Contender questions

[TXHORNEDFROG]

Hi all, I stumbled onto this website last year and became really interested in the contender. Well I just dropped off the girl friend and ended up stopping at a pawn shop and saw they had a contender pistol in 222 with a 10" octagon barrel with a 66xxx serial. We worked out a deal and I agreed to buy it for $330 and pick it up Monday as I was late to meet a friend. The one thing I noticed is that when I pulled back the hammer it was missing the rimfire selected and it looks like there wasn't anything inside the hammer when it looked like there should be, but instead just an empty space. I don't know much about them so I was wondering if anyone had any idea what I was missing? Sorry I didn't take a picture and I know I should have. I thought it was a good price but now I'm worried about how many parts are missing there and what it will cost/work involved to get running?

[Richard P]

Older frames used hammers that had a striker that you would rotate via screwdriver. This made the switch between rimfire and centerfire.   Your hammer should have it.  These predate the hammers that use the selector on the top.  Someone may have one stashed away that you could buy.  If you are getting a good deal I'd say go on and get it but until you replace the striker it isn't usable as a gun. 

[TXHORNEDFROG]

Is that something I can order directly from TC or do I need to hope someone has it stored away? I haven't seen the small parts stocked at brownells or midway.

[Elwood]

If it is a older frame you cannot retrofit the selector to the top of the hammer nor is it missing. The rim fire or center fire selector is not as obvious as the selector on the hammer. When you cock the hammer you will see that the striking face of the hammer has a piece on it that rotates 90 degrees strike one firing pin or the other.