipple threading kit from Log Cabin and fixed it myself.

Ok, I'm done now :shock:

[Redhawk1]

Here in Delaware T/C are everywhere. Hard to get a hold of if you want one quick.

[crow_feather]

I had a friend that shot his barrel out in his T/C - sent it in and received a new one free.  Those guys definitely honor a guarantee.

C F

[sabotloader]

After each hunting season and after a season target practice, every year I say I am going to send in my renegade, cause it has been shot ALOT and the nipple area is pitted and the blueing is worn - but the dog-gone thing keeps shooting and shooting accurately so I keep shooting.  I have always wondered what TC would if I were to send it in and complain about the pitting around the nipple and the general condition of the barrel...

[Ramrod]

T/C is alive and well, and busy ripping off the guys that have to own the latest (excuse my French) INLINE. Look at Cabela's catolog for example, probably the biggest seller of this junk. T/C will come out with a new model every 2 or 3 years and get these bozos to trade up on the promise of longer and longer range, and idiot proof cleaning. Not a bad bussiness model, they only exist to make a profit. Another good example for the build your own crowd.

[Gregory]

What is the best "Hawkin" style rifle available that has a round ball twist for under $600?

[Ramrod]

Gregory, if you want it authentic, you will have to build it yourself from parts such as a Track of The Wolf kit. Otherwise, the Lyman GPR with the round ball barrel is as as close as you can get. And a whole lot less than $600. Check out Mid-South Shooters Supply.

[crow_feather]

Gregory,

Boy, are you gonna get a bunch of different answeres.  I would say that one of the best in a kit is one of the three Track of the Wolf's Hawkin kits.  They might be a touch over the 600.00 limit though.  Austin and Halleck make a nice rifle.  Clear Creek sells the Mowrey rifle and an underhammer also, I believe.  Of course there is T/C and Lyman, and Cabella's.  Dixie Gun Works also sell a few Hawkin replica's.  And of course, The origional Hawkin Shop still sells Hawkins, though at a price a bit more than your limit.  You might want to check out the prices of the Northern Rifleman.  I once got a great deal there on a Pedersoli.  And don't forget Guns America, Gun Broker, and Auction Arms.  I saw a almost brand new Lyman with all the extras sell on one of the three for about 205.00 - though it don't happen every day.

Take your time, ask a ton of questions, go to a range where black powder Traditional shooters get together - stay away from them in-liners, they will corrupt you - and talk to them about what they're shootin.  Second to shootin, Traditional shooters love talkin about their guns.

Please ask all the questions you want on our forum, you will get 17 different abswers, but most of em are somewhere near the mark.  And when you finally get that rifle you have always dreamed of, write us here about it.  

Best of luck in your endeavor,

C F

[Ramrod]

:-D Look at the time of them last two posts.

[roundball]

The inline craze drove TC to try and get some market share at the expense of reducing their focus on the more traditional line, like many companies have done.

The TC Hawken was their flagship model and helped get this country's interest in muzzleloading really get jump-started back in the 70's and was and excellent quality to cost rifle with a lifetime warranty second to none.

I'll be the first to acknowledge that a TC Hawken is not a true period specific reproduction, but it certainly catches the eye and leans in that direction a lot.  The bad news is that TC's catalog is now down to only a .50cal TC Hawken and a .50cal Renegade, having discontinued the .45 and .54.

The good news is that I have a houseful of TC Hawkens in both  percussion and flintlock, in several calibers, with both 1:48" and 1:66" TC barrels, and they are outstanding...and particularly the flintlocks now.
TC has significantly redesigned the flintlock mechanism and it is 100% reliable now, shooting them almost every weekend year round, and for all my deer hunting...and their lifetime warranty is still outstanding, as they've upgraded and/or replaced some early old style flint lock assemblies for me with brand new ones at no charge.

[crow_feather]

roundball,

They used to sell a .58 cal Hawkin orsomething like it.  I really regret not buying oneof those when I had the chance.

C F

[Longcruise]

What is the best "Hawkin" style rifle available that has a round ball twist for under $600?

The reference to the Track Of The Wolf people is a good one.  You can see lots of their stuff at http://www.trackofthewolf.com and you can order their catalog from the web site.

For what you want, the "hawkin" moniker is not really necessary.  Hawkin built only a small number of the rifles that left St. Louis for the fur trade either in the hands of the trapper or the trader.  These rifles all fit roughly into the category of plains rifles and took several shapes and forms at the hands of various makers.

Track stocks a Leman trade rifle (plains style rifle) available in either flint or percussion that is probably quite representative of the type of rifle carried by the mountain men.  Cost is under $600 but you will have to build it or hire someone to build it for you.

[lostid]

I'll be the first to acknowledge that a TC Hawken is not a true period specific reproduction, but it certainly catches the eye and leans in that direction a lot

 Let's not get hasty roundball. They catches the eye alright,,from about 75yrds anyone that knows knows it's a T/C, and there is nothing "leaning" in the direction of pc when it comes to T/C hawkin,,the Renegade is further out,,and the new "stainless steel" flintlock is obscene.

Crow feather,,your right. The start-up gun I got for my boy is a Traditions St. Louis,,,I'll let this thread rest,,no sence in the bickerin,,gotta work OT this Sat. just ta have next weekend off,, I'll set camp near Walnut Grove,Mn. Thursday eve. next, then break camp sunday somtyme,,,,,,,,,