New Seneca

[JKushner]

I was not looking for a .45 but could not turn this one down. The price was very reasonable and it's in great shape. The warranty card came with it showing the date it was purchased in 1976. I bought it from the original owner who shot it very little.
I read that the Seneca first came out in '76, can anyone confirm this ? Does the "spade" stamp on the underside of the barrel indicate the Barrel manufacturer ?
It came with a lot of accessories, some still in the original TC packages.
Now I just need to find a .36 barrel.

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[Rifleman1776]

Nice find. You will enjoy.

I read that the Seneca first came out in '76, can anyone confirm this ?

Cannot confirm the exact year but that is about the time we bought one for my wife. Still have it. Has been shot many thousands of rounds and is still very reliable and trouble free. Yer gun, you can go with any caliber you wish. But, methinks, with use you will come to like the .45. And, that caliber is a deer hunter also.

 

[curator]

An internet search claims the Seneca was made from 1974 to 1986. As you probably know the Thompson Center factory had a fire that destroyed all their records.Early Senecas had a slotted "clean-out" screw in the breech plug opposite the nipple. You will love the Seneca .45. It will do everything the big boys can do within 75-80 yards. Glass/epoxy bedding the breech area and an inch of the forearm at the tip made mine into a real tack driver with patched .445 round ball and .016 pillow ticking spit patch.

 

[Pete44ru]

Yer gonna love that Seneca - just don't load it with heavy charges, like can be done with a T/C Hawken, as the slimmer stock (compared to a Hawken) can & will split under heavy loads.

I've had a .36 & a .45 Seneca for years, and found them to be the best handling frontstuffers I've ever had over the years - just as handy as the H&A .36 underhammer I had (I sold it when I found the .36 Seneca).

 

[tranders]

Very nice find.

Congratulations!

 

[JKushner]

I appreciate the info from everyone. Any suggestions to enhance accuracy are greatly appreciated. Should be a fun little gun to hunt with (loaded on the light side).

 

[necchi]

Great find!

Does the "spade" stamp on the underside of the barrel indicate the Barrel manufacturer ?

That's an issue that's covered and surrounded with myth and mystery across the entire WWW. T/C has never been able to,, or has been un-willing to verify an to answer that question.
There are 4 different mystic marks in their history.
This forums current most studied, experienced and trusted T/C guru is member bubba.50. I do remember him laying it out a time or two about those stamps,, but I can't quote him.
He'll find this thread in a few weeks, or sooner. You could try a PM.

 

[wgg]

I saw a Seneca 36 the other day with the side plate, butt plate, patch box and fore end tip nickeled. Any one seen this before. Thanks.

 

[necchi]

No.

 

[don hepler]

Are you saying that all the parts were nickeled?

Someone must have had that done.

 

[don hepler]

Great find. I have a 36 Seneca and 32 Cherokee, but a 45 would be good if I run upon one.

 

[wgg]

Yes the parts were nickeled, I have never seen that myself. I have never cared for nickel finish. I shot him a lowball offer and he accepted. Anyway I need to go by and pick it up.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I saw a Seneca 36 the other day with the side plate, butt plate, patch box and fore end tip nickeled. Any one seen this before. Thanks.

In the early years of TC muzzle loaders on the market they utilized a single distributor to sell. He was from the area of LaGrange, Illnois and a major class jerk. He set up at Friendship. That is where we bought my wifes rifle. He did have TC make a few 'one offs' of their regular line. Highly likely the nickle job was one of those.

 

[wgg]

I picked the rifle up and the nickel job was well done. If someone will post I can email or text photos.

 

[JKushner]

Thank you Cannon, I will wait a bit and see if Bubba speaks up.

 

[BPete]

The 'spade' marking denotes a Sharon barrel. Sharon apparently made barrels for early Seneca's and Cherokee rifles as well as the Hawken. Douglas made barrels for T/C as well.

Being an early model, your rifle should not say 'Seneca' on the barrel. Should just say THOMPSON/CENTER ARMS ROCHESTER, NEW HAMSHIRE .45 CAL

Great find! Thanks for sharing the picture!

Pete