I'll try to keep this simple to understand, but if I fail and you don't understand something please let us know.
Your Contender frame was made in the spring of 1994, and it is an easy open.
Easiest way to remember which is which is the easy open frames started in 1981 with about serial number 195,000, so all lower numbered blued Contender frames are not EO and all after are. Where the pivot pin is located for the trigger guard is also an identifier - forward of the trigger is not and over the trigger is EO. TC also offered a conversion to make early vintage frames into EO's that you could see both pin locations on.
Most users (including for kids) simply put the rimfire/centerfire selector on the hammer to what matches the barrel mounted on the frame and just leave it as is and do not use the center position as a safety. When the frame is opened to load and closed an acceptable "safety" is in effect by the position of the hammer until the hammer is cocked. Kids taught good firearms safety should have no problems with that.
From 1967 until a little after the plant fire in 1997 the Contenders had a high relief full bodied cougar on rock investment cast right into both sides of the frame. After the fire they had an etched cougar head only on both sides. For a short time they also offered what was called flat side frames with plain side panels that could be left plain or with certain decorations right from TC, as well as done by a third party.
The one you describe your pard has I have to assume is etched both sides and is probably a "lunch time" frame done by a TC smith with both the old and new side patterns, or a flat side frame etched by same or a third party. If the full body is investment cast and the other side is etched it could be a pre fire frame with the raised full body ground off one side and then etched. The frames serial number would probably tell which is most likely (because of when it was made).
Hope that was clearer than mud and helps. If not, let us know.
L.
