T/C mfg. date by serial number?

[MiddleJohn]

I recently picked up a T/C .50 cal. hawken style flintlock with the serial number 12,7xx.

Can anyone tell me when this was made?

Thanks....

 

[Zonie]

No.

Thompson Center had a fire that destroyed all of their records of serial numbers and when their guns were made.

 

[bubba.50]

That’s a fairly low # so, mid ”˜70’s is about as close as yer gonna get.

 

[MiddleJohn]

It appears to have the later style lock. Does that help at all? I don't believe it was swapped out.

 

[Cowboy]

The earlier flintlock lock’s had poor spark due to geometry issues. More than likely it was indeed switched out. TC had excellent customer service and a life time warranty that was second to none. All you had to do was notify them with any issues you were having and they’d either repair or replace any part of the rifle no questions asked. They’d even pay shipping both ways! Unfortunately people took advantage of them.

Anyway, due to poor geometry problems with their first flintlock’s they’d more than likely replaced the lock with their now corrected later version. That would explain the newer lock on the low serial numbered Hawken. I’m positive it’s not the original lock with that low of a serial number.

Respectfully, Cowboy

 

[MiddleJohn]

Cowboy,

Thanks for the info, so it's mid '70's for a build year I suppose.

John

 

[BrownBear]

Huh....

I have a capper that I never thought about dating, knowing the records were lost. But with a serial # in the low 9xxx, it's gotta be back there a ways. Gotta throw it alongside a more recent version to be sure, but to my eye there are stock differences back around the cheek piece.

Sad to say it has a sewer pipe bore from its past life before I got it. I've had it sitting in a corner for two years now waiting for a rebore.

 

[smo]

Huh....

Sad to say it has a sewer pipe bore from its past life before I got it. I've had it sitting in a corner for two years now waiting for a rebore.

You know the man that can do it ! :wink: :stir:

 

[BrownBear]

Huh....

Sad to say it has a sewer pipe bore from its past life before I got it. I've had it sitting in a corner for two years now waiting for a rebore.

You know the man that can do it ! :wink: :stir:

Oh yeah! My problem is the little matter of deciding which size hole in a 15/16" pipe. Gotta be something interesting! :grin:

 

[smo]

The only issue I see with an odd ball sized bore would be finding the correct size ball without having to buy several molds.

 

[BrownBear]

I figure to go .010 undersize in the mold order, then adjust with patching. Always worked before.

But dang, the other numbers are still a ponder. Kinda leaning toward 52 or 53 like I recall in some original Hawkens, just cuzz I have more 54's than common sense. :rotf:

 

[Zonie]

Go with the standard .54 cal bore.

If you get a ******* caliber, sure as tooting you will take the wrong size balls with you when you go out hunting or to the range.

 

[BrownBear]

Go with the standard .54 cal bore.

If you get a ******* caliber, sure as tooting you will take the wrong size balls with you when you go out hunting or to the range.

Boy, have I learned that lesson a time or two. But that's my excuse (other than liking leatherwork), for building bags for each of my guns. They each live with their gun with the right supplies and tools.

How well I recall the time I arrived at the range with .490 balls and a 58 caliber rifle! I managed fair accuracy with about 10 stacked patches, and I saved a round trip home while proving to myself that it could be done.

So it doesn't just happen with ******* calibers! :rotf: Heck, I've even managed to bungle the works and arrive with .575 balls when my GRRW 58 cal Hawken demands .562 balls.

 

[MSW]

+1 for true!

a bag for each gun, and a horn as well... this way, if you want to go to the range with none of the 'drama' or falderol, you grab the whole mess and troop out to your vehicle of choice.

one guy's opinion ”¦ free and no doubt well worth the price!

 

[mooman76]

I got to the range one and grabbed the wrong size ball by mistake. Didn't figure it out till the ball was jammed in pretty good and had nothing with me to get it out. I have quite a few different calibers and balls in tackle box compartments. I put a card in each compartment stating the size of each. Eventually had to go to two boxes. One for large and one for small calibers.

 

[BrownBear]

I got to the range one and grabbed the wrong size ball by mistake. Didn't figure it out till the ball was jammed in pretty good and had nothing with me to get it out. I have quite a few different calibers and balls in tackle box compartments. I put a card in each compartment stating the size of each. Eventually had to go to two boxes. One for large and one for small calibers.

There ya go. My lesson learned was to keep 100 or so of every size ball I own in the big range box that lives in my truck. But I used leather scraps to make a pile of little drawstring bags, marking each on the outside with the ball size using a period-correct black Sharpie. :wink:

 

[azmntman]

Got ya'all beat by going turkey hunting with my 12GA dbl and my 20Ga bag :redface: AND OF COURSE I CALLED IN A DOUBLE TO ABOUT 5 FEET :cursing: AND OF COURSE THEY CAME RIGHT TO ME INSTEAD OF THE DECOY SO KID HAD NO SHOT

I have not taken the wrong size balls so many times as taking everything but one component. Be it powder, caps, balls, patches, targets :idunno: I am accepting my "maturity" more now though so doing ALOT of double checking before Ieave :haha:

ff geez, Not a T-C either :slap:

 

[BrownBear]

I have not taken the wrong size balls so many times as taking everything but one component. Be it powder, caps, balls, patches, targets :idunno: I am accepting my "maturity" more now though so doing ALOT of double checking before Ieave

Oh yeah. How well I remember needing a second shot on a deer hunt, but discovering my bag was a patch-free zone. :redface: Got the deer, but came home with great big holes in my t-shirt! :slap:

Now I know what patch boxes on rifles are for! :rotf:

 

[azmntman]

I have cut the bottom 4-5" off my T-shirt a time or too. NOT for patches tho :redface: :idunno: Beats leafs :slap:

 

[Rifleman1776]

I bought my TC about 1971. The barrel had serious problems. After arguing with the company for a year they finally exchanged it and gave me a new one. The serial # is 20,595. It is a percussion. It has been a safe queen since that time because I fitted a Douglas barrel to the stock and made a target rifle out of it. Actually, I believe, the number doesn't mean much. TC could have numbered flint and perc. differently. Who knows? :idunno: