TC G1 or G2?

[MI2600]

I have two Contender frames. One was manufactured in 1970. The other in 1973. (Dates are based on the serial numbers I found online.)

The earlier one has a hammer with a square push-pin safety on the side. The later one has a R-S-C switch on the top of the hammer.

I have found that some barrels (all TC) will lock up the action on the early model and require disassembly (and several 4 and 5-letter words). The same barrels all work in the latter.

Should I assume the early one is a G1 and the latter a G2? And, since barrels reportedly are interchangeable between the G1 and G2, why do they lock up?

 

[hoghunting]

For starters there is no G1, there is the Contender and the G2. If yours were made in '70 and '73 then both are Contenders. As far as the barrels, there are one-piece and two-piece locking lugs, and the one-piece lugs seem to cause more problems with ability to interchange. Sometimes the lugs need to be stoned to fit the frame.

 

[PO2Hammer]

Both of your frames are variations on the original Contender. The G2 came much later and is a different gun, although they all share the same barrels.

Must be something wrong with your early frame. Not an expert on them, but I know the frames could stretch, even making the pivot pin hole slightly oval. Not sure if that would cause your issues though.

 

[MI2600]

Good info. Thanks.