John Taffin T/C Encore 15” 6.5 Mini Dreadnaught Single Shot Pistol, Extras
SOLD FOR: $1,051.00
LSB#: LSB260521SS079
Make: Thompson Center
Model: Encore
Serial Number: 1312
Year of Manufacture: Modern
Caliber: 6.5 Mini Dreadnaught
Action Type: Break Action, Single Shot, Hammer Fired Pistol.
Markings: The rear of the frame is marked with the serial number, “1312”. The barrel is marked, “SSK 6.5 Mini Dreadnaught #2”.
Barrel Length: 15”
Sights / Optics: The rear of the barrel has a picatinny rail affixed to it with a Redfield 4x EER mounted to it. The scope is in Very Good condition.
Stock Configuration & Condition: This Encore has a two-piece wood furniture set with a Schnabel forend and capped finger grooved pistol grip. There are a few light scratches and pressure dents throughout. There are no chips or cracks. Overall this furniture set rates about Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore but there is some moderate stubborn fouling throughout. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates at about 8.5/10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 99% of its metal finish. There are light scratches and handling marks throughout. The action has light wear. The markings are clear. The screw heads are sharp and the pins are unmarred. Overall, this Encore rates in at about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions as intended. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: John Taffin Certificate of Authenticity, 14” stainless SSK .270 JDJ barrel in Excellent condition, & .270 JDJ reloading die set.
Our Assessment: The Thompson/Center Encore expanded upon the enormously successful Contender concept by providing a larger and stronger break-action platform capable of handling substantially higher-pressure cartridges. Its interchangeable-barrel design made the Encore particularly attractive to handgun hunters and wildcat experimenters, many of whom pushed single-shot pistol performance deep into traditional rifle-cartridge territory. SSK Industries and J.D. Jones became closely associated with this style of extreme-performance handgun development, producing a remarkable variety of specialty chamberings for Thompson/Center platforms. This example is especially interesting, having a 15″ SSK barrel marked for the obscure 6.5 Mini Dreadnaught chambering and fitted with a Redfield 4x extended-eye-relief scope. Its John Taffin provenance further complements the configuration, as Taffin’s career has long intersected with specialized hunting handguns, wildcat cartridges, and serious single-shot pistol experimentation. This Encore remains in Excellent condition, retaining approximately 99% of its original blued finish. The metal surfaces show only light scratches and handling marks, along with light operational wear. The markings remain clear, the screw heads are sharp, and the pins are unmarred. The bore is bright with sharp rifling and no visible erosion, though moderate stubborn fouling remains throughout, rating 8.5/10 in this writer’s opinion. The two-piece wood furniture consists of a Schnabel-style forend and capped finger-grooved pistol grip, both showing only a few light scratches and pressure dents with no chips or cracks and rating in Excellent condition. The Redfield 4x EER scope remains in Very Good condition, and the action functions as intended.
For collectors of specialty Thompson/Center pistols, SSK wildcats, and firearms from the John Taffin Collection, this Encore is a particularly intriguing package. The 6.5 Mini Dreadnaught chambering alone sets it well apart from ordinary production Encores, while the included 14″ stainless SSK .270 JDJ barrel and corresponding die set add another layer of serious wildcat-handgun interest. SSK’s JDJ cartridges became closely associated with high-performance hunting handguns and helped demonstrate just how much ballistic capability could be extracted from strong single-shot platforms like the Encore. With its unusual primary chambering, alternate SSK barrel, quality optics, excellent overall condition, and documented John Taffin provenance, this is a highly individual example from the more experimental side of modern handgun development. -R.E.