Serial Number Dating a T/C

[Cap'n Ball]

Getting back to the original theme of serial number to date correlation, I see two items of interest in the above comments.

1. Establishing the date starting the “Black Powder Only” stamp would be a big help. I would guess that the order to stamp it came from their legal eagles or a government mandate. Either way it would be all BP guns at once, regardless of model.

2. There is enough anecdotal evidence that the card suit stamps are Sharon barrels to make that probable but not conclusive. If true, they would have to be no earlier than 1976 when Sharon opened and since Sharon closed in 1978, stocks of Sharon barrels would have been depleted before 1980 or so. If not for the comments above I would have taken them to be proof marks.

Not discussed are the model designations. I once had a Renegade clearly stamped Renegade on the barrel. I now have two Hawkens, one Pariot and one Seneca with no model designation stamped on the barrel. When did they start model markings? The Patriot was purchased new in 1981 +/- 1. All three rifles were purchased within the last eight years from different sources in different places and different years, none from the original owner, so no clues there. All four have a spade stamped on the barrel bottom.

Hawken .50 - #95xxx

Hawken .45 - #84xxx.

Seneca .45 - #11xxx.

Patriot .45 - #24xxx

It looks like the Patriot and Seneca were numbered in a different grouping. They did have a different assembly line.

 

[fourbore]

Maybe as with Rugers, it is not so much the year but the generation. I have several TC and for me it is enough to say: Prewarning & without model name stamping or Post. Pre or post.

I do have serial number and dates in my personal logbook for 5 TC muzzle loaders purchased new from 80's & 90's. If I see a sticky with a spread sheet that is updated with precise information like mine. I will contribute.

Someone said, old time TC employees&owners are dead now. NOT TRUE, I was buying guns back in the 1960's and reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.

My Seneca 45 is 59xxx and says 'SENECA'. I did not buy that one new, dont know the age. It might be more informative on the lower production models to only xx, two digits.That is assuming we actually know the date sold. My seneca info is IMHO, no value at all.

 

[wobranch]

Does someone have a serial # dateing table for Thompson Center Renegades and Hawkens?

Does one even exist?

Thompson Center .50 Hawken, bought from Walmart about 1986 as a kit. s/n K3502XX

 

[freeze_1]

TC .50 cal. Hawken flintlock, serial number 5537. Bought brand new the year before Pa. started a flintlock season. I believe the season was 1976, not real sure on that but back then we had to hunt only on designated state game lands. I've killed more deer with it than any other rifle I own combined since I began hunting in 1965 and believe me, that's a lot of deer.

 

[Historian]

Can someone tell me about the TC recalls. I just purchased a never fired .45 TC Hawken and was curious since I have others mention the numerous recalls. Was there ever a recall for the TC .45 Hawken rifles? My SN# starts with 297xxx and was wondering if it was involved in any recalls?

 

[Nutnfancy]

Just to add some dating info: I bought a .50 cal. Thompson Center Renegade kit in the mid '80's with a K28xxx serial number. Not sure when it was made, best guess would be maybe early '80's.

 

[RATROD56]

To my knowledge, no...even calling TC, they'll tell you that all such records were lost in the big March'97 plant fire that destroyed a third of their buildings.

That's exactly what they told me when I contacted them.

 

[wstanell]

My father bought me this Gun 1978 Shenandoah Pennsylvania
Renegade 50 caliber. Serial 79399
Still have box end

pretty sure mfg 1977

 

[Thunder14]

I have two 50 cal Hawkins #51000 and 78000 serial numbers both from 1977-1979

 

[renegadehunter]

After some new information I learned this weekend I can say that my TC Renegade .54 cal caplock has serial # 52xxx and was purchased new in either 1977 or 1978.
This weekend I ran into an old friend of the family that knew my dad well. Talk turned to hunting, which made me then mention that I really favor bow hunting or BP hunting. He asked what muzzleloader I have and I replied that I had inherited a TC Renegade when my dad passed away. I told him I knew it was an earlier style, as it had the high hammer spur and no warnings on the barrel, and that I guessed it was a late 70's to early 80's model since I could remember seeing it in my dad's gun cabinet since I took a big interest in firearms around 7 or 8 years old. The family friend smiled and told me that if it had a decent scratch in the stock by the lock (always wondered how that scratch happened, crossing a barb wire fence it turns out), then HE was the original owner of the rifle and he'd sold it to my dad when he decided to go to a .50 caliber. He bought it new and was certain it was around 1977 or 1978. Pretty neat to run into the original owner.

 

[ord sgt]

I bought a T/C Hawken percussion rifle kit, .45 calibre, in the summer of 1983. The serial number is K235XXX. Hope this helps.

 

[AZ Dan]

Just returning to BP after a 40+ year leave of absence. (kids, work, school, etc.) Got back interested and dug out my TC Hawken after some researching and reading this post. Original owner of Serial number 13xxx purchased in July 1972. 45 caliber percussion. The barrel has a star stamped on the underside. I didn't see mention of a star on the barrel, so I don't know what that means. Hope is adds to the serial number list.

 

[Saxtonyoung]

Recently picked up this Hawken that I believe was been made in the first year (28xx) . Here are some differences that I noticed from others.

Bore has 12 lands and grooves compared to 8
Brass escutcheons are inlet
Brass washer is smaller with only 1 surface instead of stepped , also is inlet in stock.I
Brass wedge pin is flat and squared off
Serial # is on bottom of breech plug as well as on usual area.
CAL 50 engraving is larger than usual.
Figured wood grain
Case colored trigger guard.
Many early tangs have 3 holes , this one has 2
Nose cap held on with 1 screw instead of 2 and it is concealed by the underrib.
Cheek piece is more defined.
Rear sight is flat across top.

 

[dragnetbill]

I just looked up receipts:

T/C .50 cap Hawken kit bought new April 12, 1977
serial number: K51XXX

.54 flint Renegade bought new December 22, 1979
serial number: 52XXX

All my other T/C's were bought used, so info on them would be useless.

Going through an estate yesterday I came across an old friends T/C manual for a .50 Hawken. Inside was his half of a warranty registration card that listed a date of purchase in July 1973 for #26,xxx. There are no date codes on the manual. There is a three page fold out schematic/parts list for the Hawken which I don't believe I've ever seen before. The back side of the schematic shows the two types of locks and the trigger assembly; it also has instructions for the use and adjustment of the triggers.

 

[mooman76]

As long as we are talking serial# and dating. Do they run serial numbers consecutive by model numbers or one serial number for all T/C rifles?

 

[Saxtonyoung]

Each model has its own set of numbers.

 

[Nutnfancy]

As long as we are talking serial# and dating. Do they run serial numbers consecutive by model numbers or one serial number for all T/C rifles?

The same question I asked myself recently.

 

[Nutnfancy]

Each model has its own set of numbers.

Good to know, thanks for the info!

 

[TomV]

TC had different serial number series over the decades, after the fire all records were destroyed. Pre and post warning seems to be the only thing anyone agrees upon. Before the barrels were made buy others for TC, post TC made them. I have two prewarning barrels with spade marking on bottom flat between breach and lug. So determining the precise gun birthday is impossible. S&W doesn't give a wood at all, so why.did they buy the company.

 

[andles]

My TC Hawkin was bought new in early 1971 and is number 2069. It has a steel case hardened trigger guard and butt plate.