Thompson Custom Model Contender .45-70 Gov’t 22″ Single Shot Rifle MFD 1987
SOLD FOR: $1025
LSB#: 210924WL42
Make: Thompson Center Arms, Thompson Custom Shop
Model: Contender (Generation 1, G1)
Serial Number: 308823
Year of Manufacture: 1987
Caliber: .45/70 Government
Action Type: Single Shot, Exposed Hammer, Trigger Guard Hinge-Released Top Break Rifle
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “THOMPSON : CENTER ARMS / ROCHESTER, N.H.” and “45/70 Govt”. The right side of the barrel is marked “T/C Custom Shop”. The sides of the receiver show a panther perched on a boulder and foliate scrolls. The grip cap is marked “T/C”. The top of the receiver at the rear is marked with the serial number.
Barrel Length: 22” to the end of the break.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a globe sight with an interchangeable sight reticle. No additional reticles are included. The rear sight is a Williams peep aperture that is fully adjustable and dovetailed to the barrel. There are an additional two drilled, tapped, and filled holes just ahead of the rear sight.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are a two piece black synthetic set with a capped pistol grip, fluted straight comb, decelerator buttpad, and a sling stud in the belly and bottom of the forearm. The stocks show some scattered minor with a faint scuff here and there. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 7/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttpad, which is soft with some light rub marks. The stocks rate in about Fine-plus overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 98% of its metal finish. There is light operational thinning on the sides of the receiver. There is a minor stain on the top of the barrel. The screw heads are tool marked but not disfigured. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fine-Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer lets you switch between centerfire and rimfire. The trigger breaks crisply. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thompson/Center_Contender “Calibers available for the Contender were initially limited, stopping just short of the .308 Winchester-class rifle cartridges. However, almost any cartridge from .22 Long Rifle through .30-30 Winchester is acceptable, as long as a peak pressure of 48,000 CUP is not exceeded. This flexibility prompted a boom in the development of wildcat cartridges suitable for the Contender, such as the 7-30 Waters and .357 Herrett and the various TCU cartridges, most of which were commonly based on either the widely available .30-30 Winchester or .223 Remington cases. The largest factory caliber offered for the Contender was the .45-70, which, although a much larger case than the .308, is still feasible because of the relatively low cartridge pressures of the original black-powder round relative to the limits of the bolt face of the Contender receiver. The Contender can fire .410 bore shotgun shells, either through the .45 Colt/.410 barrel or through a special 21-inch (530 mm) smoothbore shotgun barrel. A ported, rifled, .44 Magnum barrel was made available for use with shotshell cartridges in a removable-choke .44 Magnum barrel, with the choke being used to unspin the shot from the barrel rifling, or, by removing the choke, for use with standard .44 Magnum cartridges. The degree of flexibility provided by the Contender design is unique for experimenting with new cartridges, handloads, barrel lengths, and shotshells.” This rifle is from 1987 and was well taken care of. With the strong bore in its .45/70 barrel, this rifle promises to be a tack driver for target shooting or big game hunting. It is very lightweight and will not bog you down in the field. Everyone needs a Thompson, whether to accompany an existing firearm in said caliber, to collect all of the barrel calibers or simply to have one rifle (or shotgun) for all types of game, this should do the trick. Please see our pictures and good luck!