Smith to Spin Off TC?

[scotth]

i dont think there is enough money in it for big business like ruger to buy it. i think it will take a small firearms business to buy it and put it back together somebody like ssk/lehigh defense cva traditions firearms or the likes. an American double rifle now i like the sound of that especially if we could chose the barrel combos with switch barrels on top of that.

[contender]

I do not know if it's true or not,, but I once heard that the reason S&W bought T/C was to get the barrel making machinery & stuff like that. Now, if it's true that they are going to keep the machinery it kinda proves that was the case.

Time will tell if we lovers of the T/C line can rejoice or cry.

[scotth]

the way i understand it is they wanted the bolt action rifle part of it too. and they are keeping that. the only thing that would be for sale is the name and rights to all the single shot part of it.

[cas]

i saw a post where they are going to keep the machines so it would be buying the name and rights to t/c.

In a way that might be better. Someone could get the name and the rights for a lot less money, then maybe do something smaller scale with it. (perhaps why Marty is optimistic)

[flyingzebra]

Something we can be sure about -- something will happen... or nothing will happen


Oh, nevermind

[Ken O'Neill]

I’m thinking that its S&W’s way of saying “We don’t do that any more”, and walking away from the single-shot T/C business which I believe they consider a nuisance.

[bullseye]

Still hopeful for the best regarding T/C...Time will tell. But, what I'd REALLY like to see is the S&W brand sold away from Saf-T-Hammer control.

[jeffh]

May 6, 2021 19:59:54 GMT -5 scotth said:

the way i understand it is they wanted the bolt action rifle part of it too. and they are keeping that. the only thing that would be for sale is the name and rights to all the single shot part of it.

I did not pick up on that myself, but then, Ive only read the blurb I posted.

This could be better news, potentially.  Maybe?

EVERYBODY makes a plastic-stocked budget-bolt-gun.  I don't differentiate between them and know nothing about how one is any better than the other - they're like disposable razors to me, and I don't use disposable razors.  Actually, I don't use ANY razors, though I do understand that many disposable razors do a bang-up job.  Just not my thing is all.

No offense to anyone who owns a TC Bolt-gun, but let S&W have them.  That has to be a brutal market.

The TC single-shots distinguish themselves quite clearly and are seemingly a smaller market, but it sure seems like a lot of people buy them under more "normal" circumstances.  The Contender went away, came back as the G2 after the Encore was offered in lieu of the Contender.  Then, the G2 went away and it came back again.  It seems there's enough of a market that the TC single shots won't stay down.  Then again, I cold be completely full of beans.

Maybe if the just the single-shots are up for grabs, some smaller entrepreneur will be more likely to grab it? 

Pure speculation and conjecture on my part.

Hey, maybe Marty now can get the foundry making TC's single-shot frames to make the SSK50 frames?

[rvolvr]

Just received today from Marty, at Haus of Arms:

Late May 2021 Newsletter
[e-mail]


Smith & Wesson/Thompson Center
In case you missed it, S&W announced on May 3rd that they are divesting themselves from Thompson Center, they will no longer be manufacturing any TC items and the company will be sold. Initially we were told 2 weeks for the marketing package to arrive from their bank, but we have yet to receive it. We will keep you updated as we know mor e.

SSK50
Simply put, we are hoping production begins this summer. As soon as we know something definitive, you will as well.

[ezekiel38]

I would just like to have a 10" Bull Barrel 357 Max again. Most accurate pistol I've ever owned. And a barrel in 22LR would be fun, and a.....
Always liked their pistols as long as the barrel was 10" and bull.

[jeffh]

Jun 2, 2021 10:51:02 GMT -5 ezekiel38 said:

I would just like to have a 10" Bull Barrel 357 Max again. Most accurate pistol I've ever owned. And a barrel in 22LR would be fun, and a.....
Always liked their pistols as long as the barrel was 10" and bull.

Well, maybe THIS is your excuse to get that 'Max and that 22.  Who knows?  Maybe no one will start making the TC Contender again.  For that matter, this is a STOP to the Encore as well.  Not to disparage their bolt-guns, but enough other companies make new-age plastic-stocked bolt-guns that shoot well that I won't miss those at all.

I'd be getting one NOW if I wanted one.  No, I don't have any listed anywhere - I'm just thinking that prices will be going up on the ones which are out there now, just like all the other great but discontinued stuff we took for granted until it was gone. 

I've seen a few decent deals on "Contender Classifieds" on the GBO forum recently.  I actually almost bought one of the frames because I know the guy and he only lives 20 minutes or so from me.  Blued "easy-open" for $325 might have seemed a tad high a year ago, but I'd have paid it if it had sat for another day.

As far as barrels go, wait for an original or order from one of the after-market makers.  I've nought a few from MGM and, while not exactly "cheap," there is no doubt about what you're getting - a damned good barrel.  Ed's Contenders usually beats MGM on the cost of their own barrels too.

Get out there and get yourself a receiver.  The neat thing is that it's so versatile that you can't possibly get tired of it (at least the second time 'round) because you can always make it into something else.

[crazyhorse]

I have an old TC contender and have pistol and carbine barrels for it. I love it. The new contenders with no adjustable trigger are useless to me. Maybe the new owners will put the adjustable triggers back in them.