149:
Tool
Company, and together, they announced Warren Center's Contender pistol in 1967. Although it sold for more than comparable hunting revolvers, the flexibility of being able to shoot multiple calibers by simply changing out the barrel and sights and its higher accuracy soon made it popular with handgun hunters. As K.W. Thompson Tool began marketing Center's Contender pistol, the company name was changed to Thompson/Center Arms Company. Then, in 1970, Thompson/Center created the modern black powder industry, introducing Warren Center's Hawken-styled black powder muzzle-loader rifle.
260:
mechanism, and to differences in the angle of the grip relative to the boreline of the gun, the buttstocks and pistol grips are different between the G1 and G2 Contenders and will not interchange. The G2, though, uses essentially the same barrels and fore-ends as the original
Contender and barrels will interchange, with the only two exceptions being the G2 muzzleloading barrels, which will only fit the G2 frame, and the Herrett barrels/fore-ends, which are specific for use only on a G1 frame.
432:
226:
removed. Since the sights and extractor remain attached to the barrel in the
Contender design, the frame itself contains no cartridge-specific features. A barrel of another caliber can be installed and pinned in place, the fore-end replaced, and the pistol is ready to shoot with a different barrel and pre-aligned sights. This allowed for easy changes of calibers, sights, and barrel lengths, with only a flat screwdriver being required for change-out.
218:
460:
203:, subsequent handgun developments by Thompson/Center led to a wider range of interchangeable barrels for use with many more cartridges. Opening and closing the break-open action is accomplished by squeezing the outside bottom of the trigger guard toward the grip/buttstock, at which time the action opens, and an extractor manually extracts the cartridge.
247:. The Encore barrel list also includes shotgun barrels in 28, 20, and 12 gauge, and muzzleloading barrels in .45, .50 caliber, and 12 gauge using #209 shotgun primers. In 2007, Encore rimfire barrels became available in 22 LR and 17 HMR, featuring a unique monoblock design that required no alteration to the frame assembly.
409:: This T/C muzzleloader was offered in several barrel lengths and in calibers .45 and .50. It can handle 150 grains (9.7 g) of Black Powder or Pyrodex equivalent, or three 50-grain (3.2 g) Pyrodex pellets. Its breech plug design allows it to burn different types of black powder substitutes very efficiently.
277:
to fit a pistol grip on an original
Contender rifle frame, and use a pistol barrel to convert it from being a rifle to a pistol, this is not legal in the USA, being an illegal creation of a pistol from a rifle. In order to be able to go back and forth, the receiver must have been originally sold as a pistol, per
639:
The
Supreme Court disagreed and its decision clarified the meaning of the term "make" in the National Firearms Act by stating that the mere possession of components that theoretically could be assembled in an illegal configuration was not in itself a violation as long as the components could also be
276:
It is possible to fit a shoulder stock on a pistol frame in place of a pistol grip, and, when combined with a 16" or longer barrel (see "Thompson/Center Arms and the
Supreme Court" below), a Contender may be legally converted from a pistol to a rifle or reversed. Although it is technically possible
225:
The
Contender, first introduced in 1967, is a break-action, single-shot pistol or rifle with a number of unique features. The first unique feature is the way the barrel is attached to the frame. By removing the fore-end, a large hinge pin is exposed; by pushing this hinge pin out, the barrel can be
909:
As used in this section, a "short-barreled shotgun" means any of the following: (A) A firearm which is designed or redesigned to fire a fixed shotgun shell and having a barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches in length. (B) A firearm which has an overall length of less than 26 inches and which is
296:
Possession of a
Thompson/Center Arms .45/.410 pistol barrel is illegal in California, for both dealers and individuals, and such a barrel may not legally be shipped into the state, or even taken into California for a hunting trip, by reason of it being classified as a short barreled shotgun (SBSG)
166:
Smith & Wesson announced in May 2021 that the
Thompson/Center subsidiary was being phased out. Gregg Ritz, who owned Thompson/Center prior to the Smith & Wesson acquisition, announced in May 2024 that he bought back the company from S&W and would be moving production back to Rochester,
148:
In the 1960s, Warren Center developed an unusual break-action, single-shot pistol in his basement workshop that later became known as the
Contender. Meanwhile, the K.W. Thompson Tool Company had been searching for a product to manufacture year-round. In 1965, Warren Center joined the K.W. Thompson
635:
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms contended that the mere possession of a pistol having a barrel less than sixteen inches (406 mm) long, a shoulder stock, and a rifle-length (more than sixteen inches) barrel constituted constructive intent to "make" an illegal short-barreled rifle
325:
The traditional Thompson/Center muzzleloaders are largely responsible for the resurgence of black powder hunting that began in the U.S. in 1970 when Warren Center designed the firm's Hawken-styled rifle. Thompson/Center's reintroduced Hawken-styled rifle with solid brass hardware and an American
272:
The receiver on a Contender, whether G1 or G2, is the portion of the combined grip/buttstock assembly containing the trigger mechanism, and this is legally considered the serial-numbered gun. Hence, barrels with iron or telescopic sights, and even the hinge pin, are all simply gun parts, with no
263:
Unlike the original Contender, dry-firing of the G2 Contender is possible only in the center (safe) hammer position, located on the hammer between the centerfire and rimfire positions. Also, unlike the original Contender, the break-action does not need to be opened/closed (cycled) to practice
424:
259:
The original Contender, now known as the generation one (G1) Contender, was replaced by the G2 Contender soon after the Encore came out. The G2 Contender is essentially dimensionally the same as the original Contender, but uses an Encore style trigger group. Due to the changes in the trigger
234:
The Encore was released in 1998. The Encore uses a different trigger mechanism, designed to be stronger than the original Contender's and to make the break-action easier to open. The Encore uses a considerably larger and stronger frame than the Contender, and accordingly, is found in over 86
643:
One argument raised was the example of ammonium-nitrate fertilizer and Diesel oil, which can very often be found together in a farmer's possession (fertilizer for the crops, fuel for the tractor.) Both are lawful, and while they can easily be assembled into the blasting agent known as
250:
An upgraded Encore is called the Pro Hunter which generally includes stocks with rubber "Flex Tech" inserts and are stainless or carbon steel with weather shielding. There are other slight differences among the rifles including the breech plug on muzzleloader versions.
402:
A modern design muzzleloader which accepts magnum charges for long range shooting. Charges of up to 150 grains (9.7 g) of FFG Black Powder or three (3) 50-grain Pyrodex Pellets produce velocities of approximately 2,400 ft/s (730 m/s) at the muzzle.
344:
Barrel: 28” octagonal, twist: 1:48, except 1:66 on 50 cal deep button rifling, Trigger: double set, Caliber: 45, 50 & 54, Stock: American Walnut, Status: 45 & 54 discontinued, 50 discontinued, many special editions, Ignition: flint & percussion
396:" accuracy. The 209x50 can handle charges of up to 150 grains (9.7 g) of black powder or Pyrodex equivalent. Using a 26" barrel and a 250-grain (16 g) bullet with 3 Pyrodex Pellets, it produces a muzzle velocity of 2203 ft./second.
47:
361:
Barrel: 26” octagonal, 1:38 (50), 1:48 (50 & 54), 1: 66 (50 deep button rifling), smoothbore (56), Trigger: double set, Caliber: 50, 54 & 56, Stock: American Walnut, Status: discontinued, Ignition: flintlock & percussion
307:
326:
walnut stock, styled in large part on "plains rifles" made by Hawken in the 1800s, has become one of the most-copied firearms designs in history. Thompson/Center produced these rifles in the following models and calibers:
162:
Following the closure of Thompson/Center arms in Rochester, New Hampshire, Thompson Investment Casting opened in the same town continuing production of metal products for various companies including Smith & Wesson.
136:
is an American firearms company based in Rochester, New Hampshire. The company was best known for its line of interchangeable-barrel, single-shot pistols and rifles. Thompson/Center also manufactures
451:
A major factory fire at the Thompson/Center factory in 1996 destroyed all tooling and parts for the Scout and Patriot pistols and the Seneca rifle. As a result they were discontinued for sale.
338:
Barrel: 27” octagonal, twist: 1:30 (32) & 1:48 (36 & 45), Trigger: double set, Caliber: 32, 36 & 45, Stock: American Walnut, Status: discontinued 1987, Ignition: percussion
332:
Barrel: 24” octagonal, twist: 1:30 (32) & 1:48 (36 & 45), Trigger: double set, Caliber: 32, 36 & 45, Stock: American Walnut, Status: discontinued 1994, Ignition: percussion
159:
On December 8, 2010, Smith & Wesson announced that the original Rochester, New Hampshire, plant would be closed and manufacturing was transferred to Springfield, Massachusetts.
318:
rifles of both traditional and inline designs, and sells percussion and flintlock rifles in a wide variety of bore diameters. Some of the better-known models are the Renegade, the
967:
636:(SBR) (by combining the pistol's frame, the pistol-length barrel, and the shoulder stock) even if the shoulder stock was intended to be used only with the rifle-length barrel.
1040:
374:
Barrel: 21" octagon to round, various twist rates Trigger: single Calibers .45, .50. 54 Stock: American Walnut or black synthetic Ignition: Percussion, Status: discontinued
278:
264:
dry-firing, provided the hammer is lowered between dry firing "shots". The adjustability of G2 Contender triggers is also slightly different from the original G1 Contender.
732:
273:
serial numbers, making the choice of changing cartridges from a multitude of rimfire, centerfire rifle and pistol cartridges, and even shotgun shells, very simple.
1045:
616:
368:
Barrel: 24" round, 1:48 Trigger: single, Calibers: .50, .54, and 12 Gauge Stock: American Walnut or black synthetic Ignition: percussion Status: discontinued
855:
835:
442:
Barrel: 9” octagonal, Trigger: double set, Caliber: .36 & .45, Stock: American Walnut, Status: discontinued 1997, Ignition: percussion.
448:
Barrel: 15” round, Trigger: single set, Caliber: 45, 50 & 54, Stock: American Walnut, Status: discontinued 199?, Ignition: percussion.
392:
A modern design muzzleloader that can interchange with centerfire barrels. Based on a single-shot, break-action, the 209x50 is capable of "
797:
704:
689:
380:
Barrel 20" round, Stainless 1:48 Trigger: single Calibers: .50, .54 Stock: black synthetic Ignition: Percussion, Status: discontinued
195:-like accuracy and power in a handgun, which was a new concept at the time. Originally designed only for interchangeable barrels in
946:
624:
ruled in the company's favor by deciding that the rifle conversion kit that Thompson sold for their pistols did not constitute a
386:
Barrel: 26” octagonal, 1:48, Trigger: single, Caliber: 58, Stock: American Walnut, Status: discontinued, Ignition: percussion
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717:
574:
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648:, possession of both has never been held to imply (without other evidence) that a farmer was "making" explosives.
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897:"California Dangerous Weapons Control Law ARTICLE 2. UNLAWFUL CARRYING AND POSSESSION OF WEAPONS 12020"
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30:
This article is about Thompson/Center Arms. For the unrelated Thompson submachinegun, see
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682:
Thompson/Center Contender Pistol: How To Tune, Time, Load, And Shoot For Accuracy
196:
188:
140:
rifles and was credited with creating the resurgence of their use in the 1970s.
415:
This T/C muzzleloader comes in .50 cal. with a 28" barrel and composite stock.
46:
1027:, listing of some of T/C's muzzleloader guns with pictures and specifications.
542:
476:
240:
236:
877:
Potts, Bruce (October 1, 2008). "Thompson Center G2 Contender Rifle Review".
896:
427:
Thompson/Center Patriot Black Powder Muzzleloader Pistol chambered in .45.
57:
435:
Thompson/Center Scout Black Powder Muzzleloader Pistol chambered in .54.
115:
306:
200:
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305:
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111:
243:. There has even been one pistol-length stainless barrel made in
645:
355:, satin finish barrel, stainless furniture, highly figured wood
175:
Thompson/Center's success came with the emergence of long range
100:
1012:
125:
1018:
910:
designed or redesigned to fire a fixed shotgun shell.
152:
On January 4, 2007, Thompson/Center was purchased by
1021:, specializing in Contender, G2, and Encore barrels
718:"In Rochester: Thompson/Center Arms plant to close"
121:
107:
89:
81:
63:
53:
602:Variants: Blued, Weather Shield, Predator, Compact
943:"Outdoors: Thompson/Center Arms spirit lives on"
733:"Thompson/Center Arms Acquired By Former Owner"
463:A T/C Venture Predator in Real Tree camouflage
828:Massad Ayoob's Greatest Handguns of the World
221:Contender in 45 Colt/.410 with ventilated rib
8:
922:Towsley, Bryce (2003). "The Mighty Hawken".
39:
1041:Firearm manufacturers of the United States
684:. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press. p. 64.
610:Thompson/Center Arms and the Supreme Court
314:Thompson/Center manufactures a variety of
38:
617:United States v. Thompson/Center Arms Co.
705:13009 – Smith&Wesson: Press Releases
322:, the Big Boar, and the White Mountain.
988:"Case syllabus from Cornell Law School"
949:from the original on September 21, 2016
800:from the original on September 21, 2016
657:
85:K. W. Thompson Tool & Warren Center
858:from the original on December 13, 2013
640:assembled into a legal configuration.
716:O'Donnell, Jake (December 10, 2010).
667:Hunter's Guide to Long-Range Shooting
7:
1046:1965 establishments in New Hampshire
297:when used with a Contender receiver.
179:, target shooting, and, especially,
735:. American Rifleman. Archived from
784:Simpson, Layne (January 4, 2011).
25:
539:Trigger: Single stage, adjustable
473:Trigger: Single stage, adjustable
941:Mark Blazis (December 7, 2012).
45:
830:. F+W Media. pp. 241–266.
786:"The Contender's Magnificent 7"
669:. Stackpole Books. p. 332.
824:"Thompson Center Single Shots"
760:"Thompson/Center Arms is Back"
1:
575:.300 Winchester Short Magnum
567:.270 Winchester Short Magnum
501:.300 Winchester Short Magnum
181:metallic silhouette shooting
899:. State of California. 2008
852:"Interchangeable Platforms"
69:; 59 years ago
1064:
1025:Muzzleloader Museum Online
990:. Cornell University. 1992
680:Stephens, Charles (1996).
310:TC Hawken percussion rifle
235:cartridges - ranging from
210:
29:
720:. Fosters Daily Democrat.
665:Van Zwoll, Wayne (2006).
213:Thompson/Center Contender
44:
95:Rochester, New Hampshire
40:Thompson/Center Arms Inc
351:Special edition of the
1019:Bullberry Barrel Works
606:Status: In production
587:.338 Winchester Magnum
579:.300 Winchester Magnum
530:Status: In production
505:.300 Winchester Magnum
464:
436:
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372:White Mountain Carbine
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291:Gun laws in California
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126:http://www.tcarms.com/
32:Thompson submachinegun
630:National Firearms Act
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434:
426:
419:Muzzleloading pistols
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285:California Legalities
220:
27:Firearms manufacturer
1013:Thompson/Center Arms
626:short-barreled rifle
595:7mm Remington Magnum
521:7mm Remington Magnum
302:Muzzleloading rifles
171:Break-action pistols
134:Thompson/Center Arms
18:Thompson Center Arms
41:
622:U.S. Supreme Court
591:.30-06 Springfield
517:.30-06 Springfield
465:
455:Bolt action rifles
437:
429:
312:
268:General legalities
245:.600 Nitro Express
223:
154:Smith & Wesson
1015:corporate website
837:978-1-4402-2877-3
547:.22-250 Remington
481:.22-250 Remington
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16:(Redirected from
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559:.25-06 Remington
537:Barrel: 22", 24"
525:7mm-08 Remington
471:Barrel: 22", 24"
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739:on May 15, 2024
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583:.308 Winchester
563:.270 Winchester
555:.243 Winchester
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513:6.5mm Creedmoor
509:.308 Winchester
493:.270 Winchester
489:.243 Winchester
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571:.280 Remington
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485:.223 Remington
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737:the original
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90:Headquarters
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994:October 21,
977: (1992)
903:January 29,
731:Sagi, Guy.
197:.38 Special
189:single-shot
1035:Categories
652:References
628:under the
543:.204 Ruger
477:.204 Ruger
241:.416 Rigby
237:.22 Hornet
769:August 9,
743:August 9,
632:of 1934.
541:Caliber:
475:Caliber:
384:Big Boar:
359:Renegade:
330:Cherokee:
207:Contender
947:Archived
856:Archived
798:Archived
764:Guns.com
440:Patriot:
413:Triumph:
378:Greyhawk
183:. Their
108:Products
58:Firearms
54:Industry
534:Venture
468:Compass
349:Cougar:
342:Hawken:
336:Seneca:
281:rules.
144:History
122:Website
116:pistols
82:Founder
72: (
64:Founded
834:
688:
597:, and
523:, and
446:Scout:
353:Hawken
320:Hawken
230:Encore
201:.22 LR
167:NH.
112:rifles
970:
885:(10).
796:(2).
407:Omega
193:rifle
996:2009
972:U.S.
955:2016
905:2013
883:2008
864:2016
832:ISBN
806:2016
794:2009
771:2024
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