contender alloy II

[hawken_cougar]

I was searching through some pages and i came across a "rare" contender alloy II....I've never seen one before....whats the significance of this contender...im sure many of you know about these and what makes them so rare....if anyone could share some information about it i would appreciate it....the one i saw the price tag was pretty high so...im assuming it was a special run maybe a few years or something.....
thanks

hc

[Graybeard]

I've seen an occasional reference to it myself in posts on forums such as this but have no recollection of such being offered. I remember the original well but just don't recall the introduction of an AAII. Maybe so maybe not I just honestly don't know with any degree of certainty.

[hawken_cougar]

this is the picture of one i found searching the web...

[tlyne]

Armour Alloy II is a blue barrel or frame that was given .002 nickel plating before Stainless Steel.The platter's could not keep the coloring the same . T/C had too many returns because frame and barrel did not match in color. T/C discontinued the Armour Alloy II series. The following barrels were made in both 10" & 14":22 LR,223 Rem, 7 TCU 7mm Super Mag,30/30 win, 357 magnum (no 14" 357 mag),357 max (no 14"),44 mag,45/410 VR & choke (no 14"). They made a lot of 7 TCU 14" in AA. I looked for the years and could not find it now. I have it some place. I hope this will answer some of your question. I copied this information from other good people that give it on some of the lists and Webb sites thur out the years.
Good shooting, Twyman

[Graybeard]

Then what's the difference between AA and AAII?

[tlyne]

The same, AA is just a shorten AAII.

[Graybeard]

OK so you're saying then there WERE NOT two different armor alloy series but just one called AAII and most often shortened by us to AA? I knew I sure had never seen any documentation of two different versions.

[hawken_cougar]

so whats the reason there is such a high asking price?  the short run?  is there any question about the performance?  are they better, worse, or just that it has a different finish than most contenders and they are harder to find....and most likely harder to find other barrels?

hc

[tlyne]

To my knowledge there is no reason that would demand a high price. I would think that a price range of $200 to $250 would be about right. I don't know what the serial number is. I have such a frame and I think I paid around $175 a few years ago. Also, I don't know the history of the frame in question. But I don't know why your frame would be a collector piece. I like the AA because the finishes are very good. Again, I don't know every thing. That is the best I can do.

[hawken_cougar]

the frame in the picture is just one i found for a listing of an old auction, i do not own one of these...he wanted 1200 bucks for the frame and 3 barrels...also there is one right now on an auction site that wants 1000 for an opening bid and it has just one barrel.... i saw those two auctions and was curious what this variation of contender was and why so much....thanks for the info everyone.....

[Graybeard]

I'm not sure about the frames but the barrels went for years without buyers and were finally closed out at almost give away prices as I recall. I can remember seeing them new in box for half the going rate of blued folks just didn't seem to want them. They will not work with blued or SS parts unless you open up the hole and the factory charged a fair bit for that. Sure many did it themselves and I'm sure that at least some who did messed the job up royally.

I think I'd be a bit leery of a used one for that reason but wouldn't mind a new one. If I knew the seller and trusted them that the hole hadn't been messed up I'd likely not worry too much. But unless you have both frame and barrel to match with the correct pin you'll have to either open it up or have it opened up to use it.

For that reason they have been hard to move for the most part I guess I could see a set with frame and barrels all original and not altered being worth more to a collector but not to a shooter.

[A-ALLOY]

Hey I don't have much info but here is the little i have. Bought mine in about 1987 I don't think they had SS. at the time, It cost more but the finish seems to be pretty tough. T.C. will mod. the holes for you they have a mark they stamp on the lug after they are bored out can't remember that it is right now. I've kept mine original although i have shot a blued 223 on the AA frame a few times (I don't claim to be smart). Ed found me a 35 rem. a few years ago when i was hot to have a 358 jdj but I use a 375 carbine barrel on a blued frame now, so it goes in tc world. They are around and a good tough finish. A blued pin will not fit in a AA frame or barrel (at least in my case) so you could use a pin to tell if it had been modified or not. I don't see them bringing as much as a good blued barrel on the market, a nice set maybe but don't turn down a good deal if you see one they can be modified by tc  and the finish is tough no rust at all, but I wouldn't pay extra over SS for one (just my 2 cents )and I really like mine

[Graybeard]

Ed found me a 35 rem. a few years ago when i was hot to have a 358 jdj

How did that work out for you? The last time I discussed rechambering an AA barrel with JD at SSK he said they would not do it as the bores are also plated and it wears out his tooling too fast.

[springer222]

I own 2 frames and 7 barrels - purchased one set (frame and five barrels) all like new w/boxes for something like $950 delivered. The other frame and 35 Rem barrel with scope, base & rings for, I think $500 + shipping. The final barrel, a 14" 30/30 was something like $175 delivered. This should give you some idea of what they were running - at least in 2005 - 06.

[hawken_cougar]

i just found a .223 complete with frame and walnut grips for 325 from a shop up in AK....he said its mint....i guess i would say thats a good price....if i pull the trigger where can a guy find other barrels?

[A-ALLOY]

Yes Graybeard they told me the same thing. It's been a few years and I'm more of a carbine fan now.
It is a tough finish and I like it

Hawken-couger there's the deal where do you get new barrels? I'd call Ed. I've thought about shimming the hole and trying the blued barrel on
it?

[doc-and]

I've owned one since they were released by T/C. The finish is very hard and will take a lot of abuse. I currently own 5 barrels for it (all unmodified). 

10inch 22lr
14inch 22lr
10inch 357Mag
14inch 44Mag
14inch 30-30 Winchester

Here's a picture of 2 of the five, Mounted is the 14inch 22lr and in the foreground is the 10inch 22lr



The lug is stamped with "AA" and an Iron Cross.  It is also my understanding the when the factory modifies the barrels they add an additional stamp to the lug for the purpose of identifing modified barrels, Modified meaning opening up the hole so as the barrels could be used on either blue or sst frames.

docand

[OneGoodShot]

I have 3 AA frames and a barrel or two (all unconverted).  I guess JD must have changed his policy as he rechambered a 7mm tcu  to 7-30 waters for me and the lug is  is stamped appropriately.  About 4 years ago, Mike at OTT (On Target Technologies) made me a 5mmRemington barrel with a  correct sized lug to fit my AA frames.  It shoots the centerfire 5mm pills at 2300fps.  Just waiting to get a box of the newly released 5mmRimfire to do a heads up comparison with the two.