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Thompson Contender

cactus-man
Hello, i bought a very
early 1st gen contender,
sweet gun, engraving, nice
grips but the trigger is frozen,
won't even wiggle.All else works
did bubba get
a hold of this pistol?
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Comments

12 comments

Date Votes
  • cactus-man
    [/size=3Hello,

    I just purchased a old Model Contender by TC, it is after 195,000 serial#. It is very stiff opening up this gun,does anyone have any thoughts about loosening this up ?

    Thanks
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  • sandwarrior
    cactus-man,

    What model is it? If it's a Contender, is it a G2 or standard?
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  • cactus-man
    It is a Contender that is several years old. Don't remember when I purchased it. JC
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  • cactus-man
    I still Didn't answer the question. It is a standard not g2 Thanks JC
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  • chaneyd
    quote:Originally posted by sandwarrior
    cactus-man,

    What model is it? If it's a Contender, is it a G2 or standard?


    Just for my info, how do you tell the diff?
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  • sandwarrior
    quote:Originally posted by chaneyd
    quote:Originally posted by sandwarrior
    cactus-man,

    What model is it? If it's a Contender, is it a G2 or standard?


    Just for my info, how do you tell the diff?


    First, and I'm not sure on this point, there is a cougar/mountain lion engraved on the side of the Standard model (old) contender.

    The tell-tale for me is the safety. As I understand the safety on the Standard, once the hammer is cocked you can't put it on safe. You have to pull the trigger and let the hammer down by hand. On my G2 the safety is on the hammer. You turn it one way for centerfire and the other for rimfire. In the middle is the safety. So all you have to do is center the safety lever and pull the trigger to remove a live round from the chamber. You can still choose to let the hammer down by hand as I consider this both safer, and less damaging over time to the firearm.
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  • crisisbill
    Cactus,
    Here is the information you were looking for, the list includes most of the models. It looks like Jan - June 1987

    [url][/url]http://www.handgunhunt.com/tech/t1/index.html
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  • cactus-man
    Chaneyd
    Sandwarrior is correct. Also the standard when cocked and the hammer is lowered by hand you must open the action in order to recock. JC
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  • chaneyd
    quote:Originally posted by cactus-man
    Chaneyd
    Sandwarrior is correct. Also the standard when cocked and the hammer is lowered by hand you must open the action in order to recock. JC


    Cool! Looks like I have the older Contender with the panther head and having to recock. Thanks.
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  • sandwarrior
    quote:Originally posted by cactus-man
    Chaneyd
    Sandwarrior is correct. Also the standard when cocked and the hammer is lowered by hand you must open the action in order to recock. JC


    That's what it was, having to open the action to re-cock. I knew there was something else I was missing. Having the G2 to me is a real plus. However, I've heard several here talk about how good the old triggers were.
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  • tsr1965
    There were two versions of the older, or should I say pre-G2 Contenders.

    The very first ones had a sliding fire control selector for rimfire/safety/centerfire. They had in fact, the best triggers of the three generations.

    The second variation was pretty much the same, with the exception of the rotating selector switch on the hammer. On bot the first and second generations, the gun had to be opened and reclosed to reset the trigger. If I am not mistaken, the action could be opened with the hammeer cocked.

    Then we have the G2...which I have not had one even in my hand. It looks like a baby Encore, and functions like one from what I am told. The selector is still the rotating type on the hammer, and you can let the hammer down from full cock, and recock it again without opening the action to reset it.

    As for the original question...I am assuming that your Contender was made sometime between the middle to late 70's.

    Best

    EDIT 1

    Sandwarrior,

    That is the same selector that there is on the middle variation...the one just before the G2. Operates the exact same way.
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  • sandwarrior
    tsr1965,

    My G2 has a rotary selector safety on the hammer. That pivots a shaft with a center-fire striker and a rimfire striker (90 deg apart), each about 1/8" in length. When turned to the center they strike either the center-fire firing pin or the rim-fire firing pin sitting one on top of the other in the frame. When turned to the safety position, or selector lever straight back, both strikers are pointed out at 45 degree angles and therefore unable to strike either firing pin. Pretty slick if you ask me...
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