Link:
https://ir.smith-wesson.com/ne...ivest-thompsoncenter


Smith & Wesson announced it was buying Thompson Center in December, 2006 and completed the acquisition in January, 2007 for $102 Million cash.

Being a skeptic when corporate acquisitions of this type take place, what could go wrong...
Prior to the merger, the list of cartridge chamberings for T/C Encore and T/C Contender was likely at or near 100. Maybe more.
T/C also had a prolific line of percussion and flintlock muzzleloaders along with entry level in-line selections, in addition to the Encore/Contender choices.
Soon after S & W took over, the list of available cartridge chamberings went to about 10. They also quit making Encore pistol muzzleloader barrels. Along with most other muzzleloaders.

Prior to the acquisition, Thompson Center wholly owned their Custom Shop. Fox Ridge Outfitters. They air gauged ALL incoming barrel blanks. The best were reserved for the Custom Shop.
The remainder went to the regular barrel production floor.

Why would that matter? I have a T/C Encore pistol with a 30-06 15" barrel with integral muzzle brake from the Fox Ridge Custom Shop.
With almost any off the shelf factory ammo, it will shoot less than one inch groups at 100 yards from the bench.

I learned to live with the corporate acquisition. I ended up making my own Encore muzzleloader pistol barrel because they are virtually impossible to locate on the used market. I did find a blued muzzleloader pistol barrel once at a gun show, but it was heavily pitted in the bore so I passed. (here is my muzzleloader barrel post) https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...570035574#1570035574

So this brings us to now. Several years ago I bought my girlfriend a entry level T/C muzzleloader. She has turned out to be an avid hunter.
The rifle I bought her works and does what it's supposed to do. But it is not nearly as nice as a T/C Encore. (especially for cleaning)
Encore muzzleloaders with the removable barrel is hands down the easiest muzzleloader for cleaning.

When I bought my barrel for my Encore muzzleloader pistol barrel project, the seller had a stainless Encore rifle frame and buttstock, along with 2 barrels.
My girlfriend ended up buying that Encore package last year after I had bought her the entry level muzzleloader the Christmas before.

The package included a .270 Winchester 26" heavy contour bull barrel from the Fox Ridge Custom Shop, and a .204 Ruger standard rifle barrel.
Anyway, she loves her Encore rifle and is a proficient hunter with it.

This year, I thought I would pick up a stainless muzzleloader barrel for her Encore rifle for Christmas. Damn near unobtanium. I spent weeks searching online and making phone calls.
I found out S & W halted all T/C production while they are looking for a buyer for the T/C Brand.
I finally found a T/C Encore 20" 209 X 50 Katahdin Carbine stainless muzzleloader barrel at Brownell's. It's due in tomorrow.
There was a question on which fore-end the Katahdin muzzleloader barrel needed.
I called S & W / Thompson Center and asked.

Them> Sorry, we don't make a Katahdin Carbine muzzleloader barrel.
Me> What?
Me> I gave them the part number for the Katahdin Carbine 209 X 50 muzzleloader barrel.
Them> Maybe we did make that barrel, but it is no longer in production.
Me> OK, what part number fore-end does that barrel need?
Them> We don't know. If you figure it out, call us back and let us know.
Me> Click as I hang up the phone.

I called E. A. Brown Company out in the Midwest and ordered a standard muzzleloader fore-end.

So now I have a barrel incoming, and no idea if the fore-end I ordered will even fit the barrel.

I sure hope the Thompson Center business sale goes through, and the buyer is in the business of selling guns, barrels, and parts.
The last I heard, Smith & Wesson was still looking for a buyer for the Thompson Center Brand.
Colt & Kimber are dead to me now. S & W is almost on that list.

I probably should have put this post in the "What's Your Deal!" section.

Update Edit: FedEx brought a new in the blister pack stainless steel T/C Encore Pro Hunter Katahdin Carbine 209 X 50 muzzleloader barrel today.
It's 20" long and should be a good fit with the intended recipient.
She's 5'- 1" and has trouble loading/seating projectiles on long barrel muzzleloaders.

FedEx also brought a T/C Encore Pro Hunter muzzleloader fore-end that looks like it will fit. I won't know for sure until I install the new barrel which will be in 10 days. (Christmas present)

Sadly, the new barrel is roll-marked T/C Arms, Springfield, MA instead of T/C Arms, Rochester, NH

This message has been edited. Last edited by: cee_Kamp,

It really is a shame what happened to T/C. Their Contender Carbine makes a great lightweight hunting rifle. And the custom shop offered it chambered for some really interesting cartridges.

Call Gary Reeder:

https://www.reedercustomguns.com/

Just one more case of incompetent management at S&W.

It depends which management you're talking about.

When S&W bought TC, they were owned by a conglomerate that eventually became American Outdoor Brands. These are the people who likely screwed up TC. AOB decided they didn't want to be in the gun business any more, and spun all that out into a separate corporation Smith & Wesson Brands.

S&W now has new management. I'm guessing by now now TC was a shell of it's former self, and not a core business for S&W, so they now want to just get rid of it. It's a shame, but I'd blame the AOB management, who are really no longer relevant to S&W, not the current S&W corporation. I'm actually hoping by being separate, S&W will be better managed in running the gun business.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:
Just one more case of incompetent management at S&W.

I have a few Contenders in the safe. A .223 14",30/30 14", and a .22lr 10"octagonal barrel. All but the .22 wear handgun scopes.
I have had all of them for over 30 years all VERY accurate.
I used to shoot IHMSA with them. Many competitors shot very expensive bolt action handguns, I never felt at a disadvantage with the T/C Contender.

I wish somebody would make a shooting sport similar to IHMSA. With the popularity of long range rifle shooting events a class for handguns would seem natural.
Nothing like shooting out to 200 meters, at 40+ targets that weigh 50# each and having to knock them over with a handgun, with no rest, for a instant feeling of joy.

The T/C needs a place to fit in for shooting sports.

I have a .50 caliber T/C Hawken rifle I made from a kit I got from Fox Ridge Outfitters years ago. Last year, I thought I would buy a second barrel for it with a faster twist for conicals. I was surprised what had happened to T/C in the intervening years - no support, no barrels, nothing.

Hopefully, whoever purchases T/C will do them justice. Unlike Marlin and others, they were a solid brand just not supported by S&W for some reason.

I was always interested in the pistols and was disappointed when Smith cut the offerings so severely.

Sounds like another opportunity for Ruger.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
I was always interested in the pistols and was disappointed when Smith cut the offerings so severely.

Scuttlebutt at the time was that S&W wanted the Green Mountain Barrel buisness and had to take the rest as part of the deal. I can't quite remember whether S&W ever branded the bolt action rifles that T/C started making.

Would TC even move the needle for Ruger?

quote:

Originally posted by nukeandpave:
Sounds like another opportunity for Ruger.

Update edit at the bottom of the first post.

I also went to the Ruger website today. They have a feature there "Contact the CEO" at the bottom of the front page.
That was my suggestion to him, "Ruger, you need to purchase T/C Arms from S & W" before it's run completely into the ground.

I never did understand why S&W bought T/C, it's market is darned near the polar opposite of S&W's.

Disappointing news. I've got a TC Encore pistol with a .223, .308, and .410 barrel.

Hopefully someone who actually wants to continue producing these guns acquires the brand and picks up where they'd left off before S&W.

I asked Ruger to buy S&W too while they are at it. Maybe then S&W would make some guns I wanted to buy. Regards 18DAI