Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Thompson Contender AlloyII/Blued switch

Jim M.
I bought a Thompson Contender Alloy II frame and 14" 30-30 Win. barrel brand new many years ago. Now, I would like to buy a long barrel and stock to make a carbine. Do I have to find a Alloy II barrel to match my frame? What is the difference between a Stainless and a Alloy II barrel? Or are they the same? Can I put a Blued barrel on my Alloy II frame? What about the stock? Is there any other issues that I should be concerned about?
0

Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • tsr1965
    Jim M.,

    Hello, and welcome to the forums here on Gunbroker.

    Yes...you have to find an Armour Alloy II barrel to match the frame.

    There is no difference dimensionally between the blued and stainless, but there is with the AAII. The AAII is a plating, and TC has stated warnings with interchanging the AAII frames/barrels with the blued and/or stainless ones. The AAII was their answer to stainless, before they actually started producing stainless guns.

    Others have said that they have mixed and matched...but I wouldn't.

    Best
    0
  • dfletcher
    FWIW the above is my understanding also. I've been on the Specialty Pistols forum where T/Cs are much discussed and there have been postings about problems fitting the alloy plated frames & barrels to plain old blued.

    As an aside, once you attach the rifle barrel to your frame you can't switch back to handgun configuration - so perhaps buying a dedicated stainless or blued rifle frame would be a good move. The T/Cs are very nice as pistols and it took me a long time to get into the rifle version but I have to say, they are great shooters. Very light and compact and accurate.
    0
  • Jim M.
    Am I hearing correct. Once someone puts a rifle (long) barrel on their Contender. It cannot be made back into a pistol again? That is hard to believe. But any thing is possible I guess. Why? I heard something about the Alloy II plating being thicker or a coating process. I wonder if there are any long barrel 30-30 Win. barrels out there. But, if I cannot switch it back to a pistol. That is another question. It might be good just to buy a blued Contender carbine and be done with it. Good idea? Yes / No?
    0
  • tsr1965
    quote:Originally posted by Jim M.
    Am I hearing correct. Once someone puts a rifle (long) barrel on their Contender. It cannot be made back into a pistol again? That is hard to believe. But any thing is possible I guess. Why? I heard something about the Alloy II plating being thicker or a coating process. I wonder if there are any long barrel 30-30 Win. barrels out there. But, if I cannot switch it back to a pistol. That is another question. It might be good just to buy a blued Contender carbine and be done with it. Good idea? Yes / No?


    Another gun in the safe is always a good idea!!!!!![:D][:D][:D]

    Don't forget about the Encore either.

    Best
    0
  • 2-blade
    Hi jim Yes you can convert your AA frame and barrel to take curent barrels. TC will do it for you for I think $50.00 however I did it myself,You will need to buy A new hinge pin.I took A brass shaft about .374,one that just fits the hole and add fine valve grinding compound,chuck it in A drill and run it in the pin hole 1 or 2 times,then check the fit with the new pin,It won't take much,all you want to remove is the AA finish. I did this to my frame and 3 barrels with no probems how ever this will efect the colector val. As to the legal ramifications of changing back and fourth I can't coment on that but it is done all the time.
    0
  • dfletcher
    Here's the ATF letter of last year. Not exactly the best repro but readable.

    http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=227314

    Unless your T/C was purchased as a kit from one source that contained all the parts required to assemble a legally configured handgun and rifle, reconfiguring from handgun to rifle and back is not permitted.

    I'd join in a round of "who cares, who's ever been caught?" but it is the law.

    FWIW, it's kind of a pain removing the rifle stock, putting on the handgun stock and then reversing every time you want rifle or pistol and those damn tiny wood screws on the butt always strip. Even if I didn't have to I'd have separate frames, much more convenient and they cost about $325.00 new, much less used.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity