Author Topic: The end of an era... (Read 2009 times)

Ladobe · « **on:** December 02, 2010, 01:12:43 PM »

Well, the end of an era in my lifetime anyway.

I bought my first TC Contender pistol almost 43 years ago, a 10" octagon 38 Special, and I was immediately smitten with it. Didn't take long and I had every barrel TC offered for it, continued to buy the new offerings as they came out and kept adding more frames. Not too long after JD came out with the 375JDJ I bought what I considered my first real handcannon barrel for my Contenders and was smitten again (although IMO they are a pussy cat to shoot). So smitten that I ended up owning 4 of his 375JDJ's over the years because this cartridge was probably my favorite as the most fun to shoot out of all of them for the Contender (although the 17 Ackley Hornets ran a close second). I used the 375's for everything from varmints and predators to big game, and to just go out and burn up a bunch of powder with. Eventually I also had all the other JDJ's, with more than one barrel for those I liked the best, did the same with the all the Super Bowers and a bunch of other wildcats. The barrel count really went up fast when I was suddenly smitten with the 17 calibers a couple of decades ago and I just had to have at least one of each for my Contenders, often in both pistol and carbine lengths. I didn't want factory barrels that had been rechambered, so almost all of the wildcats were premium barrels from JD and Bullberry. So I had become a wildcat junkie of custom barrels I guess and seldom bought or used factory barrels anymore. All told I owned around 44 original Contender frames and well over 200 factory and custom barrels for them over the years... so I guess being smitten with the Contenders never wore off.

When the Encore first came out I jumped into them too with several frames and a bunch of barrels, but I liked the Contenders so much better that they didn't live with me for very long. The 7BR's lasted the longest because they could always be counted on to be sure death for the other competitors I shot IMSHA Big Bore with.

When my health went south about five or six years ago I had to give up hunting and eventually shooting altogether. So my Contender gear started going up for sale. I recently sold and shipped my last two frames, so except for 3-4 grip sets and barrels and some scattered parts they are all gone now.

It was a wonderful ride that lasted most of my adult lifetime and has left me with a lot of very fine memories. The Contenders took countless game for me, won a lot of matches, and paved the way to become personal friends with some of my most cherished hunting buddies, some of the fine folk at TC, most of the custom barrel makers, the best Contender gunsmith there ever was and countless fine folks on-line who also shoot the TC's.

Thanks to all for adding greatly to the Contender experience.

They sure will be missed.

Larry

SD Handgunner · « **Reply #1 on:** December 02, 2010, 02:27:59 PM »

Wow Larry reading that almost brought a tear to my eyes. I am willing to bet it was very hard to put all of those cherished Contenders up for sale and watching them go.

I lost count long ago as to how many Contender Frames and Barrels I have had over the years. Yes they have come and gone since 1982 when I bought my first one. I will never forget the first game I shot with a Speciality Pistol as I am sure you will never forget your eight.

I wish you all the best.

Larry

handi243 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 02, 2010, 02:42:11 PM »

Mr. Larry sorry to hear that it does sound like you have a great ride! thats alot of tender stuff to have had your hands on. I got my about 6 yrs ago and have gone thru some barrels not as many as you but some. I do think i have found the one i like best the 357 max. I hate when i ready about people like yourself that have to stop doing what they truly love because of health problem. Hope you have a great Holiday

Silvertp · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2010, 03:06:04 PM »

Well Ladobe...I knew you were into contenders but had no idea you were in so completely. Good for you...youve been there and done that so no need to stop smiling. You could count my TC offerings on one hand and I still think Ive got it made.

Take care!
Silvertp

Keith L · « **Reply #4 on:** December 02, 2010, 03:48:06 PM »

Larry, it is good to see you post here again. I hope you stay around and share that wisdom and experience with the board.

xphunter · « **Reply #5 on:** December 02, 2010, 05:27:01 PM »

Larry,
Sorry to hear about your health and the choices you had to make.
I have always enjoyed you and your experience immensely.
Ernie

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2010, 04:56:53 AM »

Larry,
I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say that your contributions to this forum have been tremendous and greatly appreciated. We sincerely hope you'll hang around here even if you're not shootin'. I know it's tough to have to give up something that you love to do. I haven't quit, back I have cut back on shootin' some of my "big boys" from what I used to do...shorter sessions...lighter loads...etc. My body is just not going along with all those wonderful plans I had for my retirement.

Thanks again Buddy!!!
Walt

Richard P · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2010, 06:53:08 AM »

Larry, please post this on SpecialtyPistols. I'm sure it would be appreciated. Best wishes.

Ladobe · « **Reply #8 on:** December 03, 2010, 08:48:22 AM »

Thanks for all the kind comments folks. I'm glad some feel I was able to shed some light on TC's from my long experience with them. I enjoyed doing it for those who appreciated the help, some of it from memory but also from the large data base that I had assembled over the decades.

I'm not really back on this forum though - just wanted to say thanks mostly to all of you who have given me much pleasure (and yes, some aggravation) over the years on GBO. My health and handicaps issues don't allow me to spend much time at all on the computer now, and even this post will take at least two or three of the short sessions I can sit at my computer desk to get it typed. So I have to dedicate what time I can manage to spend on the computer in doing ads to sell as much of my gear and belongings as possible as soon as possible. That's just about all I have been doing on-line for a long time now. I fell into the trap of owning around 65 firearms, most higher end with many still new in the box, I have nobody to leave them to and with the bad economic times have only managed to sell down to about 15 rifles and 8 pistols so far even at what I considerd low prices. Have tons of reloading gear and supplies and all my other outdoor gear, etc taking up about half of a storage garage as well to peddle off, and my vintage Corvette show car that hasn't been driven for about a year (I might be able to fall into it, LOL, but I'd never be able to get back out). Seems like it takes me forever to get items that are sold packaged to go when the body doesn't work very well or tolerate much activity. So I can't run too many ads at a time. But I'm getting there, slowly. I'll run out of time long before even the firearms are sold though.

As a guy who was in perfect health all of his life, super active and a bull of the woods of sorts sometimes, I've really learned how difficult it is when you loose your health to very serious ailments and your body gets worn completely out. Now I'm a recluse that only goes out when I absolutely have to. I'm finally paying the price for two bad accidents in 2003 and 2004 too now, but most of the really bad stuff from them and the cancers all hit me about the same time in 2008. So the hardest times have only been for a small percentage of my life thankfully.

If I can leave you with one thing to keep in mind, please appreciate your family and health every single day while you can folks, because it gets very dark when they are both gone.

Best regards to all of you,

Larry

Note to Richard... I know at one time quite a few people who have known me for many years run on SP, but I don't run that forum.

xphunter · « **Reply #9 on:** December 03, 2010, 04:10:05 PM »

email me some of the things you are wanting to sell--Maybe I can help.
ernieemily@yahoo.com

Win 1917 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 04, 2010, 02:21:46 AM »

Thanks for sharing your experience. I just started my Contender collection a few years ago and having a blast with them. They've taught me a ton about shooting and reloading.

Ladobe · « **Reply #11 on:** December 04, 2010, 07:57:52 AM »

Thanks for the offer Ernie, but there is a truck load of stuff left that would be way too much work for me to even consider making up a list of, taking pictures and figuring out asking prices on for one person. Been there done that before for specific catergories of stuff when folks asked both local and on-line, and made not a single sale for all my effort. So about all I can handle is to just run ads when I feel up to doing them a few items at a time, mostly for bigger ticket items now because I need to raise my living expenses each month to go on and can't do the work anymore to raise them on $20 sales.

***
Folks, please note that the purpose of this thread was not to solicite sales. So I hope all of you will comment and PM in a different direction please. It will make Admin at lot happier I'm sure and the forum moderators job a little easier. Thanks for understanding.
Larry

xphunter · « **Reply #12 on:** December 04, 2010, 08:52:51 AM »

Wasn't trying to by for myself, but when you do put something else up for sale-Bigger ticket item, I would be glad to post it other places, so you could get greater exposure.
E

BruceP · « **Reply #13 on:** December 04, 2010, 03:40:10 PM »

Larry you have been a great help to a lot of folks here and I appreciate the time you have given to me in posts and PM's. I re-read not to long ago the PM you sent me a good while back on realoading for contenders. I hate to hear of your declining health and know a little of what you speak but no where near the extent of what you speak of. You have both my thanks and my prayers. I hope you can continue to be a part of this community even if it is a smaller part.
God Bless

Bruce

David D. · « **Reply #14 on:** December 05, 2010, 03:21:20 PM »

Larry,
Very sorry to read this but I guess there will probably be a time in our lives where we all will reach a similar situation. Not being a youngin anymore I'm finding it harder to stay on the water fishing or in the woods hunting like I once did. But I still enjoy trying. It will be a sad day when the time comes I cant do it at all.

God bless you!
Dave D.

Gswag · « **Reply #15 on:** December 06, 2010, 10:23:04 AM »

Larry,
I thought of you Saturday evening. I had the 17 with me and whacked three jackrabbits in about 1 minute with it just about dark at 175 yards. They thought they were hiding but evidently...no well enough. the next trip, I do it with more light and get you some pictures

What year is your corvette by the way? I always loved the classic late 50s/early 60s version with the swoop on the door. Don't know all the particulars about them but would love to own one of them one day

Just what I need!!! Thanks again pal! GS

Ladobe · « **Reply #16 on:** December 07, 2010, 08:52:31 AM »

Thanks again for the comments folks.

GS,
Glad to hear you drew your first blood with the Bullberry Carbine. I'm very pleased that it is being used again, found a good home and will be your son's rifle to grow up with.
The current one is my 6th Corvette that I bought in 2005 (the first 5 were 1958 and 1959 C1's). Found her with a car collector in Selah, WA and had her shipped to me in Vegas. This one is a numbers matching C3 1973 Stingray Coupe that was customized with wild 70's IMRON paint (including an Elvis with guitar mural on the rear deck), cloth interior and wheels as a show car right after it was delivered new here in Las Vegas late '72. Since then it has had A/C, heater bypass and sound system upgrades, and just before I bought it the engine, tranny, suspension and seals were redone even though it spent most of its life being a daily driver for an (are you ready for this?) old librarian lady and later her old fire chief friend in OR. So it never got beat as was just rebuilt because it had 90K miles on it. It is still in about 98% condition and runs as good as new from gas station to gas station.

I managed to drive it here back when I could without any speeding tickets, but only because speeding is pretty much accepted as a given here by LE and ignored unless dodging in and out of traffic, etc. Hwy 95 South on the east side of town is our Autobahn where if you don't go fast you get ran over by the foreign sports cars or nitro rice burners doing 200+ down the wide banked freeway (5 & 6 lanes). LOL I've opened her up a few times on that stretch. Need to get her sold but the bad economy is in the way right now. Anyway, here's a couple of pictures taken for the 2006 International C3 Vette Registry calendar that she was featured as Miss August in, and one from the day she was delivered to me at the security garage she was kept in.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #17 on:** December 07, 2010, 09:01:50 AM »

Where were the pictures taken?
Looks like Palm Desert California.
Sorry to hear about your health.
And I too have gained from your posts.
If it can help I am looking for a 30-30 Carbine barrel for a Condender.
Would prefer Iron Sights.

Keith L · « **Reply #18 on:** December 07, 2010, 10:24:27 AM »

We have to do want to buy and want to sell by PM or on the classifieds guys.

Nice car Larry!

Ladobe · « **Reply #19 on:** December 07, 2010, 01:20:53 PM »

The pictures of my Corvette were taken at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area on the west side of Las Vegas.

I haven't had a 30-30 Win barrel for going on 3 decades. Replaced them with a couple of 309JDJ's and never looked back.

b44mag · « **Reply #20 on:** December 07, 2010, 01:50:15 PM »

wow shes a beauty you ought to be able to sell that quick just have to get the info out there thats one sweet looking vett
b44mag

Ladobe · « **Reply #21 on:** December 24, 2010, 09:42:55 AM »

Not with todays economy unless I'd take 1/4 to 1/3 of what it is valued at. It will be left to my estranged son.
L.