A funky Contender

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Standing Wolf

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A purported client ripped me off for $5,000 in invoices and roughly another $7,500 in billable hours in the winter of 1985.

I'd been about to buy a new car, which would have been my first genuine new car. I went to my vendors, hat and largely empty wallet in hand, explained my situation, and asked whether they'd let me pay the sums I owed them a little at a time. Without exception, they were sympathetic, entirely willing to let me repay them as quickly as I could, and glad to send business my way to help make up for my loss.

I sold a bunch of guns to help the process along, among them my Contender. It took me until this past summer to replace it. Wild Alaska posted it in the hand guns for sale section: $125, including shipping, no barrel, no forestock, and he wasn't sure about the grip stock.

I figured for that, I couldn't go wrong.
 

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The grip stock turned out to be from Herrett's, somewhat the worse for wear, but serviceable.

The second time I pulled back the hammer to give the trigger a try, bits and pieces and parts went flying. My $125 investment suddenly began to look like money tossed out the window.

I turned it over to my friendly local gunsmith, who noodled around with it a few weeks, then suggested I send it to Thompson/Center (http://www.tcarms.com). It turns out the Contender frame was an early production unit, so for the grand sum of $50 or thereabouts, I could have most of the guts replaced in about two weeks. I shipped it off, ordered a barrel and forestock and yet another Ultra Dot sight (http://www.ultradotusa.com/ud_home.html), and hoped for the best. This is probably my sixth or seventh Ultra Dot. I've never had one fail or start to drift.

Here you see the project pistol at mid-point.
 

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The reason I bought my first Contender was that the frame accepts barrels in calibers from .22 short through .500 whatever.

I bought it with a .22 long rifle barrel that was uncannily accurate. I had good intentions of buying additional barrels, but never quite got around to it.

Here you see the pair of firing pins in the hammer. All you do is twist the lever on the top of the hammer spur, and you've switched from rim to center fire.

By the way, the stuff on the grip stock is wing walk compound, not residue left over from a volcanic eruption. Small aircraft owners paint it on wings where passengers walk to reduce the liklihood of slipping and protect the surface. It's definitely gritty enough to provide a secure grip.
 

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I had the barrel shortened, crowned, slab-sided, and grooved along the top to reduce weight. Arthritis turns out to be less fun than I was told. I've been thinking about asking for a refund.
 

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Here's my new old Contender in all her decidedly peculiar-looking glory. I may buy additional barrels—and dies, bullets, brass, powders, primers, scopes, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, of course—or I may content myself with this barrel.

My plan is to use it as a slow fire bullseye gun. The 1.25-pound trigger doesn't meet the minimum requirement, but it's delightfully crisp. I'd have included a snap shot of a target, but it's been too @#$%^&! cold, wet, and windy to make it to the range lately.

By the way, yes, those are marbles beneath the pistol. I filled a glass baking dish with marbles just to see what would happen.
 

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Neat Pistol. I just recently got my first Encore. They have the potential to thoroughly addict an unsuspecting shooter!

So many barrels! So many combinations to be tinkered with. Eliminating boredom is just a barrel change away.

Mines .204 for now.

Heres to spring giving us a break!
 
colin-

yup they are single shot only, no ou or side by side barrels exist for em. cant because of the sole firing pin in the frame. i didnt know much about em then i got one and i got hooked! definatly worth thinking about for a purchase

for 125 dollars that was a steal! great looking gun. if you dont mind me asking where did you get the barrel work done and was it reasonable?
 
That's the beauty... they make the barrels in anything, really. SSK industries also make a number of different barrels too.
 
I had good intentions of buying additional barrels, but never quite got around to it.
Click to expand...

Same here. My Contender is perfectly happy with it's 12" SSK .44 mag barrel. I keep looking at other barrels, and have come close a few times to picking another up, but have yet to do so.

They are impressive handguns though!
 
SW - considering ''normal'' prices and even allowing for your extra input - I think you did well OK. Glad it has turned out so well - tho being, as I think you know, a Contender fan myself - I tend to expect to see a lotta barrel perched on a frame.!!

Nice job and I hope you get much enjoyment. I am appalled at the rip-off you related - that would be more than enough to start in motion a most felonious chain of events! :evil: :p
 
SW, thank you for an nteresting story. makes me want another TC. there is much can be done with them if a person happens not to like stock offerings. one action, many calibers to pick from. i missed, by less than an hour, getting a .444 Marlin bbl. at a hock shop for $50. i was disapointed at the time. later i thought to myself "man, are you Crazy?". i know, someone on here has said they have one. they are considerable more brute than i am.

there is a sherrifs auction next weekend, May 7, and listed among about a hundred or so seized guns is a TC with 2 bbls. a .223 and a .44 mag in 14" lengths. i am taking money and hoping ppl wont be crazy as they can get at auctions. and maybe there will be no TC lovers there. one can only hope.

every time i shoot mine, i wonder how any shooter can get by without one, rifle and pistol shooter alike. shoots tighter than most rifles, and way tighter than pistols. with various barrel lenghts and calibers, it can handle most tasks.
 
Very classy looking, I really like it. Looks like a lot of fun to plink with. I thought about getting one of those a few years ago and couldn't decide if I'd like a pistol or a rifle.

Looks like you put together a good replacement piece. Thanks for the pics.
 
That is very cool. Excellent work. Thank you for sharing.

BTW I feel for you on the arthritis front. Literally. At the age of 36 I wake up with stiff fingers most every day now.
 
Very nice looking peice

I especially like the wing walk stuff. I've been looking for something like that to help me hold onto my 444.
The Contender can be had in just about anything, but for more bang for your buck you have to go with the Encore. A fella on another board I frequent has one in 458 win mag, another one has one in .405win. I've seen 416 rems and rigs, even a 470 nitro express. I'll just stick to my little Contender with it's 444, since I'm kinda a wuss. :D
 
To be fair, I've seen a .308 barrel and more than a few 300sav and 30-40 krag barrels, all custom or rechambered of course. They work well when reloaded, but then if someone gets hold of them that doesn't know any better and tries factory ammo. Well, if your lucky you only walk away with a stretched frame.
 
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